Balcony Door Replacement for Apartments and Strata Buildings

The balcony door is often the worst opening in an apartment. Old sliding doors on worn rollers stick, whistle in the wind and let water in across the sill in a southerly. Because it is usually the largest piece of glass in the unit, a single glazed balcony door also lets in more heat and noise than any window. Replacing it is often the biggest single comfort upgrade a unit can get.

Door types for apartment balconies

• Sliding doors - the standard balcony door, now double glazed and running on proper rollers
• Stacking doors - three or more panels for a wider opening onto larger balconies
• Lift and slide doors - heavy, well-sealed panels that lift off their seals to slide, suited to exposed and high-wind balconies
• French doors - hinged pairs for Juliet balconies and older walk-up buildings

Water, wind and height

Balcony doors on upper floors face more wind and driving rain than anything at ground level. We check the exposure and height of the building, specify a door rated for it, and pay close attention to the sill and its flashing, because that is where most balcony leaks start. Toughened or laminated safety glass is used as the code requires.

One unit or the whole building

Balcony doors are usually common property, so a whole-building replacement keeps every door matching and settles the approval once. Individual owners can also replace their own door with owners corporation approval, matched to the building. See how strata approvals usually work.