Do you live in a home that was built in the eighties or even earlier? If so, you may have had to spend some money to renovate certain areas, to rewire the property or to help deal with the effects of time. If you have an outside patio then you may have floor-to-ceiling doors in your living room, and you may love to admire the view on a sunny day. Yet you may have overlooked one particular renovation that could pose a safety risk, especially if you have kids in the home. If you haven't replaced the glass in those patio doors since you moved in, then they may represent a significant safety hazard. What do you need to know?

Safety Glass in Place

Safety glass is fitted to glass doors in any new home construction today, according to Australian standards. This can apply to patio doors, low-level windows, balustrades, pool fencing and even shower doors. Yet this standard does not apply to older homes, and your house may feature the original installation. It is possible that your glass doors are fitted with ordinary glass that will break into large, sharp shards following an impact.

Too Much at Stake

It doesn't take much for this to take place. Imagine a situation where your smallest child may jump off their bicycle in your backyard, intending to rush in to tell you something They will still be wearing their protective crash helmet and may not realise that the sliding door is now closed. This type of impact could, of course, be very serious indeed.

Identifying the Risk

Have a look at the label on the bottom of the door. If you cannot identify the type of glass fitted, then you will need to bring in an expert to help you. At the least it should be toughened so that it will be more resistant to impact and will break into smaller, dull fragments instead. The best type of glass is laminated, where two panes of glass are connected to an interior layer. This glass will not shatter at all but will stick to the internal layer upon impact.

Getting a Replacement

If you have any questions about your current installation, then now is the time to talk with a company that handles glass doors, such as Superior Glass. The employees there will provide you with an upgrade as soon as possible so that you don't need to worry any more.

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