Home improvement topicsBrowse Categories:Full list »French Doors – Built In BlindsFrench Doors with built in blinds between the glass panels are great. Typically French Doors don’t provide much privacy because of all the glass. If you wanted privacy with a French Door in the past you would have to install some type of blind or a curtain attached to the door. You no longer have to settle for that option because you can now buy most all French Doors with the blinds built in.When I designed our new home my wife was concerned about having French Doors in our breakfast nook. She was worried about privacy and shading from the afternoon sun. She has never been a huge fan of mini-blinds because she hates cleaning them. When I told her I could order the French Doors with the mini-blind built into the insulated glass she was very interested in trying the product.I’m happy to say we’ve been very pleased with this feature. The blinds have two controls on the door, one to raise and lower the blinds and another to control the tilt of the blind blades.
The great benefit of these blinds is they never need to be cleaned because they are contained within the sealed void between the pains of glass. The cost was similar to buying a set of mini-blinds so in my opinion you’d be crazy not to order a door with this feature. If you want full light from the window just open up the blinds all the way and you don’t even know they are there.How Mini Blinds Between Glass WorkBuilt-in mini blinds between the glass on windows and doors is pretty easy to manufacturer when you see a typical section. The photo to the right is a section through a Pella window that offers the blinds between the glass. As you can see in the photo, the window has a traditional insulated double pane on the exterior of the window followed by a larger space for the built-in blinds. Lastly there is another piece of glass the encloses the blind system. mon Problems with Built In BlindsBuilt in blinds are far less susceptible to damage compared to the old fashion standard window blinds.
However, when they do break it can be really hard to fix them. There are a couple common problems with built in blinds including:Control Handle Disconnects – On many of the new models now available the control handles on the outside of the glass are connected to the internal controls with powerful magnets. This allows the controls to be used without compromising the energy efficiency of the glass. What typically happens is if you try to move the blinds up and down inside the glass while the blinds are in the “closed” position there is too much tension on the system and the magnet lets go. The control handle will likely slide down to the bottom. This can be fixed by moving the handle up to the position when it let go. Next be sure to “open” the blinds before moving them up or down.Control Cable Breaks – In some situations the internal cables can break. If that happens you’ll have to get a new glass insert. Most all of these built in blinds are sold in sealed glass panels that cannot be repaired.
Contact your vendor and see what options are available. The good news is replacing the glass panel is typically quite easy after removing a few screws and trim pieces.Blinds Between Glass ManufacturesI know several door manufacturers now offering blinds between the glass on French Doors. Check out the following manufacturers (we have Therma Tru doors in our new home).Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors – Jeld-Wen Blinds Between GlassPella Windows and Doors – Pella Designer SeriesTherma Tru Doors – Therma Tru Internal BlindsI highly recommend this type of product if you’re planning on buying a new French Door.If you’re looking for information on how to repair doors with built in blinds then please read:Can Blinds Between Glass Be Repaired?About the authorNot what you're looking for? Search for more articles here. Enter keywords like, 'insulation' or 'kitchens' etc to find your topic.96 Comments Replacement Hinged French Patio Doors Hinged (French) patio doors from Pella are designed to swing into a room or out onto a patio.
Choices for these doors include two movable swinging doors hinged from the side, one movable hinged door and one fixed door, or a simple single door. Back to All Doors Explore Pella's Hinged Patio Door Product Lines 12/1/2016 in Global Blogs How to choose energy efficient glass doors 9/21/2016 in Global Blogs Sliding Glass or French Doors - Pros and Cons 8/4/2016 in Global Blogs 3 Benefits to Window ReplacementApril 21, 2014 | Product lines: Clad, wood, vinyl, and composite windows and patio doors; , , , Recent acquisitions: In 2013, Andersen signed an agreement to acquire Weiland Sliding Doors & Windows Inc., with the intent to continue Weiland production and operations in the San Diego area and keep existing management in place.New product introductions: Due to the popularity of its Home Style Library pattern books, Andersen Windows launched virtual versions of the books as two iPad apps in 2013. The tablet-friendly apps are designed to give homeowners, architects, builders and remodelers resources to understand and discuss the elements of architectural style at any stage of the building process.
General information: Andersen encompasses not only its wood window and door operations, but SilverLine Windows & Doors, a producer of vinyl windows and doors with an 880,000-square-foot headquarters plant in North Brunswick, N.J., and facilities in Georgia, Illinois, Ohio and Texas. It also produces American Craftsman brand vinyl windows sold through Home Depot. In addition to its manufacturing operations, Andersen operates Andersen Logistics, with distribution centers in California, Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. The Renewal by Andersen direct-to-consumer replacement window business operates a 227,000-square-foot plant in Cottage Grove, Minn., as well as nine company-owned retail locations., General information: Plastpro Inc., the manufacturer of fiberglass entry doors, and Neuma Doors, a producer of fiberglass patio door systems, are both affiliated with the Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group, one of the largest producers of petrochemicals and plastic products in the world.
Plastpro is also an affiliate company of JM Eagle, the PVC pipe producer. Neuma Doors is part of Formosa’s Nan Ya Plastics Corp., which produces window and door frames and fiberglass products for numerous markets worldwide.Product lines: Wood, vinyl, and aluminum windows and patio doors; wood, steel and composite entry doors; interior doors and molded facings; millwork productsBrands: Jeld-Wen, CraftmasterHeadquarters: Klamath Falls, Ore.Manufacturing locations: 31 total. Fourteen door manufacturing operations in Rocklin and San Diego, Calif.; Chiloquin, Ore., Pottsville, Pa.; Sulphur Springs and Temple, Texas; and Ludlow and North Springfield, Vt.; as well as St. Henri, Quebec. Five door skin facilities in Dubuque, Iowa; and Craigsville, W.Va. Twelve window manufacturing operations in Vista, Calif.; Rantoul, Ill., Grinnell, Iowa; Bend and Stayton, Ore.; , New product introductions: In 2013, Jeld-Wen released several new product lines, focusing on fiberglass entry doors and multi-panel systems.
The company introduced new species and panel designs, available in a greater array of widths and heights, and unveiled more realistic wood grains with three tiers of fiberglass doors.General information: Jeld-Wen is one of the largest manufacturers of doors in North America, with Onex reporting revenue of $3.2 billion.Product lines: Steel, wood, fiberglass, and composite entry and patio doors; Recent acquisitions: Masonite acquired the door manufacturing operations of Chilean wood door producer Masisa S.A. for approximately $12.5 million in 2013. The transaction included the door component operations in Cabrero, Chile, and a door assembly factory in Chillan, Chile. The company also opened a 200,000-square-foot interior door manufacturing facility in Denmark, S.C.General information: In September 2013, Masonite once again became a public company, selling its shares under the symbol DOOR on the New York Stock Exchange. The manufacturer reported 2012 sales of $1.7 billion.Product lines: Wood, vinyl and fiberglass window, patio door and entry door products;
architectural windows, curtain wall, storefronts and entrancesHeadquarters: Pella, IowaManufacturing locations: 10 total. Pella manufactures wood windows and patio doors in Pella, Carroll, Shenandoah, and Sioux Center, Iowa; It manufactures fiberglass and vinyl products in Murray, Ky., and vinyl windows and patio doors in Gettysburg, Pa., and Portland, Ore. Pella produces its entry door systems in Wylie, Texas, and at the Pella headquarters facility in Iowa. , New product introductions: Consumers Digest named two Pella replacement windows—ThermaStar by Pella and Pella Designer Series Precision Fit windows—as a Best Buy in 2013. Pella also introduced new Impervia fiberglass line colors, New Black and Morning Sky Gray, for windows and patio doors.General information: A family-run business dating back to 1925, Pella sells its products through a network of independently owned Pella Window Stores, as well as company-owned sales branches in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Utah, and Toronto.
Additionally, it offers its ProLine products through select lumber yards across the country, as well as a full line of products through Pella Design Centers located within Lowe’s stores.Product lines: Skylights and roof windows; , Recent developments: In 2013, VKR Holding sold Loewen, the Canadian window and door manufacturer, to a group of investors that included members of the Loewen family. VKR also sold its stake in Gienow Windows & Doors, the Canadian manufacturer of wood and vinyl windows, to PlyGem in 2013.General information: Based in Denmark, VKR is the parent company of the Velux Group. The manufacturer of skylight and roof window products employs about 10,000 people and operates manufacturing operations in 11 countries. In Europe, VKR’s Dovista Group of window and door manufacturing companies primarily makes wood and wood/aluminum products. VKR reported total 2012 sales of about $3.1 billion.Product lines: Vinyl windows and doors for the residential new construction, replacement and impact markets;
commercial windows, doors, curtain wall and entrances, including blast and impact productsBrands: YKK AP AmericaHeadquarters: Tokyo, JapanManufacturing operations: YKK has operations in Japan, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States. It produces and distributes residential products from its YKK AP America facility in Macon, Ga. YKK AP America manufactures storefronts, entrances, curtain walls, windows, balcony doors and other products in Dublin, Ga.Employees: 17,000 (approximately 500-1,000 people in the U.S.)Recent developments: In the spring of 2014, YKK AP intends to open a new production, distribution and logistics facility located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. The company also expanded its sales territory to cover Minnesota in 2013.General information: A major global producer of commercial and residential windows and doors, and one of the largest architectural products companies in the world, YKK reports annual sales of $6.1 billion worldwide, with its architectural products business accounting for slightly more than half the total.