What is the average life expectancy of a sliding glass door?

Thursday, May 28, 2020

You can expect a sliding glass door to last 20 to 30 years, with an average of 25 years. The door frames are manufactured from vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, or composite—which is a combination of PVC and another material. Multiple variables affect the life of the door:

•• Weather exposure - A door that is exposed to direct sun and weather will not endure as long as one that opens onto a porch.

•• Premature loss of insulating gas - Most new sliding glass doors are double-pane, with a sealed gap between the panes filled with an insulating gas. If the seal is broken, the door glass will gradually cloud over. Never pressure wash a double-pane sliding glass door. To learn more, see our article What is causing a foggy haze on my windows and sliding glass doors?

•• Maintenance - Regular cleaning and lubrication of the track and rollers will result in a longer life. 

•• Usage - Heavy door use will shorten life.

   Here’s  a bar graph that compares the life expectancy of a sliding glass door to other residential doors.
    Also, see our blog posts What is "low-E" window glass? and When did the building code first require tempered glass for sliding glass doors, glass shower doors, and low windows in walking areas? and How can I tell if a window or glass door is safety glass? and How can I tell if a window or sliding glass door is double or triple pane (insulated) glass?








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