Replacing your home's sliding glass door with double French doors, patio doors or even a solid block wall may sound like a daunting task. However, it doesn't have to be. In fact, it's a project that can be done without the help of a professional. Replacing sliding glass doors is a common project. According to research from the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, sliding patio doors represented about 11 percent of all entry doors in the U.S. market in 2013 alone. Whether you want to create more wall space or replace a sliding glass door with a single door instead, there are plenty of options when it comes to improving your home's exterior design.
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Cost to Remove a Sliding Glass Door
Before stepping into the task of transitioning from a door to a solid wall, you'll need to consider materials and costs. If you can do this project yourself, you will save money by removing the sliding door yourself. According to HomeAdvisor, the national average cost to replace a sliding glass door is $1,852. The new solid wall installation cost will vary depending on how large you're going to build the wall. For example, HomeAdvisor states that the average price of building a wall is $1,783. That figure does not pertain to a specific length or height, so the cost could be less or more for you. HomeAdvisor also states that the lower end of the cost range could be $350, while the high end is $8,000. For example, say you went through with a patio door installation previously, but you are now looking to remove the door to build a solid wall. Your cost should be toward the lower-to-middle range since you're not building a full-length wall.
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Removing the Door
The first thing you have to do to get started is to remove the sliding glass door panels from the frame. Start by lifting the door panels upward to free the bottom from the track. After you detach all of the interior and exterior trim, remove the door frame from the wall opening.
Installing the New Wall Replacement
Proceed to cut two pieces of two-by-four framing lumber to form the horizontal plates for the fill-in wall framing. Move on to create the wall studs for the fill-in framing and complete your fill-in section by installing one additional stud at each end of the wall segment. Next, you will need to nail the wall studs in place. Keep in mind that you will need to insulate your wall stud spaces with standard fiberglass insulation before you complete the installation process.