The Problem
A family in Unionville had a two-panel sliding patio door off the kitchen, original to their late-1990s house. The fixed 80-inch panel had fogged over the past two winters until it looked frosted. The operable panel was still clear, and the frame and track were in good shape.
They had been quoted $5,800 for a new patio door, which would also have meant new trim and patching drywall.
The Fix
The crew confirmed the fog was between the panes, meaning a failed seal, and checked the frame, sill and track. Everything except the sealed unit was sound. We measured the glass size, read the spacer stamp and checked the overall unit thickness so the new unit would sit in the same pocket.
Materials
- One tempered double-pane sealed unit, both lites CSA A440 tempered
- Guardian ClimaGuard Low-E coating on surface 3
- Argon fill and warm-edge spacer in the original colour
- New setting blocks and glazing tape
Timeline
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Measured and ordered | Day 1 |
| Unit fabricated | 12 business days |
| Install | One visit, about 2 hours |
The old foggy unit stayed in place until the new one arrived, so the house was never open. Our crew removed the exterior stops, took out the old unit, set the new one on fresh blocks and refitted everything. The drywall and trim were not touched.
Final Cost
$1,180 CAD, installed, including removal and disposal of the old unit. That is about a fifth of the full door quote. The new unit carries a 10-year Guardian IGU warranty plus our written 2-year workmanship warranty, and the family can see the garden again.
Related service: patio door glass replacement.
