Are 3-Lite Sliders the Best Type of Replacement Window for San Diego Homes?

There are two main reasons why many people choose to pay the big bucks to live in San Diego: it’s beautiful and the weather is absolutely gorgeous pretty much year-round! Homeowners here do a lot to take advantage of the views and the sunny days, such as building decks, putting in swimming pools, or creating outdoor kitchens, but they would also be wise to install the best types of replacement windows in their homes.

One type of window that San Diego homeowners should definitely consider is a 3-lite slider. A 3-lite slider has some unique features, making it an ideal choice for many San Diego homes.

What Is a 3-Lite Slider Window?

As we explained in this earlier blog post, 3-lite sliders are horizontally oriented windows with three panels (lites) of glass. The two outside panels are operable, and to open them, you slide them in front of the fixed center panel. You often find 3-lite sliders in larger rooms, such as living rooms or master bedrooms, since they take up a good amount of wall space. In smaller rooms, you would typically find vertically oriented windows, such as double or single hung windows.

Why Are 3-Lite Sliders Great for San Diego Homes?

3-lite sliders are a great choice for San Diego homes because they help capitalize on San Diego’s greatest assets: the weather and the views. Since 3-lite sliders have two operable panels that can be opened at the same time, they can let a ton of fresh air into the home. On a nice sunny day, there’s nothing much better than opening up your windows and airing out your house. Both operable panels will have screens behind them to keep out bugs and debris when the windows are opened.

In addition, the fixed center panel allows for great views of the outdoors. This panel is typically quite large and it has no screen behind it, giving you a clear view of whatever is outside of your house. It also lets in a lot of natural light, making your house feel bright and sunny during the day.

Don’t Go with Cheap 3-Lite Sliders

Like most things, you get what you pay for when it comes to replacement windows. High-quality windows will serve San Diego homeowners well for many years to come. You especially want to consider quality when you are having large, operable windows installed in your home.

With larger-than-average replacement windows like 3-lite sliders, you want them to be very energy efficient. Otherwise, they will let in a lot of unwanted heat in the summer and cold in the winter, and you’ll find yourself running your air conditioner and heater more than you would like. You may pay a bit more for a window with upgraded energy-saving features, but the added cost is worth it!

In addition, people often choose to purchase 3-lite sliders because they are able to be opened and closed—letting in lots of fresh air. (If they didn’t care about the sliding panels, they would save some money and just purchase a large picture window with no operable panels for the space.) As such, they want those panels to slide freely and easily. Cheap windows can get difficult to open and close over time.

The replacement windows we sell at BM Windows are all high-quality, and just with a small amount of maintenance (keeping the windows tracks free from dirt and debris) the operable panels will open and close with ease for as long as you own your home. Our replacement windows also come standard with some great energy-saving features, which can be upgraded even more to help keep your monthly energy bills down.

If you want to learn more about our replacement windows or if you are ready to get a quote on new windows for your San Diego home, contact us today to schedule an in-home appointment.