Choosing a New Patio Door? Consider These 5 Tips, First

Home renovation projects are always fun to undertake. With spring in the offing, many of you might be considering a new patio door installation, or, at the least, a patio makeover.
After all, the breezy outdoors is inviting. Picture yourself spending your mornings lounging outside, soaking in the sunlight. Or, your evenings, around a bonfire, exchanging stories with friends.

As fun and exciting as the prospect might seem, there are certain things that must be kept in mind, before you think of diving head-first into a patio project. To help you, we have put together the 5 most important tips homeowners should be wary of when choosing a new patio door.

Availability of Space

The number one thing that you should look into when it comes to a patio door installation is how well the new door fits in with the current space. Oftentimes, we find homeowners nodding this thought away, commenting that they have enough space. “Why would we consider a new patio door, otherwise?” they ask.

As is usual, the onus of helping our clients look beyond this kind of thinking falls upon us. As window and door experts, we have, over the years, come to realize that it is often not about the amount of space. What skips our customers’ minds is how well space might yield itself to the construction of a new door.

If your new patio door is the entrance to a balcony with minimal furnishing, swinging doors make better sense. However, if it acts as a transition to a heavily-furnished patio, sliding doors would be more advisable.

In a nutshell, here is protip #1: while measuring the dimensions of the door frame for a new patio door installation, size up the surrounding areas as well.

 Energy Consumption

We bumped this point from the very end to number two. We have our reasons.

Toronto is not quite the sunshine city of the world and the country, in itself, experiences dark and gloomy winters. Given that a new patio door is a huge expense; wouldn’t you want it to be a worthwhile long-term investment?

If you’re a wise person, (and, we suspect you are, because you’re reading our blog) you would likely say “yes”. So here’s our second protip and a couple of key terms you need to be aware of.

When scouting for new patio doors, look for an Energy Star® rating. This estimate is based on a metric called the ‘U-factor’ that indicates the amount of non-solar heat that a glass surface transmits. In short, the lower the U-factor, the more energy efficient a glass door/ window tends to be. Low-Emissivity (Low-E) glass is another option that enables shorter rays of sunlight to flow through the door, thus helping a home stay warm, naturally.

If Eco Choice is your patio door contractor, you don’t have to worry about this, as we will automatically offer you glass door solutions that will help you save up to 30% on your energy expenses.

Durability and Maintenance

This is another area that is commonly overlooked by homeowners. We have had customers coming to us, asking for a particular type of patio door, over another, going solely by the appearance.

It’s easy to fall prey to the belief that solid wood doors are easy to maintain. It’s important to keep in mind that these doors need to be stained, for protection against inclement weather, and sealed.

Similarly, glass doors also require extensive care, simply because they are easily smudged. Using patterned glass might be a way out, but glass still needs to be pampered to last.
Strong steel and vinyl doors are both low in maintenance and durable. Before you make a decision, ask yourself how extensively you will be using the doors. For value-conscious homeowners with a shoestring budget and a need for a sturdy door, we strongly recommend compromising aesthetic appeal for resistance.

The Theme of Your House

It goes without saying that the architectural style of your home and the interior design come into play when you’re choosing a new patio door. For example, solid wood doors are most appropriate for homes with cedar walls.

A patio door that looks stylish on its own, but does not go along with the overall theme of your home, is as good as no patio door. Therefore, the fourth tip we would offer is to go with a patio door contractor who has access to a variety of door styles from which you can pick and choose. Makes your life, and new patio door installation, easier!

Privacy & Security

This is a factor that does not concern the door itself but is crucial to the safety of the house. You might think that this is an obvious part of a new patio door installation, but you will be pleasantly surprised.

From simple click-type locks to cutting-edge alarm systems, a seasoned contractor will be able to counsel you on the best choice for your home.

Although this guide is extensive, we understand that you might have several other questions. Why not reach out to Eco Choice, your friendly, neighbourhood window and door expert? We will be happy to guide you and help you with a new patio door installation!