Regardless of whether you select a patio door as merely a glass panel placed inside an opening in the wall, or as the connection between the inside of your home and its outside, it will play an equally critical architectural function.
The patio door you purchase today may cause you a tremendous amount of regret later if you select a door with sticking tracks; drafty corners, or you have a significant increase in your utility bills each month due to inefficient insulation.
Therefore, your selection of “style” should reflect not only your tastes but also the functional requirements of your house.
In this article, we will provide all the information and tips you need to determine what type of patio door is best suited for your home based on your size, design style, and energy-efficiency requirements.
Assessing Your Space and Lifestyle Requirements
Evaluating your room’s physical layout and the activity level of the people who will be using the space will help to narrow down your options so that you can make the best decision based on safety and ease of operation.
Families with young children and/or pets generally need doors that operate easily and that are not a hazard, while homeowners who enjoy extensive, unobstructed views often want to have minimal frame width on their patio doors.
By taking the time to determine how you will be using the space and the type of activities you want to participate in each day. The SUMMIT line of patio doors was created in response to the diverse needs of people who live in both smaller apartments and large estates.
Exploring Premium Patio Door Styles
The Modern Practicality of the Sliding Patio Door
The sliding patio door is still one of the most popular forms of opening/closing access in homes today due to being a great space saver! Since there are no walls needing to swing in or out, sliding doors are always the best choice for spaces like kitchens or living rooms where furniture may be placed close to the exit.
In addition to being efficient with space, contemporary sliding door systems have large pieces of glass that help to bring the outside in. Most older versions of sliding patio doors had earned a bad rap due to being difficult to push or not staying on the track.
However, thanks to modern engineering, these issues have been resolved. At SUMMIT, we use high-quality roller systems and precision-engineered track systems so that even large double-glazed doors can be opened and closed with ease.
Timeless Elegance with French Patio Doors
French patio doors will give a rich sophistication to your traditional, classical-style home. The typical configuration of these types of doors has two panels that swing open from the centre, providing a large, welcoming entrance designed to be formal and purposeful. When fully opened, both sides of the door allow for an extra-large width so that you can easily move furniture into/out of your home and entertain on both sides of the door simultaneously.
One of the advantages of this type of door is the ability to use custom “lites” or grids within glass panels that can coordinate with your home’s window pattern. This creates unison between all windows.
The robust hardware provided by SUMMIT will support the weight of the high-quality glass while ensuring that all sealed closures maintain a tight seal in order to keep your home weatherproof.
Folding Patio Doors: The Ultimate Wow Factor
Patio doors of folding system (everybody knows them as bifold doors) are the perfect solution for anyone wanting to erase the distinction between inside and outside living spaces.
Generally Speaking, folding patio doors are made up of several panels that fold in on themselves like an accordion. When fully opened, all of the panels stack against the sidewall of the house and offer you an incredible view, opening an entire wall of your home! This allows for perfect entertaining and enjoying fresh air from spring breezes in your backyard.
Folding doors are breathtaking to look at, but in order for folding doors to work effectively for many years, they must be built to very precise specifications. SUMMIT bifold door specializes in these systems, utilizing strong aluminum frames that have the strength to support large spans without any excessive weight.
If you want your backyard to have that “resort-style” look, there is no better way to accomplish that feeling than with a folding door system!
Why Material Choice Matters for Longevity
When selecting patio doors, most homeowners first look at the different materials used to make them. These include wood and vinyl, along with aluminum. Wood gives a timeless and classy look; however, constant periodic maintenance is required to prevent the wood from rotting away due to moisture or being damaged by the sun, etc.
Vinyl provides a low-cost option for homeowners, but heat or bitter cold can sometimes cause the vinyl to warp or crack. On the other hand, aluminum offers an excellent combination of strength, durability, and easy care.
Solving the Problem of Energy Efficiency
With regard to large glass doors, there is always concern for any potential loss of heat in winter and gain of heat during summer months. No one wants to sit next to the front door and be chilly or have the sun beating in on them.
That is why having energy-efficient glazing technology is important. When you are shopping for SUMMIT patio doors, you should look for low-e glass coatings or argon-filled gas between the panes of glass.
On the other hand, during the winter months, this type of glass will help retain the heat generated in your house by your heating system.
In addition, the quality of the weather stripping and thermal breaks within the aluminum frame of the doors also helps to prevent thermal bridging, which is when the aluminum frame itself transfers cold air from outside into your home.
When you invest in an energy-efficient patio door, you will receive more than just comfort; you will also save money on monthly utility expenses and protect your furniture from UV fading/damage.
Keeping Your Patio Doors Safe and Secure
Patio doors typically open to the backyard or side yard of homes and security for these areas around the home needs to be a high priority. A multi-point locking system will provide better security than a standard deadbolt because of the number of different locks on the door’s frame used for securing the door.
At SUMMIT, security is a key consideration in the manufacture of all of our doors. SUMMIT utilizes heavy-duty hardware and safety glass in all of its products to create doors that have a firm and secure feel when locked for the night.
Overcoming Common Patio Door Maintenance Issues
You have likely experienced annoyance caused by the resistance of a sliding door, requiring the strength of a gym membership in order to move the door along its path. Dirt and debris accumulating in a sliding door’s track will likely result in malfunctioning doors.
Be sure to determine how easy it is to clean sliding patio doors‘ tracks as well as whether their rollers are constructed of high quality materials before you select a sliding patio door-style system.
Another common issue with sliding patio doors is having condensation develop between the two glass panes – this is sometimes referred to as “fogging.” Fogging is indicative of a failed seal in an insulated unit of dual-pane glass.
If you select a SUMMIT professional sliding patio door-style system, you will have a system that is engineered for this type of pressure and have great confidence that your sliding door will continue to operate smoothly and provide an unobstructed view for years.
Enhancing Your Home’s Resale Value
Many real estate professionals agree that the “return on investment” for replacing or updating windows and patio doors may be superior to other home renovation projects.
The quality and trust associated with having a name-brand like SUMMIT is something that educated buyers will be looking for. The visual upgrade is immediate, but the financial gain is there until you sign the final closing documents.
The SUMMIT Difference: Why Quality Matters
So many different retailers provide exterior doors replacement; why would you put your trust in SUMMIT? Because of their commitment to specialized bulletproofing engineering and a customer-centric design.
They don’t just sell “off-the-shelf” products; they deliver solutions created for the unique needs of today’s homeowners. They engineer aluminum frames so that you will receive the minimum sightlines with the maximum structural integrity available.
When you visit SUMMIT, you will find a variety of shows demonstrating exceptional versatility. Whether they are providing a custom-sized patio door for a high-rise condominium or a giant folding patio door for a suburban yard, the level of craftsmanship will be the same.
How to Start Your Selection Process
Ready to get an upgrade? The first thing you’ll need to do is take rough measurements of your current opening. You don’t need to do this professionally yet; however, it will give you an idea of which designs are possible based on size constraints.
Next, think about where your door faces. Does it receive a lot of direct sunlight in the afternoon? If so, you will want to use high-performance Low-E glazing.
Once you know the basics of what you need, it’s time to speak with a qualified professional who can identify any potential issues that you may have overlooked, such as leveling issues at the floor where a threshold might go, or structural issues related to header supports above.
Request a Quotation and Transform Your Living Space
To take your next steps, it is important to get an expert opinion and a quote from a contractor.
Contact the professionals at SUMMIT to receive a free consultation for your project, including details tailored to you! There is no point in living with drafty, misaligned doors that obstruct your beautiful view! By choosing a quality product, you will gain peace of mind in your daily activities.
Start planning your dream house renovation today with a visit to SUMMIT – the perfect place to begin transforming your view!
