A Few Popular Patio Door Styles

Choosing to have patio doors installed is a great way to highlight the architectural style of your home, while also offering you some fully-functional – and even practical – points of entry. Here are some of the popular patio door styles being utilized by homeowners today:

Traditional Patio Doors

Traditional Patio Doors

“Traditional” can be somewhat hard to define, but when it comes to patio doors, traditional is usually meant to focus on some classic design qualities which stand the test of time. Sliding doors made from either wood or vinyl are popular choices, and they come in a variety of grille patterns and with plenty of custom finishes and hardware options.

Farmhouse Patio Doors

Farmhouse Patio Doors

The farmhouse style continues to grow in popularity across America. These homes often feature traditional, simple details along with expanded roof lines. Patio doors weren’t typically a staple of farmhouses in the mid-1800s, but they’re being used more and more today to add natural light and more flexible space to the open floorplans of many homes built in a modern farmhouse style. Classic wood doors are a great choice, but there are also some nice sliding patio door options which are finished to look like real wood.

Contemporary Patio Doors

Contemporary Patio Doors

If you’re interested in a timeless style of patio door which incorporates design elements from a range of eras, then contemporary could be a good patio door style for you. This style features clean, modern lines, and doesn’t include any excessive embellishment. These doors also typically include expansive sections of glass, which offer abundant natural light and a great view of the outdoors. The hardware is typically minimalistic in design, as well.

Craftsman Patio Doors

Craftsman Patio Doors

The craftsman style tends to focus on its ability to highlight natural material features of your home, like wood or stone. Natural wood patio doors or embossed wood-like fiberglass doors are good choices for homes which display an iconic craftsman style. Curved handle hardware or other custom hardware options can help to complete the look for your patio doors.

Do you need help determining which front door and glass styles best suit your home? Find out more here.

Skywalker Windows and Siding

Why Choose Skywalker?

Skywalker is one of the highest-rated, most-awarded contractors serving both NC and VA. Here are a few reasons why Skywalker is the BEST choice for all your Windows, Siding and other home or business improvement services:

Get Free Estimate
  • rating.png
    A+ Rating on BBB
  • combined-experience.png
    100+ Years of Combined Experience
  • satisfied-costumers.png
    Satisfied Costumers
  • quality-and-workmanship.png
    Unsurpassed Quality and Workmanship
  • awards-and-achievements.png
    Awards and Achievements

Choosing the Right Type of Patio Door

While a prominent entry door often makes sense for the main entrance to your home, you may also have some side or back points of the entrance that you’d like to approach a little differently. Perhaps you have a patio or deck with its own entrance. Your kitchen may have its own exterior door, as well. And you may even have a separate entrance connected to your main bedroom. The best solution for applications like these could be a custom patio door. Here are some types of patio doors to consider:

• Single-Hinged Patio Doors

Simple, yet elegant. This is a single door panel which can provide a more formal entrance. Single-hinged patio doors are often linked to a sunroom or deck, and work well in areas that present a minimum of available wall space. They can also be paired with large windows to create the look of very open space.

• Double-Hinged Patio Doors

When one door isn’t enough, you can always go with two! This patio door design features two panels which swing open from the center. These are more commonly known as swinging patio doors or French doors, and they can serve to help you make a more dramatic statement with your space. Double patio doors can be made to swing either inwards or outwards, depending upon your preference. The out-swing option tends to work better when your doors lead out onto an actual patio or deck.

• Folding Patio Doors

Folding patio doors work exactly how they sound. They are both efficient and functional; multi-panel doors are engineered to fold and stack neatly to the side. These serve to really open up your space, and help create a more blended environment between your home’s interior and exterior.

• Sliding Patio Doors

Sliding patio doors offer a more contemporary look and functional value. They operate on a sliding track, in much the same fashion as a slider window. In most cases, one door panel is fixed, while the other panel is able to be opened and closed. These are great space savers for smaller rooms, and you can also opt to add a sliding screen for whenever you want to let the fresh air in, while also keeping the bugs out. There are also sliding doors which are designed to look like French doors, combining the best of both worlds.

• Multi-Slide Patio Doors

With this configuration, multiple door panels can be made to slide open or shut. They can also be stacked in the middle, or even tucked completely out of sight inside their own wall pocket. In a word, multi-slide patio doors give you lots of options in terms of looks, ventilation, functionality, and versatility.

Common Patio Door Materials

Patio door products come in many available material options these days, including aluminum, steel, vinyl, fiberglass, and wood. Which material should you choose for your patio doors? That will depend upon the features you value in a patio door, along with your available budget. Here’s a closer look at your options.

• Aluminum or Steel

Metal patio doors have been used for years. Aluminum and steel are both durable, and they’re also more cost-effective than some other material options. One downside of these metals is that they’re not as energy-efficient.

• Vinyl

Vinyl is a very popular choice for patio doors these days. It’s durable, energy-efficient, and also stands up well in both warmer and colder climates. In addition, vinyl is a low-maintenance material that won’t peel, fade, warp, or rot. There are many colors, and faux wood finishes available, too.

• Fiberglass

Fiberglass is a great material for patio doors. It’s both lightweight and durable, and is also reliably weather-resistant. Fiberglass can also be embossed with a more realistic wood-grain texture. Fiberglass doors are similar to vinyl doors in many ways, but they also tend to carry a little higher price tag.

• Wood

Patio doors made from natural wood are truly beautiful. They also happen to be the most expensive material choice. Wood offers some great, natural insulating properties, but it also requires the most maintenance over time. It’s hard to beat the look of real wood, but it should also be noted that wood is more susceptible to warping, cracking, or rotting.

Patio Door Glass Options

Just as you have several options when it comes to patio door framing materials, you also have options when it comes to the makeup of your glass panes. It’s smart to choose a patio door made with low-E glass. This type of glass is coated for UV protection, and it’s proven to be more energy-efficient. There are also some decorative glass options you can opt for, including frosted glass for greater privacy. You can also have grids embedded between your glass panes, and you can even choose to have some functional mini-blinds built inside your glass panes, as well.

Patio Door Locking Features

Since most patio doors are placed on a ground-level entrance (patio doors can be placed on balconies as well), it makes sense to consider proper security features when choosing the patio door that’s right for you.

• Dual Point Locks

Dual point locks are a good choice for sliding patio doors. These include “hooks” which latch onto the door frame from the sash, and/or from the sliding part of the door. There are also some four-point locking mechanisms which add even more security value to sliding patio doors.

• Hinged Door Locking System

Hinged doors and French doors come with locks on the handles, and also come with the option to add deadbolt locks – much as you would expect with a standard entry door. Since safety and security are always of paramount consideration, it’s best to opt for both handle and deadbolt locks on your hinged patio doors or French doors.

Quality Patio Door Products + The Best Installation Services = Skywalker Windows & Siding!

Skywalker Windows & Siding features excellent patio door products from quality manufacturers like Pella, ProVia, and West Window Corporation, and NOBODY in NC or VA can beat the quality of our installation services! No matter which type of patio door or French door you’re looking for, Skywalker can provide it – PLUS, we have all the needed tools, experience, and know-how to make sure your doors are installed perfectly! Reach out to one of our friendly home improvement professionals today at (336) 265-9595, and experience the Skywalker Windows & Siding (& Patio Doors!) difference for yourself!

What Our Happy Customers Say About Skywalker’s Services

Call

Question? Just Fill the Below Form

Call Now (336) 627-5596