If you’re ready to replace your patio doors, you may be wondering if you should get sliding patio doors, French doors, or another option. There are many sliding glass door types and sliding door options to consider, and it’s wise to learn the features and benefits of each one to find the perfect match.
Sliding glass door designs can overwhelm homeowners who may not realize just how many decisions are involved beyond choosing the style and materials. Sliding doors have come a long way since the first century, when the Romans used them. Today’s homes usually feature patio doors of some kind that allow ease of access to a deck, pool, or yard space, and modern designs aim to meld them seamlessly while upholding energy efficiency and security.
Pinnacle Home Improvements provides unparalleled craftsmanship in an array of home improvement services, including installing sliding patio doors. In this blog post, we explain the various types of sliding patio doors to help you find the right ones to enhance your home.
Benefits of Sliding Patio Doors
Why should you choose sliding glass doors for your home? They have several key benefits that make them a great option:
Space-Saving
If you have tight spaces, then saving as much space as possible is crucial. Sliding patio doors don’t open inward or outward, but rather, glide along a track. These panels allow you to maximize the enjoyment of your outdoor spaces without having to worry about blocking your path.
Energy Efficiency
Modern sliding glass doors can feature glass with low-E coatings or gas fills, and the door frames can be made from materials that help you avoid wasting energy. Additionally, sliding patio doors with weatherstripping will also improve how efficient they are, allowing you to enjoy your view without worrying about your energy bills.
More Natural Light
Sliding glass doors are a prime choice for letting more sunlight into your home. Coupled with energy-enhancing features, these sliding patio doors will illuminate your interior, which means you won’t need to turn on your light fixtures to brighten up your room by day.
Types of Sliding Doors for Your Patio
Sliding doors or gliding doors are a popular choice to access your backyard and patio area. Here are the four most common types of sliding patio doors:
Standard Sliding Glass Doors
Traditional sliding doors are a versatile choice, where you can pick a door frame that’s fully framed, semi-frameless, or even frameless, giving you a clear and unobstructed view outdoors with more natural light in your home. You can enhance energy efficiency too with insulated, tempered, or laminated glass door panels, proving that the standard sliding door isn’t all that standard after all!
Bi-Fold Sliding Glass Doors
Bi-fold doors allow you to fold them back in sections, making them great for accessing the full width of your opening. If you have a grand pool deck, bi-fold doors might be a better option than traditional sliding patio doors.
Pocket Sliding Doors
You can have sliding doors created as pocket doors. Named for fitting in the pocket of the wall, they may be an ideal option over standard sliding doors to help save you additional space.
French Sliding Glass Doors
If you love the look of French doors but would prefer sliding doors for your patio doors, then French sliding patio doors are the perfect choice. They feature multiple glass panels and a sophisticated elegance. These can also be fitted with enhanced security features such as quality sliding door locks to give you greater peace of mind.
While barn doors are a popular choice these days, they aren’t an ideal choice for patio doors. Keep them on your interior and choose patio doors that slide on a built-in track or are hinged for the best protection.
Styles of Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding patio doors come in an array of styles to enhance your indoor and outdoor spaces. If you have a modern home design, there are sliding doors that will match this look with ease. Fear not-if your home has a more classic style, as sliding doors, particularly French ones, can create a cohesive look that will increase your home’s value and aesthetic appeal.
You can choose standard sizes or go for something custom with panels that take up the entire wall to truly make your home feel open and airy. If you’re not sure what would work or look best for creating the aesthetic you want, it’s easy to set up a consultation prior to installation that will help you look at all the options for patio doors and find the best fit.
Materials Used for Sliding Glass Doors
When you install patio doors, you’ll also need to think about more than just the style. You’ll have to consider the frame, how it slides open, and the glass type. Tempered glass and laminated glass are common options that can improve safety and security as well as keep your energy costs down.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is a smart option that resists breaks from impacts and thermal stress. It isn’t impervious, but if it does break, it comes apart in small pieces that protect from injuries. You can count on this glass to provide enhanced safety and security.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass takes things a step further from tempered glass. It is excellent for resisting impacts and injuries, provides enhanced security, and gives your home protection from UV rays.
The type of glass for these panels can impact the cost, especially laminated glass, though getting the right one in standard sizes will cut down on those costs.
Maintenance Tips: How to Maintain and Prolong the Life of Sliding Glass Doors
Taking care of your patio doors is an easy task, which will make these doors slide open with ease every time. These patio doors require less maintenance than other styles, and you’ll only need to remember a few things:
Clean the Track
Lots of gunk and debris can get trapped in your sliding patio door tracks. A vacuum cleaner attachment can help you make short work of cleaning things up, pulling out the dust and debris. Then, you can use warm, soapy water to gently wipe away the rest of the dirt. Go a step further for those patio doors and use an old butter knife or putty knife to get into the grooves. Your patio doors will then have no obstruction to help them glide along with ease!
Add Lubrication for a Smoother Glide
The tracks of your patio doors may stick from time to time, and lubrication can help. However, if you have aluminum tracks, this can cause issues by gumming up the rollers.
Change Out Old Weatherstripping and Rollers
When your weatherstripping is wearing away, replace it to help enhance your energy efficiency. You should remove the old strips, clean off the surface, and then install the new weatherstripping. As for the rollers, they may be dirty and need to be cleaned. However, if you see damage, you will need to replace them to keep your patio doors gliding along as they were designed to do.
Pinnacle Home Improvements Offerings
For sliding doors, entry doors, or any other type of exterior door for your home, Pinnacle Home Improvements provides you with a variety of options that allow you to welcome in the fresh air and illuminate your space.
If you’re not sure which type of patio doors to choose, sliding doors are the most efficient way to brighten up a room and give it that open, airy feel. Choose ones with extra panels or a French style. We’ll show you all of your options to help you find the perfect fit.
We also provide excellence in craftsmanship for roof replacement, windows, and siding. Let us help you fall in love with your home all over again by scheduling a free estimate on our services. Read our blogs to get more information about doors and our other services, including: siding, roofing, windows, gutters, gutter protection, and soffit and fascia.
