Looking for new patio doors but not sure whether you should go for French doors, sliding doors or bi-fold doors? Then there’s the frame to think about. Should you go for uPVC, aluminium or a timber construction? Here are some tips to help you choose the right patio doors for your home.
Construction materials
Before we examine the door styles, let’s take a look at what they’re made of first. Timber is a natural material which has been in use for hundreds of years. If you live in a conservation area and you’ve decided to buy new doors or windows, you may be required to use a timber construction. If so, go for a good quality timber – it can be pricey but the difference between cheap wooden doors and good quality ones is huge. Invest in a higher grade of timber such as oak and they’ll last longer – it’s that simple. Also bear in mind, no matter how good the quality of your wooden-framed windows or doors are, they’ll still need some maintenance every few years with a fresh coat of paint or wood-stain to keep them weatherproof.
UPVC became popular back in the late 60’s and early 70’s as the plastics industry boomed. Manufacturers found a way to mass produce uPVC doors therefore they’re the least expensive of all doors. However, in recent years, uPVC has been given a bad press as polyvinyl chloride is a known toxin; also uPVC door frames are non-recyclable. On the plus side however, uPVC doors are among the cheapest on the market.
Aluminium door frames have, on the other hand, been celebrated for their really long lifespan, for being virtually maintenance free, and easy to recycle if ever you decide to replace them. This is why trusted companies such as UK company Origin and German company Dutemänn have both chosen to use aluminium in the production of their patio doors. Now for the styles.
French Doors
Traditional French doors are made from oak or other hard-wearing timber. They also have multiple small panes of glass called ‘lights.’ However, times change and French doors can now be made of other materials such as uPVC or aluminium. It’s also perfectly acceptable for French doors to have fewer panes of glass, or even just one in each door.
As there are normally only two doors in a French door configuration, they’re particularly useful when the opening is limited in size. They’re also perfect if you live in a restored country cottage that just wouldn’t look the part with modern doors fitted.
Sliding Patio Doors
The term, patio doors was coined for sliding doors back in the 1960’s. A few years ago they became less popular but are now making a huge comeback. The benefit sliding doors have over many other type of patio doors is that they don’t need space to fold outwards (or inwards), but the downside of a typical sliding door configuration is that only one can be open at any one time. However, even this challenge has now been overcome with the availability of ‘pocket doors’ which slide fully into recesses in the walls at either side. This delivers a completely open outlook and no loss of space through folding them either indoors or out.
Dutemänn Sliding Doors
In our quest to remove as many barriers as possible and let in more light German manufacturer has created the Dutemänn Glide-S sliding doors. The Glide-S has an aluminium frame which is slimmer than most other doors on the market. It’s also stronger, which means you can have fewer but larger panes of glass in each frame. In fact, a whole wall of sliding doors isn’t out of the question. The Dutemänn Glide-S uses a ‘lift & glide’ system which means that they lift onto a ball-bearing system and open and close effortlessly.
Bi-fold Doors
Bi-fold doors have become a huge success story in the last few years. This is due to their ability to fold open completely which removes the barriers between your inside and outside space. This has all but revolutionised the patio door market. Bi-fold doors have a low-threshold which means there’s no real boundary between your home and your garden thereby creating a free-flowing space between the two. They’re also thermally efficient keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Bi-fold doors can be made from uPVC or timber but it’s the aluminium bi-fold door marketplace which has taken off the most. They’re virtually maintenance-free and strong. So strong in fact, that the aluminium bi-fold doors from British manufacturer, Origin bi fold doors come with an industry-leading 20-year guarantee!
Safe as Houses
So patio doors can look great but how secure are they? Isn’t it easier for an intruder to get access to your home through patio doors? Again it goes back to investing in a better quality product. It has been known for savvy, professional burglars to lift a cheap set of sliding patio doors completely out of their housing. So make sure you choose patio doors whether French, sliding or bi-fold, that are Police endorsed with the Secured by Design standard. All sliding, French and Bi-fold doors from Origin also come with multi-point locking systems to keep you as safe as houses.
So now you know the options on offer which patio doors will you choose?