A Complete Guide to Choosing a Patio Door

 

 

Is your patio door difficult to operate and has an outdated design? If so, you need to get a new one.

A new patio door will improve your home’s curb appeal and increase your property value. Besides, if you purchase an energy-efficient door, you will save on energy bills.

However, when buying patio doors, you have to be cautious. Not any patio door out there shall be a good fit for your home’s architectural design and needs.

You must ensure your new patio door takes your home’s curb appeal a notch higher and offers the best value for your money.

Otherwise, choosing the wrong one shall be a waste of your money and time. Not to mention you might be forced to replace it prematurely down the road.

Choosing the best residential patio door can be a daunting task with so many designs and options out there. So how do you choose a patio door that will suit your home renovation needs? If you have no idea, worry no more.

Here is a complete guide on how to choose patio doors.

Pay Attention to the Door Style

When buying patio doors, you should understand that not all designs out there will be a good fit for your home’s architectural design. You must ensure the door style that you select offers maximum functionality.

The two common types of residential patio doors are French and sliding patio doors. French doors have two hinged sashes that coincide at the center.

If your home is a traditional architectural style, the French doors are a good option. However, there must be sufficient space to swing them open as they are fitted with hinges.

Sliding patio doors are quite common and suitable for modern homes. They are fitted with sashes that slide along tracks located at the bottom of the door frame.

This makes them space-efficient. If you have tight spaces, the sliding patio doors are the best option for you.

Consider the Frame Material

Patio doors come in different frame materials. The type of material you choose will determine your door’s functionality, durability, and maintenance cost.

Wood is one of the common materials used with patio door frames. It gives your home a natural feel. However, you have to regularly paint and stain it to keep it in good shape all year round.

Aluminum is the other material used for patio door frames. It’s a suitable option due to its lightweight and its pretty affordable.

However, to improve its energy efficiency, it requires an insulated core. Besides, it must be coated regularly; otherwise, it will get corroded.

Steel is another option for your patio door frame. Like aluminum doors, you have to apply a paint coating to prevent corrosion.

But if you want a low-cost and easy-to-maintain partial door frame, vinyl might be a good option. The material doesn’t require any protective coating and is available in a wide range of colors.

However, it has limited structural strength and is susceptible to extreme temperatures.

You can also go for composite door frames if you have a modern home. They are easy to maintain and have high resistance to extreme temperatures and moisture.

Consider Your Budget

Before investing in patio doors, you need to come up with a budget. You must ensure to go for patio doors whose cost you can comfortably meet.

Otherwise, if you go for patio doors whose costs are beyond your budget, you might end up in a deep debt hole. But if you know your spending limits, you can narrow down your options to those patio doors you can comfortably afford.

But, when searching for patio doors to match your budget, you must factor in maintenance costs. Some patio doors have a low upfront cost and high maintenance cost.

Ensure to purchase patio doors whose maintenance cost shall not be a burden to your budget.

Energy Efficiency

Your patio doors’ energy efficiency can greatly affect your energy bills. If your door is energy inefficient, your energy bill will definitely go up.

Thus, before purchasing a patio door, you need to understand its energy efficiency ratings. In most cases, wood and vinyl patio doors are the most energy-efficient.

If you opt for glass patio doors, pay attention to ratings. If you find the package of the glass patio door written: “low E” or “filled insulated glass,” avoid buying them; they are not energy efficient.

To avoid landing on such products, ensure to stick to those that come with energy star certification.

Required Upgrades

Before purchasing patio doors, you must consider the upgrades that you would want to incorporate on the doors. Not all patio doors will support any kind of upgrade.

The ability to customize your doors gives you the chance to portray your taste and style preference. Some customizations that you can incorporate on your door include diamond, perimeter, and colonial.

You can consider incorporating a patio screen door if you have a glass patio door. The patio screen door is essential for keeping insects out.

To showcase your taste, choose doors that can support your preferred upgrades.

Functionality

When selecting patio doors, pay attention to your home’s traffic. If you have children, guests, and deliveries passing through the doors regularly, you must choose a strong material for your door.

Vinyl would be a good option in such a case: it’s a strong and easy-to-maintain material. However, for maximum functionality of your doors, ensure they are correctly installed.

If installing patio doors is something you are not good at, hire patio door installation experts.

Choose the Right Patio Door Today

Choosing a patio door that will offer maximum functionality and the best value for your money can be a daunting task. But with the right tips and guide, choosing the best becomes easy.

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