PATIO DOORS

NEW PATIO DOORS MAXIMISE YOUR GARDEN VIEW AND ADD INSTANT WOW FACTOR TO YOUR HOME. OUR SIMPLE GUIDE EXPLAINS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET STARTED

- NATASHA BRINSMEAD

Struggling to understand which patio doors to choose? While these types of doors are undeniably beautiful features to incorporate into pretty much every style of property, getting the openings just right is hugely important if you want them to be a positive addition to your home. There is now so much choice out there, from classic French doors to massive swathes of near-frameless sliding doors, that it can be hard to know where to start.

'The term “patio door” covers a wide range of different styles of door, each with different methods of opening and each better suited to certain sizes and locations than others,’ says Edward Stobart, technical sales manager at IDSystems. ‘One thing that connects all of the different door types is that they are ideal for bringing lots of light into your home and helping to break down the boundaries between inside and out.’

WHAT ARE THE MAIN THINGS TO CONSIDER?

The most important thing when choosing patio doors for your home is to use a company with plenty of recommendations (personal if possible), and examine its warranties. You should also check out the quality of its doors, in person. In addition, you should keep in mind the style of your home and how the new doors will fit in. For example, just as traditional windows in a period home are the perfect fit, so too should you bear in mind how new patio doors will slide in with the architectural style of your home.

Size-wise, French, sliding and bi-fold doors all come in various dimensions and you can either choose standard sizes or have them custom-made to your exact requirements. French doors tend to be the best option for smaller openings, while sliding and slide-and-turn doors offer some of the greatest aperture sizes for something really dramatic - up to 24m wide, in fact.