Patio doors provide natural light as well as natural cooling in the home.
Modern patio door designs are taller and wider depending on the length and height of the walls. Therefore, you should take care when choosing patio door materials and styles so that you do not compromise the safety of your home.
Sometimes when homeowners are careless, patio doors pose a risk because they may provide easy access for intruders. The following are tips to help you make the right decision when choosing an ideal patio door.
- Consider the right opening method for you
Depending on the room in your house, go for doors that are hard to open from the outside. Swinging and French doors require enough room to open. You can put furniture behind them when the doors are not in use so that it becomes a bit difficult to open them from the outside.
If you have a tight space to work with, consider having a stationary panel and install a sliding door. The way your patio door opens can also be influenced by the style and the make of the rest of the doors in your home.
- Choose durable materials
If your patio doors are constantly in use, choose a material that can handle the traffic. You can use clad-wood, vinyl, fiberglass or aluminium. Make sure that the material you choose is easy to install and maintain.
- Take caution when using glass
Many people like glass since it lets in natural light, and it is beautiful to look at. If you want to opt for glass, make sure that you get the type with the most benefits.
Install a glass patio door that helps you to save energy bills such as Low E-glass. Buy glass that protects your home against UV rays. You can even get decorated glass or tempered glass for style and privacy. If you have glass patio doors, consider installing another type of window treatment to protect the glass and control light.
- Take the right safety measures
Buglers and other intruders are notorious for breaking in through the patio doors. Make sure that they are not easy to slide by force or easy to lift off the tracks. Install double pane glass that is not easy to break. If you have sliding doors, install a security bar to keep them from sliding easily; and invest in good quality locks.
- Consider the style of your home
Your patio doors should complement the rest of your house. If you have a contemporary home with a modern feel, you can use glass, vinyl, fiberglass and metallic materials for the patio doors.
You can incorporate large folding and sliding doors that go with a modern setting. If your home has a traditional or classic ambience, go for solid wood, clad wood, cork and other natural materials.
Select a door style that will go well with the rest of the home. Consider the architecture of the other doors and match the patio doors to them.
