While they may not be the first door that your neighbors will see when they look at your house, the patio door is most likely the only other door that separates the outside world from the comfort of your home. The main difference is that your entry door leads to your front lawn and out to the streets while your patio door… leads to your patio.
Just like the entry door, there are many important factors that you need to look for in a patio door. Keep in mind that your patio door will perform in a very similar way to an entry door. However, that doesn’t mean you should stick a second entry door on your house and be done with it. You have to understand some patio-door specific things. Here’s a quick rundown of these important factors and how they are a bit different from the entry door.
Style
While both your entry and patio doors still have to match the visual theme of your home, it doesn’t mean they should look identical. Remember that your patio door opens up to a different-looking side of your home (in most cases, a stone or brick patio and garden-related pieces). Let me put it this way, your entry door is like your business attire: something you’d want to wear to make an impression when meeting new people. On the other hand, the patio door is like your casual wear, something that would make you feel comfortable at home, and something that actually makes you want to feel at home.
Size
If there’s one thing that makes it easy to tell the difference between the patio door and the entry door, it’s the size. Because the patio door opens to a wide and open area, they can afford to be a bit larger than your average entry doors. In fact, this is the main reason why almost any patio doors you will see are double doors.
Outdoor View
Of course, patio doors are not just about looking good; they’re also about making other parts of your home look good. Do you remember what I said earlier about connecting the outside world to your home? That’s also the same thing that makes patio doors with large glass panels very good options. Like a large window, your patio door helps you appreciate the outdoors even without having to step outside. It also gives the rest of your home a more “open” feel to it.
Durability
Of course, a pretty door won’t do you any good if it breaks apart. You’d want a patio door that’s strong enough to withstand different outside factors. Patio doors manufactured today are required to pass certain standards when it comes to weather resistance, but that doesn’t mean you should just pick any option out of impulse. Some materials are more suitable for your patio door needs than others are, and you’ll have to consult a patio door professional about that.
Security
As your secondary portal to the comfort of your home, you want to make sure that the patio door you’re getting provides enough protection from unauthorized entry. Look for doors with two or three locking systems (deadbolt locks and top or bottom locks offer extra security).
Those are five major points you should consider when looking for a good patio door. I hope that this helps you make better decisions when browsing through your patio door brochures. Till next time!
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About the Author:
Dave Steffes of Renewal by Andersen Des Moines is a seasoned veteran of the home improvement industry. He has been in the business officially for 25 years, and spent most of his growing years in the company of his father, a homebuilder with nearly 600 homes in his repertoire. He believes that the best way to run a tight home improvement business is to treat everybody as individuals, not just clients or employees. You can read some of his posts over at http://www.rbadesmoines.com/blog/.
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