Do you want to have a private space in your home where you can enjoy a relaxing al fresco ambiance?
Well, you probably already have a garden where you can spend some alone time drinking tea and reading a good book while enjoying the greenery around you.
The door leading to your garden patio will help set the mood. Hence, it is crucial that you carefully consider the design and the materials that you will use.
Would you want to have a more subtle and gradual transition between the interior of your home and your garden? Or, would you want a more abrupt change in ambiance when you open the door into your patio?
You can have either one of these effects depending on the type of door design and patio you have. You need to choose from various high-quality patio doors to have the best results.
1. Decide on the materials to use
Whether you are a home improvement DIY hobbyist or a professional contractor, you should consider both the aesthetics and the functionality of the doors. The type of materials that you will use will affect both these aspects.
You can choose one type or a combination of these materials. You may use materials that can blend with the overall architecture of your house and with the landscape design of your garden. You may also choose materials that can accentuate both the house and the garden. You must also consider other factors such as the climate in your area.
Fiberglass material
You can use this material if you want your doors to be resilient to extreme weather fluctuations. It can withstand heat and cold changes for many years without warping or peeling.
This material neither absorbs water nor corrodes, making it ideal for areas that are near the sea or in rainy regions. It can also be painted to look like wood, bamboo, stone or other natural materials.
Wood
If you want to have a rustic, cabin-like look for your door, you can choose wood as the main material. The natural grain pattern and color of the wood can be exposed for aesthetic purposes.
However, you should apply a protective transparent coating like varnish or “liquid glass” epoxy resin to prevent water, mold, and termites from ruining the wood.
Aluminum
You may choose to use aluminum if you want a tough but lightweight door. You can save money using this material, and it is also highly customizable and relatively easy to install.
PVC-U
The most cost-effective and durable material for a patio door is PVC-U. It is energy efficient in terms of blocking heat from the exterior and preventing heat from escaping from the interior when the doors are closed. It does not fade, crack, corrode, or rot.
2. Select a basic configuration
Once you have decided on the materials that you will use for your doors, you should decide on what type of basic design you want it to have. Commercially available doors come in three basic designs that can be installed in different configurations.
If you are still not sure about the size of the threshold you want, you may purchase doors that do not have fixed windows to allow for easy adjustments. The three main types of door configurations include the following:
Folding doors
These doors are divided into multiple (at least three) sections that are connected by hinges, allowing the doors to be folded like an accordion.
Opening or closing these doors do not require large clearance like sliding doors but a bit of a gap from the wall is required. This could restrict the placement of some furniture as well.
If you want to have a wider threshold, folding doors are the best choice. These are ideal for large outdoor living spaces such as a deck with several types of furniture like chairs, a sofa, and a dining table.
Sliding doors
These are the most common types of doors for patios. With these, you can optimize the patio space to accommodate your furniture. Since these doors have wheels that slide on a track, they can open parallel to the wall or to fixed windows.
These doors do not need clearance to open, allowing furniture to be placed right in front of the opening without blocking the closing or opening functions of the doors.
Swinging doors
These are similar to traditional doors that either opens out onto the patio or into the house or both ways.
Consequently, swinging doors require a larger clearance that is equivalent to the area of the arc covered by door width as it swings open. Furniture cannot be placed on the path of these doors.
3. Choose the type of glass
You should also consider the type of glass to use. Would you want large panes, tempered glass, frosted glass, triple glazed glass or colorful stained glass?
- Large glass panes – If you want to maximize the house interior’s natural illumination, you should choose large glass panes instead of smaller ones.
- Tempered glass – This type of glass is strong but under stronger impact force, it will shatter into harmless small rounded pieces instead of into jagged shards.
- Frosted glass – If you want some privacy indoor, you can use this type of glass. It allows light to pass through, but the light becomes scattered, blocking the image.
- Stained glass – You can use this if you want your door to be highly ornate. It is similar to frosted glass in terms of the way it scatters light, but it also filters the colors of the visible spectrum. You can arrange the glass into artistic patterns like flowers or even human forms.
Putting the elements together
Once you have decided on the type of materials to use, the basic configuration, and the type of glass, you can then assemble the doors. If you want to customize the doors, you can combine various materials and implement your own design.
If you cannot do it as a DIY project, you can always hire a professional contractor. However, you should still provide input in terms of design ideas so you can be certain the final product will be exactly what you want.
AUTHOR BIO
Carmen Velilla is an experienced Brand Manager currently overseeing the strategic development of multiple brands as part of the Epwin Group. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (ACIM), specializing in Corporate Communication and Digital Marketing.
