Sliding doors are some of the best doors that you can choose for your patio. Remember, indoor to outdoor living should allow for a seamless transition from the interior space to the outside. Sliding patio doors help you achieve this as they slide out of the way entirely and allow traffic to flow uninterrupted.
Sliding doors are typically more prominent than the other types of doors, sometimes occupying the entire wall. This comes in handy when hosting guests. People can conveniently go back and forth without squeezing into each other.
By their mode of operation, sliding doors save on space. With hinged doors that swing outwards, you need to allow space around the door for opening and closing. As the name aptly suggests, sliding doors slide over each other on a track and occupy minimal space.
Even when closed, the doors allow in plenty of light to their extensive glass panes. You may have come across some houses where you have to keep the lights on even during the day. Why consume power when the sun is all out? With sliding doors, you will enjoy bright natural lighting throughout the day. A well-lit house instantly appears more spacious and welcoming.
Once open, the doors allow fresh air to circulate through the home—no more stuffy and damp rooms when you slide those doors open. In hot weather, allowing in the breeze cools the house and minimizes your air conditioning needs.
We can’t forget the views that sliding patio doors offer. There will be days when you can’t step out of the house. Perhaps, you’re working on something, or the weather is just not conducive. You can still enjoy the outdoor views from the comfort of your house. Is your home surrounded by captivating sceneries? Let the sliding doors frame those views and make the sight even more amazing. If you have children playing on the patio, you can easily keep an eye on them.
Finally, modern patio sliding doors come in various styles and designs that add a sophisticated touch to your home. If you want a fresh look without breaking the bank, installing sliding doors would be a perfect fit.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Even after you’ve decided that sliding doors are the best fit for your patio, you’ll still be confronted with further questions about the exact type of sliding doors that are best for you. Many people may want sliding doors, yet every person has unique needs in their home. What purpose do you want your doors to serve? You can narrow down exactly what you need by answering these questions.
At US Window & Door, we have a wide range of sliding doors to suit different needs. In the past years, we have carried out hundreds of door replacement projects across Southern California and left a trail of happy homeowners. We’re ready to bring a similar experience to you. We can send one of our door experts to your house for a review. This will help us understand exactly what we’re working with. Before then, you can help us get an idea of what you have in mind by attempting to answer the following questions:
How Important Is Indoor to Outdoor Living?
Indoor to outdoor living refers to blending interior and exterior areas to make one extended usable space. This trend is quickly becoming popular, thanks to the incredible benefits it adds to the home.
To begin with, this arrangement expands your living space significantly. Do you have a small home that would do with some extra square footage? Do you need more room to entertain your guests? Do you need an alternative sitting area? Indoor to outdoor living offers you an additional multi-use space, and your home feels larger.
If you love entertaining guests, indoor to outdoor living adds to your options. Your patio can consist of so much more than a sitting area. You can include a grill, TV, fireplace, kids’ play area, and so on. Even in the absence of guests, these facilities will enhance the quality of time you spend with your loved ones. You don’t always need to go to a hotel. You can turn your outdoor space into your own pleasant haven to relax and unwind.
Indoor to outdoor living spaces let you experience the refreshing outdoors more often. Spending more time outdoors has distinct health benefits. You may have noticed that you feel better just by stepping out when having a rough day.
The breeze, the fresh air, the greenery - the sight and feel of the outdoors calm you, clear your mind, and put you at ease. If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce stress, spending time outdoors is the most efficient option.
Having a patio allows you to enjoy such benefits as often as you wish. Remember, you’ll not always be in a position to step out and take a walk. It could be due to limited time or extreme weather. With a patio, you can bask in nature without leaving your home.
Looking for ways to increase the value of your home? Consider adding indoor to outdoor living facilities. Space is the major determining factor in the price of a home. How do you add functional space without carrying out a major renovation? Simply add usable outdoor space. A modern patio adds an elegant touch to the home, making it more desirable to buyers.
This isn't an exhaustive list of benefits of indoor to outdoor living but contains the most significant ones. If you were wondering if investing in such spaces is good value for money, we hope you now understand that this is one of the best investments you can make in your home.
Are You Looking to Increase Energy Efficiency?
If energy efficiency is a determining factor in your selection, you will have to be particularly keen on the material used to make the doors. Most sliding patio doors are made of glass, whose transparency helps create a seamless indoor to outdoor look.
There are many ways to increase the energy efficiency of glass. First off, you can go with Low-E glass. The E here refers to emissivity, which is basically the ability of the glass to radiate heat. To reduce the emissivity of the surface, this type of glass is coated with a special substance that minimizes radiation. Such Low-E glass limits heat loss during winter and heat gain during summer, making the sliding patio door up to 30% more energy efficient.
The second method is double or triple glazing. Here you have two or three panes of glass instead of the usual single pane. Other than the thicker pane, double/triple glazing incorporates an inert gas such as argon, which is pumped in the space between the panes. Inert gases are poor heat conductors, thus offering effective insulation against heat loss. Such a formula reduces heat transfer by up to 40%.
The two techniques can be used concurrently, where you have multiple panes of Low-E glass. Such an arrangement can achieve a massive 75% heat transfer reduction, resulting in substantial energy savings.
It is worth noting that the low-E coating does not have to be applied on every surface. On single-pane windows, the coating is applied on the inner surface. For multiple pane windows, the climate determines where the coating goes. If you have cold weather, the coating is placed on the inside to prevent the heat from escaping. In hot climates, the coating goes on the outside, where it repels heat.
Which option works best for you? If you can’t quite figure it out, US Window & Door is just a message away. Here we don’t have a one-size-fits-all. We consider your unique circumstances and provide tailor-made solutions. With decades worth of experience, let our experts take you through the available options and discuss the pros and cons. You’ll then be in a position to choose the best sliding patio doors for your home.
Do note that the energy-efficient methods discussed above will have an impact on the cost of your patio doors. Double glazed or Low-E glass is more expensive than regular glass. However, the extra cost is compensated by the significant energy savings made over time. Considering the amount saved in power bills, the money you spend on energy-efficient doors is a worthy investment. These features also raise the value of your home and increase its appeal to buyers.
Is Durability and Ongoing Maintenance Important?
Is durability important? Most definitely. You do not want to fix a sliding door one day and have it falling apart the next. Durability correlates with the quality of materials used, plus the quality of the installation itself.
What materials make up the sliding doors? As mentioned earlier, the most prominent part, the panes, are made of glass. The frame could be made of wood, fiberglass, aluminum, or vinyl. Most of these materials are not only light but also sturdy and durable. With the exception of wood, these materials are waterproof and can easily withstand harsh weather. If you prefer a wooden frame, you can have it painted with water-resistant varnish. Sliding doors typically remain in good shape for years, offering great value for money.
Remember, even the highest quality door is no good if installed poorly. The smooth operation of this door relies on the effectiveness of the roller and track system. When improperly fixed, this mechanism often keeps jamming, hardly delivering the convenience promised. At US Window & Door, we have top-notch sliding doors and a professional installation team to match.
After installation, what does it take to maintain a sliding door? Fortunately, not much. With occasional cleaning, vacuuming, and lubricating tracks now and then, your new doors will remain functional for years to come. The ease of maintenance adds to the cost-effective factor since you’ll hardly have to spend more money along the way.
Do You Plan to Keep the Original Size of the Patio?
The size of the patio determines the size of the doors. Although we don’t really have a standard size for patio doors, balance is of the essence. A small patio will do with a small door, while a large patio requires a more prominent door.
If you’re working on a renovation and plan on resizing the patio, you should take care of that first. After seeing how the new patio turns out, you can determine the correct size for your patio doors.
If you already had another type of patio door, do you have to replace it with a sliding door of the same size? Not necessarily. Sliding doors tend to be bigger than conventional solid doors. Here, the installation process could include bringing down part of the wall or even the entire wall to make room for sliding doors.
What material are your walls made of? This determines the time and effort it takes to restructure them and the overall cost of the project.
So many variables to deal with, right? Don’t let the decision-making overwhelm you. US Window & Door is here for clients just like you, who have an idea of what they want for their home but need an expert to refine the picture. With more than three decades in the window and door installation and replacement services, we’ve sharpened our skills and now bring wholesome expertise to your project.
Our services are not just about doors and windows. We sincerely care about you as our customer. When you get in touch with us, we go out of our way to attend to your queries and concerns. From that very first message to the final stage of your project, we strive to ensure that you’re cared for. Contact us today, and let’s start the journey of sprucing up your home with sliding doors for your patio!
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