Maybe you have decided to install a new patio door into your home and wondering what are the choices available.
The width of the opening will determine the number of doors contained in the sliding patio doors system.
The following guide provides door opening dimensions and sliding arrangements for sliding patio door systems:
|
No Of Doors |
Min – Max Width of Structural Opening |
Min – Max Height |
Sliding Arrangement |
Useable Opening (%) |
|
2 |
6’.0” – 8’0” (1.8m – 2.4m) |
6’.6” – 8’0” (2.0m – 2.4m) |
Two doors with one fixed and the other sliding |
50 |
|
3 |
8’.0” – 10’0” (2.4m – 3.0m) |
6’.6” – 8’0” (2.0m – 2.4m) |
Three doors – two doors sliding to rear of the third which is fixed |
66 |
|
4 |
10’.0” – 13’0” (3.0m – 4.0m) |
6’.6” – 8’0” (2.0m – 2.4m) |
Each end door fixed with two centre doors sliding to either side |
50 |
he above is a guide however the dimensions may vary between suppliers.
Doors systems with up to six panels is possible, however for very large openings such as this, sliding folding doors or sometimes referred to as bi fold doors may be a better solution. Folding patio doors consist of a number of door panels located in a straight line. To open up the doors simply slide the doors to the side. All of the doors, while sliding, fold on top of the next and eventually all the doors will be stacked to the side. These types of doors are used mainly for large homes or for restaurants allowing the owner to open up onto a decked area creating additional dining space.
One possible downside with sliding doors is the available useable opening. You can see from the table above the percentage achievable with patio doors ranges from about 50 – 66%. With the folding door system mentioned earlier, up to about 90% is possible. However, these doors are lot more expensive than the sliding type, but they do look fantastic. Your budget will ultimately dictate the type of doors you install.
You have the choice of materials used in the manufacture of these door systems including:
- Aluminium
- Wood
- UPVC
Aluminium is a strong material therefore the frames can be quite narrow in each section allowing maximum glass areas. White and black are standard colours, however, it is possible to have others from a 200 strong colour range. This product offers a maintenance free service life.
UPVC patio doors (which stands for Un-plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride) are a popular choice these days. This material does not rot and is resistant to climate changes. Doors made with this material will remain very stable throughout the life cycle. It is strong and resistant to impact. This product offers a maintenance free service life but regular cleaning is required to keep the frames looking their best.
Range of uPVC colors
The standard color is white but other colors are available including simulated wood grain. A recent color addition has been black wood grain which is very rich looking when installed. It is possible to have a wood grain effect internally with a white finish externally, or vice versa, using a dual colour frame profile. Other colours such as reds, blues, greens, yellows etc are now possible using a special coating process but they come at a much higher price.
Wood has a traditional appearance being a natural material. With modern machining and manufacturing techniques timber, together with the latest finishing products, allow doors to be made to a very high standard. Nowadays timber doors made this way require a reduced amount of maintenance compared to doors made years ago. Some maintenance will be required though over the life of the doors. However, no longer is there a need to burn off the old paint down to the raw timber for repainting. The process will involve cleaning down the frames and repainting with modern paint systems and that’s you for another 5 years or so.
These door systems are usually supplied in a kit for assembly on site. Off the shelf standard versions can be purchased or bespoke made to non standard dimensions. Security is important these days therefore it is a necessary to have the correct locks fitted to the new doors. Insist on the latest patio door locks that are anti tamper type.
Before you decide on what system best fits your needs, make sure you shop about for the best deals offered by the suppliers. Also check online, as most of the suppliers have a web presence offering good value for money packages.