Hinged Doors or Sliding Doors? Which One Is Best for Your Patio

Your patio is your outdoor living space. It’s the place you go to relax or entertain guests. If you’ve decided to update your patio a bit, begin by updating your patio doors as well. So many patio door design options, and you’ve probably found yourself asking what will fit your home and work the best.

There are two main types of patio door: hinged and sliding. Both types of doors have characteristics which are sure to possess something for your house. But what sort of door is best: swivelling or sliding?

Before you make your decision, think about the benefits of each door type. Then question whether those advantages are what you really need.

Sliding Glass Doors

A typical sliding glass door slides from side to side, one glass panel is stationary and the other can slide back and forth. For benefits, you’ll receive:

Space: Space is a great asset if you entertain often. If you have furniture beside your doors, French doors that swing inward will take up space. Since sliding doors slide to the side, they free up more room for you.

Light: Two glass panels are in each sliding door. This will help in the admission of natural light into your home during the day. If you’re someone who feels cheerful in a well-lit and airy environment (along with 78 per cent of Aussies) then this potential perk might tickle your fancy.

Safety: Do you have wind in your yard? Then a sliding door would offer security in not being subject to swinging shut in wind. Nor will a young child or a dog accidentally bang it closed.

Views: Have a beautiful patio and garden but not always outside? Keep views open, even when you’re not outdoors, with sliding doors. Thanks to their wide, glass panes, they give you an unbroken view that is only a hair less than that offered by a set of French doors.

Screening: Sliding doors can be screened. This will help you keep the bugs out in the summer. Screens can also keep pets in if you’re entertaining outside.

Elegant and versatile, sliding glass doors will integrate an elegant, highly functional element that can contribute to your patio design as they also have other benefits worth considering when enhancing the aesthetic of this area of your home .

Hinged Doors and French Doors

French doors also work well with patios as they have one or more glass panels. This is a vital part of the patio door, because if it were solid, you wouldn’t see anything. If one option for your farmhouse front door is a hinged or French door, you can get all the following:

Handles: Hinged or French doors offer a wider selection of door handles. If you love to be the same throughout your room then without a doubt I would go with hinged doors.

Hooks: You can also add hooks to a hinged door in order to hang coats or clothing. If you have a backyard swimming pool, it’s handy to be able to hang towels on those hooks there.

Access: French doors open completely on both sides so you have an entire wall of access space. Sliding door only opens one way. This benefit is great when you have someone in your family who uses a wheelchair. For parties, it’s also a huge win for moving furniture to and from your patio.

Ventilation: The fact that both doors open makes French doors a really good option if you need (or want) more ventilation in your home.

Design: French doors have a more classical look as opposed to the sliding ones. If you have a colonial home, French doors work very well for the patio.

Ready to select the perfect set of patio doors for your exterior space? Contact a local door specialist to help you decide whether sliding doors are right for your home or hinged. Most suppliers have been helping customers select and install windows and doors for years and can help you determine the type of door that is right for your home.

Why Bifold Doors Work Brilliantly

Bifold doors can greatly improve your deck or patio.

The bifold doors connect your interior living space to the outside living space, increasing and even doubling your entire living and entertaining space. So when open and pushed away, bifold doors make two small rooms feel like one huge room indoor outdoor.

Bifold doors (also written as bi-fold door or bi fold doors) are available in an array of sizes to suit your home.

The wonderful thing about the design of bi fold doors is that they can be folded away very neatly and tidily with a minimal use of space. This offers unrestricted views of the outdoors and an expanded opening for you to enjoy al fresco living and dining.

Bifold’s wide opening also means that you are bringing the outdoors in, enjoying fresh air, ventilation and breeze to keep you cool in summer.

When closed, the timber or aluminium bifold door with glass panels let you enjoy the outside view while relaxing inside.

Most bifold doors have decent security, so when you are not at home you want to make sure that your house is secure and can enjoy all of the fantastic features of bifold doors.

There are now supplied on the market fly screens that form a part of the bifold door system. So that you can, if you choose this sort of door, watch these views without bugs getting in the home.

Bifold Door Options

You can choose to either fold your doors back on both sides or just one side of the door, depending on how much space you have in a room for bifold doors. The doors are also different heights and widths so there’s a lot of flexibility which means that you have plenty to choose from.

Different types of glass glazing is also available that will help you maintain an overview without being too uncomfortable in summer by protecting from sun and heat, and enable good heat insulation during winter.

It is important to mention that bifold doors with glass inserts require some work to maintain its clean and attractive lustre. This is doubly so for people with children, as you will still notice your children’s handprints all over it.

Timber and Glass Bifold Doors

Timber and glass bifold doors look amazing with a fresh timber deck or patio. Timber bi fold doors can therefore add to the value of your home not just in terms of practical usage but also in aesthetic value.

Closed timber and glass bifold doors let in natural light to your home and view of deck or patio and garden.

However, the ‘wow’ and beauty of warm timber bifold doors does come with its drawback. Wooden bi fold doors require a lot of maintenance so as to make sure they last and remain attractive.

Aluminium Bifold Doors

And just like wood and glass bifold doors, aluminium folding doors allow natural light to enter your home with the panels closed. Just as with wood and glass panelled folding doors, aluminium bifold doors give you a view of your patio or deck area through the glazing to your exterior space beyond.

Aluminium folding doors do require less ongoing maintenance and in some people’s opinions look just as nice, if not better than timber bifolding doors.

Powder coated aluminium sliding door with good weather resistance and long life span.

Just like wood and glass folding doors, aluminium bifold doors need the glass wiped down occasionally to get rid of dirty handprints and dirt and dust.

Considerations When Selecting Bifold Doors For Your Home

Here are the top considerations you need to take in mind when selecting bifold doors for your patio or deck:

What matters most is understanding what you actually need from your patio doors. Some people prioritise light and views, others need maximum ventilation or easy wheelchair access. There’s no single right answer , just the right answer for your home and how you live in it.

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