Sliding Doors Take on a New Look as Partitions Sliding doors aren’t just for entering or leaving the house anymore. Designers, architects and property owners are increasingly employing sliding doors as partitions, with great success. While open-concept spaces for living and working remain popular, there are times when closing off sections of a home or office is useful. Perhaps you need an extra bedroom when company arrives. You might want a quiet space when consulting with an important client. Sliding doors, which come in many sizes and may run the length of a building’s interior, are the flexible solution. In a few seconds and with minimal effort, you can open or close sliding doors to change dramatically the appearance and feel of a large space. Transform a large hall into several conference rooms, and then quickly return to the larger, more open space after the meetings are over. Sliding doors used as partitions have several advantages over folding doors, another … [Read more...]

Myths about Pet Doors Part 3 With this third blog post on myths about choosing pet doors, A-1 On Track tries to clear up the confusion about purchasing and installing a door for your dog or cat. Some common misconceptions we hear about pet doors: Any door type can accommodate a pet door. As sliding door professionals, we are sometimes asked to install pet openings on doors that are not suited for them. Thin or hollow-core doors are often not sturdy enough to accommodate a pet door. Before you buy a pet door, check to be certain it will work with the type of door you have. My dog or cat won’t be able to push the door. A newly installed pet door may intimidate smaller pets. Most of the time, your animals will manage with no trouble after a little training. Use treats to encourage your pets to go in and out of the door until they become comfortable with the flap touching their bodies. In some cases, the attached magnets may actually make the flap too heavy for a small pet. … [Read more...]

Because there are so many mistaken ideas about pet doors, A-1 On Track continues its series of blog posts with more myths about pet doors. A-1 On Track, the sliding door professionals, wants to dispel those mistaken notions and help you pick the best pet door for your dog or cat. These doors offer security and convenience to animal and owner alike. Here are a few more common myths about pet doors: Lockable pet doors can be opened from the outside. In our experience, covers for pet doors that can be locked are very effective and cannot easily be pried open. In fact, most locking covers are metal or tough plastic. The better the pet door cover quality, the better the barrier against bad guys.  Adults can break into my house through the pet door. It’s true that burglars have entered homes via pet doors, but that should not stop anyone from installing a door that gives their dog or cat convenient access to the yard. There are many burglar-proof doors available that are … [Read more...]

Dispelling Myths about Pet Doors We’ve seen far too many pet door fails. Often, owners simply don’t do their homework but instead believe the many myths about pet doors. The result is continued inconvenience to both owner and pet. A-1 On Track wants to dispel those myths to help you pick the best pet door for your dog or cat. Here are a few of the top misconceptions about pet doors: Purchasing a door based on typical breed sizes ensures a proper fit for your animal. Don't buy a pet door without carefully measuring your own dog or cat. A door that should supposedly accommodate beagles, for instance, may be too small for your rotund pooch. Measure both width and height, and base your choice on those specific numbers. If the animal is young, anticipate additional growth and weight.  Pet doors can only be installed in exterior doors. Today, owners are placing pet doors all over the house to make it easier for their animals to enter bedrooms, closets, mud rooms, even … [Read more...]