Once you decide to put in a patio, it should become one of the most used and important parts of your home, particularly during the summer. One big decision you are going to have to make, however, is what sort of doors you are going to install to get access from your kitchen or dining room.
Bearing in mind that these are often designed to last 20 years or more, making the wrong decision at this stage can leave you lumbered with a set of doors you don’t particularly want or like.
Here are the three main choices you need to consider:
French Doors
There’s something timeless and romantic about French doors. They add a slice of elegance to any patio area and if you have plenty of room they are certainly worth considering.
They do, however, have some setbacks. Because they normally open outwards you need the space in your garden to accommodate them. You should also be wary of areas where there is the likelihood of high winds as the doors can easily slam shut if not properly secured.
Sliding Doors
One of the most common patio installations are aluminium sliding doors. This is basically a single opening that slides across a runner. They’re a great choice when you don’t have the space in your garden for French doors to open. If you like to really open your living area, these may not be right for your home but if you just want somewhere to come in and out which is secure they are perfectly suitable.
Bi-Fold Doors
Bi-fold doors are made of panels that fold back on each other a bit like a concertina. They can be tailored to fit any size space and create a much wider opening than sliding doors. They’re a good choice if, for example, you do a lot of entertaining and would like to open everywhere up during the summer.
The bi-fold door products on the market today are very secure and highly durable. They have more flexibility than sliding or French doors as you can decide how much the doors are opened to the elements. They’re also just as easy to maintain as other designs and you get similar thermal properties which means you easily keep your home warm in the winter. These doors also come with strong levels of security that include multi-point locking.
Which is Best?
A lot will depend on the type of patio space that you have. Both sliding doors and French doors need to take into account the space around the installation. Bi-fold doors, on the other hand, can be fitted into almost any space. They have become a popular choice for both domestic and commercial properties. For areas like restaurants and bars, for instance, they produce a stylish way to open up the floor to the outside, particularly during the summer.
Should you be thinking about installing doors in your patio area, making the right choice is important. If you’d like to find out more about bi-fold doors, contact our expert team today.