Patio Doors Bring a Fresh Approach to Outdoor Living
For years, it squeaked and squealed and stuck.
Finally, after updating the landscaping and creating a beautiful new outdoor living space, the Adairs had had enough. They switched out their old original sliding patio door with a show-stopping new JELD-WEN Custom Fiberglass folding door system.
“It has literally changed our view of the space and how it works with the rest of the house, providing much greater access and openness,” said homeowner Brent Adair. “Frankly, we enjoy our outdoor area all that much more because of it.”
The right patio door will help highlight and enhance outdoor living spaces, making them more useable and comfortable. What makes for a good patio door is a combination of personal taste and practical considerations. Homeowners need to factor in:
- Traffic flow and access
- How best to play up natural elements, such as light and fresh air
- Privacy and potential space restrictions
Six Tips for Choosing the Perfect Patio Door
Tip 1: Get into the Swing of It
Swinging and French doors need clearance room to open, but can help maximize access between the indoors and outdoors, while sliding doors fit well wherever space is tight. Consider factors such as furniture and wall placement before determining which opening method works best for the space. Other options include a stationary panel combined with one swinging door.
Tip 2: Explore the Great Wide Open
Wider doorways provide greater access and a stronger sense of connection to the outdoors. They can also become beautiful focal points, as with our Folding Patio Door system that can literally open up an entire wall. Homeowners can choose systems to create an opening as wide as 48 feet. JELD-WEN also offers a 90-degree option for its Folding Patio Door system that meets in the corner, with no post required.
Tip 3: Take a Fresh Approach
Let in a breeze to cool off or to air out your house with the fresh scent of the outdoors. We offer a variety of screen options, including retractable screens, to let in air without letting in bugs. To add some style and charm to your house, consider a Dutch Exterior Door, which is literally cut in half to allow the top and bottom to operate independently. This way, you can open the top for fresh air and a view, while keeping the bottom closed to help keep track of children and pets.
Tip 4: Take Panes to Enhance Privacy and Protection
Glass is the main focal point for patio doors, and selecting the right type offers a number of benefits. Low-E glass helps lower energy bills all year and protects against UV fading. Decorative tempered glass can offer privacy, yet still allow for natural light. JELD-WEN patio doors with optional ImpactGard® provide protection against severe weather as well as potential break-ins. Our Vinyl Patio Doors are available with optional Blinds between the Glass to control light and views.
Tip 5: Make Friends with Low Maintenance
Choosing the right materials can reduce time and money spent on ongoing maintenance. Vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum and clad-wood patio doors weather well and never need painting. For easy exterior glass cleaning, we also offer Neat™ Glass, which features a thin protective layer that reacts with the sun’s UV rays (even on cloudy days) to break down and loosen dirt and to disperse water evenly to speed up evaporation and reduce spotting.
Tip 6: Material World
Different materials offer different style, performance and price advantages. The right door effectively bridges the gap between indoors and out, so our experts advise people to consider their choices as carefully as they would any other aspect of their outdoor living space. By selecting the appropriate style and performance features, it’s a decision that will pay off over the long run in many different ways. Wood, fiberglass, steel and aluminum Patio Doors offer large glass panels. Patio Doors in wood, fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum can help achieve different goals when it comes to coordinating with various architectural styles.