What Type of Patio Door Is Right for Your Home?

A great many homeowners have already discovered that the door most frequently used in their home is the patio door. Especially in the summer time, when family members enjoy spending time on the deck outside, a great deal of traffic flows through the patio door. Given the fact that it gets this much usage, it makes sense to put some real thought and consideration into choosing the right kind of patio door when you have to replace your old one.

You may have been completely satisfied with your old patio door, but that still doesn’t mean you have to choose the exact same type of door as its replacement. Keep in mind that there are quite a few stylish and attractive types of patio doors which you’ll be able to choose from. You should acquaint yourself with these, so you can make the most informed decision about a replacement door. If you take your time and carefully review the options, you should be able to make a selection which you’ll be very happy with for a number of years into the future.

Folding patio doors

When you install a folding patio door as the entranceway to your patio or deck, you have the opportunity to make a real statement for your outdoor living space. A typical usage for a folding patio door system is when you have a very wide space where your door system would fit into, and it works like an accordion by folding up into door sections. There might be anywhere from two to eight panels of full glass doors which can be opened up or closed down, and they will all be situated on a track system for convenient usage. When you have a really wide space available opening up onto your deck, this might be the very best choice you can make.

Swinging or French patio doors

French patio doors have the same type of hinges that a regular door would have, and they come in a number of different styles, colors, and finishes. You can also purchase a French door with decorative glass, or with ornate stylings around the framework. Other options might be to choose a normal side-by-side French door, or to purchase a configuration which features three French doors side-by-side.

Of course, this will depend on how much space you have in the door frame which opens up on to the patio. You really can’t go wrong if you select a French patio door with full glass panels, because this will allow maximum natural sunlight to enter into your residence and brighten up the inside. At the same time, you’ll have a very stylish-looking door to admire while you’re relaxing on the patio or the deck with friends or family members.

Sliding patio doors

These types of doors are traditional favorites, largely because of their style, affordability, versatility, and ease-of-use. It’s very easy to navigate to the outdoors or back inside when you have sliding patio doors installed. This might be important when you’re having guests over, and there’s a steady flow of traffic between inside and outside, especially when you’re grilling outdoors and you need to bring materials and foods outside.

One of the things people appreciate most about sliding patio doors is the fact that they incorporate full panels of class, and that allows abundant natural sunshine to come into the home and make the interior much brighter. If you go this route, you should also plan on purchasing a patio door screen, so that you can use the screen when you want to let fresh air into the house. On colder days or rainy days, you can restore the natural glass frame, and enjoy the protection it affords to the interior.

Patio door materials

After you’ve decided on which particular type of patio doors you’d like to install at your home, you should also give some thought to the material you’d like your patio door to be constructed of. Vinyl has become extremely popular because of its low maintenance, and its strong resistance to weather elements. Wood can be a really beautiful material for patio doors, but you will probably have to commit more time in maintaining them, and they’ll also be somewhat more expensive.

Metal patio doors such as aluminum or steel can be extremely durable, but they’re not quite as energy-efficient as some of the other patio door materials. Fiberglass has become a popular choice because it’s extremely durable, lightweight, and weather-resistant. Depending on which of these features is most important to you, that should guide your decision on what specific material you want your patio doors to be made of.