Patio Doors vs Garden Doors: What’s The Difference?

Patio Doors vs Garden Doors: What’s The Difference?

October 18, 2021
By:
Martin Whitmore, President of US Window & Door
patio doors vs garden doors

Comparing Patio Doors and Garden Doors

Patio doors or Sliding doors tend to be used in living rooms and porches, while the Garden and French doors easily allow you to exit out to courtyards and gardens. Both types of doors allow plenty of natural light to enter from the patio, however, patio doors have larger glass panes that allow a flood of natural light.

Patio doors are often chosen to replace garden doors due to the clear and strong barrier between the interior and exterior of the house. Patio doors maximize the glass surface ratio of the glass frame due to their design, giving you unobstructed views of your backyard. Sliding doors don’t have doors that swing open, which means there is more room left for interior design and furniture placement. Sliding doors are a great space-saving option as one door slides side to side while the other remains stable. Sliding glass patio doors, depending on the configuration, offer more flexibility in the arrangement of furniture in a room than French doors and offer a wider opening. 

milgard patio doors and french doors for your home

If you prefer a wider opening, a garden door might be a better option for you. Garden doors or French doors are double doors that allow you to easily move large objects in and out of your home. French doors provide easy access to a terrace or ornate river into your kitchen or living room and can customize a home to reflect your unique style. They provide natural light, good ventilation, improved energy efficiency, and enchant any room in the house if you choose our French sliding doors or French patio doors which offer a timeless style and sliding configuration with simple sliding performance. The materials of each door can change their appearance from traditional to contemporary.

If you are worried about security, there are different types of doors for your terrace as it is the entrance to your house. Garden doors have a locking point that slides down, while patio doors have the option of installing a kick lock or safety bar to provide peace of mind from burglaries. While garden doors typically have a lock, the sliding design of patio doors allows the integration of an optional security bar or lock to prevent an unattended break-in. 

Pros of Sliding Patio Doors

advantages and disadvantages of sliding patio doors

• They let in immense amounts of light. 

• One thing most homeowners love about sliding doors is they do not require any additional space. Inswing or outswing doors require extra room to operate. 

• Sliding patio doors are very neat and streamlined. The linear look is very modern and does not disrupt the flow of frames and boxes

Cons of Sliding Patio Doors

• These doors do not hold up well in areas that experience extreme weather conditions. 

• These doors are not super easy to maintain. 

• While these doors do have locks and latches, they are not as strong as the latches and bolts on standard doors. 

Pros of garden Doors

• Can dramatically change the appearance of a home both inside and out and can match a specific style

• Available in a huge variety of colors, frames, finishes, materials and hinge swing options

• Available in a French Door style with 2 opening doors or a Centered Patio door configuration with one opening door and one fixed door

advantages and disadvantages of garden doors

• Some manufacturers offer operational casement windows with interior screens for added for ventilation

Cons of garden Doors

• Screen options are limited

• Requires interior or exterior space to allow the door to swing open

• Must conform to standard door widths and heights

• Because of their larger frame requirements, Garden doors let less visible light into the home than patio doors.

Patio Doors: Best for Endless Views and Natural Lighting

Sliding doors allow you to open your house to natural light and give you a view of your yard to allow you to enjoy the light and watch your children from inside when your patio door is closed. Several large openings with sliding glass doors like the Milagard Trinsic sliding doors create different interior and exterior areas with their own picturesque views. Modern patio doors are built with clean lines and a focus on the generous glass to provide plenty of natural light and artful views. If you are looking to enjoy the maximum amount of natural light, the Milgard Trinsic sliding door is one of the best options for unobstructed views and natural lighting.

exterior sliding patio door in white

Choosing the Best Exterior Door for Your Home

When choosing a door for your home it is important to understand what your ultimate goal is. Do you want more space in your home and more light? Or do you have a specific look for your home and prefer a wider opening? If you are unsure of what exterior door best suits your home, call US Window & Door and one of our representatives will provide you with all the information you need to help you decide on the type of style door your home needs. US Window & Door provides free in-home consultations, our representatives will help you make an easy decision at the end of your consultation.