Doors

Sliding Glass Door Installation in NJ: Patio, Exterior & Interior Options

Large sliding glass doors are always useful, but it takes the proper sizing and placement to ensure that they are also safe. It's also important to consider the structural requirements of the home when you're planning on installing a sliding glass door. This way, you'll be sure to enhance your home and enjoy years of trouble-free use of the doors. Learn more about the key steps involved:

Choose Potential Sites for Your New Sliding Glass Doors

While it's possible to open up beautiful views with large-sized sliding glass doors, they should also be placed so that they will offer convenient egress to an area you're likely to frequent. Doors facing backyards, decks, or patios are all popular, but if these areas aren't of that much interest to you, feel free to choose another destination.

Consider the impact of the elements on these doors when choosing a location.  These doors should be somewhat sheltered to avoid excessive sun, snow or wind to increase energy efficiency. While the EPA notes that efficiency-minded improvements such as multi-layered glazing have been made, it's still a good idea to choose a fairly sheltered spot for these doors.

Are Sliding Glass Doors Only for the Exterior?

Most people put these doors facing outside the home, but there are several options that are styled for interior use. Interior sliding glass doors are excellent partitions between rooms with wide openings, such as between kitchens and family rooms. Closing them when the rooms aren't in use will help save on energy usage.

Steps for Installation

It is recommended to hire professionals to install sliding glass doors, especially when exterior doors and existing walls are involved. It's important to have professionals who are very knowledgeable about structural requirements to complete the work.

The exterior walls of a home contain load-bearing timbers, which are what keep the house from falling down. Therefore, when a large door or window is installed, a frame has to be constructed to distribute the load to other areas.

Once that is done, a separate frame is made to hold the new door. This is built into the house and provides a place for the visible part of the door frame to be seated. It's important that this is done right so that water, drafts, and insects can't get into the wall and cause problems.

Finally, the door and its attached frame are installed. Since these doors slide, tracks will be put on the top and bottom to allow for easy motion.

Keeping Your New Sliding Doors in Good Condition

Maintenance of these doors is quite simple. Most of the time, they only need to be cleaned with window spray and a cloth to keep them looking their best.

Under some conditions, the doors may stick in their tracks. This typically happens due to grit from outside getting into the lower track. To restore motion, just use a whisk broom to remove the grit and then put down a layer of WD-40 or another lubricant. There is usually no need to replace sliding glass door hardware.

Takeaways

• Keep convenience in mind when choosing a location for sliding glass doors
• Trust professionals instead of worrying about how to install sliding glass doors yourself
• Avoid locations that would increase energy usage too much
• Interior sliding glass doors create beautiful partitions between rooms
• Structural adjustments are often needed to account for alterations to load-bearing areas
• It's important to get a tight seal between the door frame and structural framework
• Metal frames ensure that the doors will continue to slide well
• Caring for sliding glass doors is easy – washing is usually all that is needed
• Clean grit from the track and lubricate it if the doors become sticky

We are professional remodelers with plenty of experience installing sliding glass doors and other upgrades. To get a quote, just contact us here at RWC in West Caldwell, New Jersey.

by RWC

Custom Closet Door Guide: Find The Best Closet Doors For Your Wardrobe

Custom Wardrobe Closet Doors

When you have wardrobes in your home that need new doors, what you choose can make a big difference in the decor and functionality of your home. Whether you want pocket doors that slide easily into a hidden compartment, or you are looking for fresh new frosted glass doors for your wardrobe, you have options. Consider the various styles and alternatives of wardrobe doors available, and learn about the pros and cons of the types of custom closet doors you can choose from.

Types Of Closet Doors

Bi Fold Doors for Your Wardrobe

Bi fold doors are a great addition to any room. New trends in custom wardrobe closet design are using bi fold doors that are more intricate, even made with frosted glass to give your closet an entirely new look. Bi fold doors are generally easy to open, and an affordable option for many situations. One of the problems homeowners have with bi fold doors is that they can detach from the hardware if mishandled, causing the door to struggle to open or close. With proper installation done by a professional, bi fold doors are a great choice.

A pocket door is more than a door, it's a design element for your room. When you use a pocket door for your closet, the door opens completely by sliding into the adjacent wall. This is a great type of door to use in confined spaces, and allows you to have a door on your wardrobe without needing any space to open up the door into the room. Sometimes a pocket door will slide off the tracks, but in general these are great doors for your closet when you use them properly. 

A Barn Door for a Great Look

A barn door for your wardrobe will give you a unique look for bedrooms, living rooms or other spaces where you have a large closet. Barn doors are hung on a ride, and slide over to open. A barn door for your wardrobe can give your room a warm appearance if you choose dark wood, or you can opt for a lighter shade of painted barn door for your room. If you have small children, you may not want a barn door for a common room as the door can slip off of the rod if it's opened too hard.

Frosted glass doors add an element to your wardrobe that gives it a modern, sleek look. Frosted glass doors are a beautiful way to brighten up a room, as they will reflect light that enters the room beautifully. When you choose glass for your wardrobe doors, you'll want to be sure that you are mindful when you open and close them. While they aren't going to break during normal use, a hard shove closed can cause problems.

Flush doors for your wardrobe are a great trend that allows your wardrobe to blend into the wall. It can be hard to tell how the doors are even opened, making it possible to have your wardrobe look like a wall instead of a bulky closet. Flush doors are a great option when you are looking for a modern style and you have a small space you are trying to decorate.

Your wardrobe closet door types include:

• pocket doors that slide into the wall
• frosted glass doors that brighten a room
• a wooden barn door that offers a unique look
• bi fold doors that are affordable and easy to install

At RWC Windows, Doors and More, finding the perfect custom wardrobe closet doors is just a phone call away. Give RWC a call today at 973-435-4230 to generate design ideas for your own closet door installation for your home in Caldwell, NJ and the surrounding area. Get a quote from RWC today. 

by RWC

5 Dynamic Door Materials to Make Your Home Greener

by RWC

5 Benefits of Interior Door Replacement for NJ Homeowners

Most people understand when they buy a house they are going to want to conduct upgrades over the years to make the home reflect their personal design style and needs. To some extent you can change the styling of your home with new paint and floors, but such a solution is more cosmetic than functional. New interior doors, on the other hand, not only changes the design feeling of your house but also provides practical advantages to how you live in the house on a daily basis. The right replacement interior door can do so much for a room in your home so it's important to choose wisely, and RWC are experts when it comes to choosing the right doors for your home.

1. Design Consistency: Matching Interior Doors Throughout Your Home

In some houses, especially older homes which may have already been remodeled over the years, the interior doors don't match. It may be that a previous owner planned to change all the doors to a new style over time but never finished the new construction project, or a broken door had to be replaced, or the owner simply preferred an eclectic design with different themes in each room.

Changing interior doors all at once is a way to solve such a problem. The doors don't have to be an exact match to be consistent, the new casings will bring them all together.  For example If you want French doors leading to the dining room, a pocket door between the den and kitchen, and either bi-fold or sliding closet doors, the casings can give the appearance the doors match. They can also match design styles to bring an overall consistency throughout your home.

5. Does Replacing Interior Doors Increase Home Value?

Does replacing interior doors add value? To keep it short and sweet, yes. Interior door replacement can definitely increase the value of your home. How much value is added depends on specific factors of your personal remodeling project. However, new doors for your house generally always provide an aesthetically modern look to the interior of your home, as well as complete functionality. These two factors can play a huge role in a home’s value. If you’re looking at how to increase home value without breaking the bank, replacing interior doors is right for you.

Although replacing your interior doors may not seem like an important aspect of home renovation, there are plenty of advantages with practical daily applications.  Not to mention, updated doors add value to the house! Contact RWC at your convenience to discuss how they can relieve home improvement stress. As trusted interior door installers for 60+ years, we can handle any job you have for us!

by RWC

3 Ways Double Doors Can Easily Make Your Front Entry Amazing

by RWC

Make Your Front Door Festive This Holiday Season

Your front door is probably the most widely used door in your entire house. When you want to give your home a festive flare, deciding how to decorate can be overwhelming. Whether you want to simply decorate your front door, or you want to make your whole yard a holiday display, a little planning can help you get the project under control. To make the most out of this holiday season, have some fun making your home look beautiful.

Creating a Budget

It may seem silly to create a budget for your holiday decorating, but outdoor decoration costs can quickly get expensive. Decide on a budget, and figure out what you can do within those budget parameters. There are many creative, yet inexpensive options to consider when you want to decorate without spending a lot of money. From well-placed spotlights, to greenery found in the woods, you can make a beautiful front door display that you and your neighbors will enjoy.

Start with Your Greenery

Some people choose to use fake greenery with lights already installed within. Made for the outdoors, garland strands that look like real greenery can make your front door pop. If you prefer natural greens, a hike through the woods can give you the brush that you need. Make sure that you aren't on private property, and go for a walk with a pair of thinning shears. You'll be amazed at the wonderful decorations you can find for your front door that are straight from nature.

Consider Your Lighting Options

A well-placed spotlight on your decorated front door can make a big impact. You can also try creating a path of solar lights leading up to your front door. If you are going all out during this festive holiday season, you can fill your front trees and bushes with lights to bring joy into the darkness. The holiday season is one full of love and light, and your home decor should reflect these sentiments.

Holiday Wreaths Both Traditional and Creative

Holiday wreaths are a traditional way to decorate your front door, but today's holiday wreath is far from boring. While you can make a wreath out of greenery, pinecones and ribbon, you can also use almost anything to make a wreath for your front door. You can even use recycled mason jar lids to make a fun, original wreath to decorate your front door. With a little time, twine and paint, you can create a holiday wreath that can be used for any variety of holidays.

Spread Cheer with a Positive Word

Hope, Joy, Love. No matter what word you believe in this holiday season, you can showcase your favorite word on your front doorwith a few simple steps. Using some strong cardboard, cut out the letters of the word you have chosen. You can try piece of cloth roughly 12 inches wide, hanging it from the top of your door and letting it hang down to the door knob area. Spray your cardboard letters with glittery spray paint, and attach the letters in order on the cloth. You can heavy duty staples to adhere the letters to the cloth. Consider small twigs, pinecones, or other decor to place around the letters for added decoration.

Gift Wrap Your Front Door

One of the easiest ways to make your home more festive is to gift wrap your front door. This can be done using material made to look like ribbon, and a large bow placed where the two material ribbons cross. You can also completely wrap your front door in wrapping paper, but you can choose to leave the door bare as well.

To find the perfect door for your home, contact RWC Windows and Doors today at 973-435-4230, or visit our showroom at 686 Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell, NJ 07006.

by RWC

Here’s Why You Need New Commercial Entry Doors

Doors in your building should be form-fitting, sturdy, secure and well-made. Your building, especially if it’s your commercial business, is a vital part of your everyday operations, whether you rent the place to tenants, own a retail shop or house a factory. This is why you need professional installers to handle your commercial door needs.

Read on to discover how new commercial doors can save you money and bring you peace of mind.

Security

Physical security is a major concern for your business or commercial property. A sturdy commercial entry door for the front and back entrance, with a deadbolt or other security locks, represents the first line of defense against unauthorized entry, burglars and wayward people who wander inside. Don’t leave a security breach to chance, and have a professional install a commercial door.

Further, commercial interior doors keep your products safe and secure, even on the inside. Locked doors keep unauthorized personnel out. Sturdy doors also soundproof rooms so staffers can talk in private. Security isn’t the only reason to have a professional install new or replacement commercial doors.

Insects and Weather

Commercial exterior doors need to have the proper locks and seals on them to keep out drafts, weather and insects. All of these intrusions can cost your company money. If your doors let bugs or pests inside, you must spend more money on pest control measures. Drafts that come in through gaps between the door and door jam make your climate control system work harder to maintain a certain temperature, whether it’s in the winter or summer.

A single investment in modern commercial doors saves money over the long-term use of the building because you spray for insects less and your utility bill is lower each month. Lowering your overhead means you can focus on making more profit from your building. There are many types of commercial doors that can mitigate these issues.

Types of Commercial Doors

Exterior doors are usually made of solid steel, whereas interior doors are hollow. Steel doors on the inside of you commercial building provided added security, soundproofing and climate-control measures.

Cargo doors that roll away provide safety and security among entrances for a loading dock or vehicle storage area. These doors often have remote controls that let you lock them from the inside, and you have a deadbolt key that can lock them down from the outside. Cargo doors commonly roll overhead so they are out of the way when vehicles come into the facility. These doors have bumpers around them to seal the outside while letting cargo vehicles safely sit against the back of the building.

Glass doors provide partitions on the inside of your building so you maintain visibility between sections of your plant, conference room or executive areas. They provide a nice touch with a bit of privacy.

Why a Professional Installation

Professionals can install exterior commercial doors at any time of year, although cooler months during spring and fall are the best. When the weather is cooler, there are fewer insects that get into your building while installers replace your original doors with newer ones. Temperatures shouldn’t be too hot or too cold during your installation because those temperatures may affect the wood that goes around the doors by expanding or contracting the fibers.

Installers know how to seal exterior doors so the elements don’t infiltrate your building. Professional installers maintain high standards and know how doors fit into your building’s overall structure. Pros can fit together the handles, hinges, parts, bumpers and frame properly throughout an installation. A professional contractor knows what accessories to put on a door, such as keyless entry, chains, automatic openers, sensors and card swipe machinery.

Whether you need to replace or repair a door, a newer custom model door starts paying for itself right away. A professional installation adds value to your investment. An installer can return to the work site if he or she needs to make unique adjustments later.

Why RWC

RWC in New Jersey has the tools and the talents to complete your commercial door installation in NJ professionally, properly and efficiently. Once you consult with us, we take you through every step of the process. Once you place your order, we keep the doors at our place until they’re ready to be installed. We can color match some types doors during the design and consultation process.

We won’t do anything that you don’t expect. Once our team leader arrives on site to oversee the project, he or she can explain exactly what’s going on and why. Leave the hard work to us so you can return to running your business in the best way you know how.

RWC has been relieving home improvement stress since 1959. Call us today or visit us on the web for your free consultation.

by RWC

Reasons to Renovate Your Entry Door

The entry door to your home gets more use than you may even realize. Since you see and use your door every day, you might not notice when it develops flaws. Completely replacing the door can be expensive and unnecessary. There are many instances when renovating your door is the smarter option.

What Is Door Renovation?

Door renovation is simply the process of repairing or making adjustments to your door so it can open and shut properly. A door renovation may be necessary due to general wear and tear after years of regular use, or if your door has been victimized by the house settling.

Reasons to Renovate Your Doors

Sticky Doors

Over time, doors can begin to stick and creak because of age. Although these issues may seem minor,  they can be irritating and can become problematic over time. These issues arise because front doors are typically made from organic materials and therefore can succumb to the general wear and tear that comes from constant exposure to the elements.

The natural changes that occur to an aging house can have negative effects on front doors. To fix a door that sticks, you will likely need to fix the size of the door so that it fits in the entryway better. This task can be simple. It may just involve cleaning the hinges and getting rid of any dirt that has built up along the door's edges. If that does not fix the issue, you can adjust the hinges and tighten them if they are loose. Finally, you can sand the edges of the door to even them out.

Repairing Dents

Since doors are utilized so regularly, they can easily become marred with dents and dings. If your door is made out of steel, it is possible to repair it by using an auto filler. This process requires you to sand down the damaged area until you see the metal. Then, the filler needs to be applied in layers until the door is smooth. Then, you must prime and paint the area. Since this process can be time consuming and arduous. It might be best to consult a professional who can do the job in a more efficient manner.

Squeaky Hinges

Nothing can be more irritating than a door the squeaks every time it moves. You can easily fix this issue by lubricating the hinges with silicone. To accomplish this task properly, you need to remove the pin from the hinge and lightly scrub both parts with steel wool and replace the pin. Then, coat the hinge with a thin layer of silicone spray or penetrating oil.

Air Leaks

Air leaks are not only bothersome, they can be costly as well. Air leaks around your entry doors can cause drafts that make the internal temperature of the house unnecessarily cold or hot. Rather than increase the money that you spend on your heating and cooling bills to make your house more comfortable, fix the air leak instead. To determine if you have an air leak by your entry door, feel for a cold draft coming in during the winter months, or a warm draft in the warmer months.

If you detect a draft, check the caulk around the door. If it appears damaged or has gaps, then it needs to be replaced You can also add weatherstripping or a weatherboard to seal the bottom of the door. If installing a weatherboard is the right choice for you, it can easily be done with your local your local RWC handy man.

Insects

Insect invasions make up an unfortunate aspect of life. However, even innocent-looking bugs can wreak havoc on an entry door. Without you even realizing it, insects can turn your door into a feasting ground.  If insects have attacked your entry door, it is definitely time for some renovation work to be done. Your best bet is to call in a professional door renovator to assess the damage and formulate the best action plan.

Increase Curb Appeal

Another great reason to renovate your entry door is to simply enhance the curb appeal of your home. It is important to have your house look as good as possible if you are trying to sell it. If your door looks old and dilapidated, it reflects poorly on the rest of the house.

This can have a severely negative impact on prospective buyers, and you can miss out on potential sales. Even if you are not in the market to sell your home, the way your door looks affects the way the rest of the home looks. Replacing the entire entry door can be expensive, but renovating your existing door can give it a new appearance at a fraction of the cost.

Whether your door is in need of minor repairs or a complete overhaul, renovating it can be your best bet. Not only is it more economical than purchasing a new door, it can be a quick and easy way to improve the overall look of your home. If you are in need of an entry door renovation, the qualified and experienced staff at RWC is here to serve you.

RWC has been relieving home improvement stress since 1959. Call us today or visit us on the web for your free consultation.

by RWC