Choosing The Right Home Patio Doors
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Properly placed doors help add lighting to rooms while also providing an extra entrance or exit for your home. Patio doors are used to gain access to a patio or porch, but they can also be used as unconventional separating doors throughout your home. It’s important to choose the right doors to fit your intended purpose. There are a few different patio door types that you can choose.
One of the most common types of doors are sliding doors because they are one of the more budget-friendly options. These doors slide along a track system attached to your ceiling and floor. One side slides, the other side stays in place, and often there’s a screen that slides along the outer section of the tracking. Sliding doors used to be made from aluminum frames, but they are now available in other materials like PVC vinyl.
If you are looking for a more modern patio door design, a french style door may be a good choice. French doors are double doors, and many people choose them because you can open one side or both sides if needed to widen the doorway. They can be combined with modern styled handles and locks to create a simple but sophisticated look. Not only are these doors a good option for a patio entrance or exit, but they are also great options for doors inside the home. You can find classic colors like white, made from aluminum or PVC. You can also find french doors in natural hardwoods.
A large influence on your decision for which style door you choose lies in the size of your doorway and the size of the door. Obviously, you don’t want to run into a problem with the door fitting properly. You can always make small doorways larger to fit the standard sixty or seventy-five inch doors. What do you do if your doorway is too large for the door? You can add glass side panels on both sides or you can make the doorways smaller.
Many people have the ability to install their patio door on their own. This may be a great way to save some money, it may not be the best way to go. You may actually cause damage to the door or your doorway, and you could also wind up voided any manufacturer’s warranty coverage. If you intend on installing the door, make sure that the warranty doesn’t specifically state that it must be professionally installed.
Although having a patio door can allow more light to flow through the house, you may be reducing the amount of privacy that you have since many of the door styles have full length glass. If you don’t want to allow people to be able to see into your house at certain times, you will need to choose doors that offer a bit more privacy. There are many models that have different types of decorative glass to help with this problem. You can also install mini-blinds, vertical blinds, or curtains that can be opened or closed as you desire.
There are a few options for the type of door frame that is available. There are hardwood frames, like cherry, pine, and oak that can be sealed or stained to maintain a natural beauty, but they are often best for regions that don’t have extreme weather conditions. PVC is an easily cleaned type of frame material, although a little wider, that is usually chosen for energy efficiency. Sliding doors are often made from aluminum with a layer of insulation inside and can be painted almost any color that you desire.
Choosing the right patio doors for your home doesn’t have to feel like rocket science. Deciding which type of door involves considering the frame and style as well as your budget. A little well-researched planning is all you need to help you make the appropriate choice for you and your family.
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