Choosing the Right Door for Your Patio
Written by homefurnituretrend.com
A patio door is a very important but often overlooked aspect of a home’s architecture. Having the right patio door accents the house from both the inside and the outside. Homeowners want doors that provide expansive views of their outdoor spaces and also let plenty of sunlight come into their homes. Modern homeowners have many different styles of patio doors to choose from such as French exterior doors or sliding doors, so it’s important to know some basics before selecting their patio doors:
Types of Doors: There are three main types of patio doors that most homeowners select for their houses. Which type of door you choose is primarily down to personal tastes.
- Swinging doors open and close in a similar manner than standard exterior doors. They are hinged on the side and swing open, much in the way that a butterfly opens its wings. French doors are a type of swinging door that have several small windows in panes on each door. These doors can either swing inward or outward so you need to make sure you have enough clearance on the appropriate side for your door to open fully.
- Sliding doors don’t need room to open up — this is because they slide on a track parallel to the door opening. Most sliding patio doors are completely glass or made up almost entirely of glass. This means that they will let in a lot of natural light even when the doors are closed.
- Folding doors are made up of several sections that fold up like an accordion into a track, where they are stored overhead. Much like with sliding doors, folding doors create the ability to have wide open areas leading to and from your yard space.
Selecting the Right Glass: Not all types of glass is the same when it comes to your patio door. If you are purchasing a type of patio door with lots of windows — such as exterior French doors — you’ll want to make sure you are using a glass that is both sturdy and efficient. Low-E glass is a popular choice with modern homeowners because it is designed to keep energy bills low and protect against UV rays that can cause fading of interior carpets and furniture.
Materials: You don’t want to have to spend a lot of time cleaning and maintaining your patio doors. Selecting the right material will go a long way in making maintenance of your doors easier. Look for materials such as vinyl, fiberglass or aluminum that can be easily washed and will never need to be repainted.