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Although there are many types of patio doors to choose from, you want one thing when it comes to cold weather: insulation. If your budget can accommodate it, go with Vinyl or Aluminum framed glass options.
The vinyl will provide the best insulation factor because the air is trapped between two layers of sheeting which creates airspace that prevents both heat and cold from entering or exiting your home.
Also, having a double-paned window on this patio door almost eliminates condensation build-up during colder periods which means no more wet floors. To check what’s available on the market, visit the website of a company like Window Seal West.
Best Patio Doors for Cold Weather?
Patio doors can make your home feel less like a house and more like an extension of the outdoors. Depending on their design, they might open up to a garden or pool area or overlook a scenic view.
Patio doors come in two different types: sliding and swinging. Sliding patio doors slide horizontally, allowing them to be out of the way when you’re not using them; swing patio doors, as the name implies, open up like a conventional door and tend to take up more room both inside and outside your home.
Each type has its advantages depending on your lifestyle and whether it’s an apartment with limited space or a larger yard where you need something more than just built-ins around the perimeter for outdoor entertaining.
With so many choices available, selecting the best patio doors for your home depends on your personal needs. Here are some of the most popular options available today, some more unconventional than others.
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Sliding Patio Doors
When it comes to sliding patio doors, there are several choices, each with its pros and cons depending on how you plan to use them. The first type of sliding door is the traditional vinyl variety that has been used for years.
Some prefer this type because they’re durable and easy to maintain, while others don’t like them because they’re somewhat flimsy compared to other varieties.
However, vinyl sliding patio doors currently represent over 40% of all patio door sales, so clearly, many people find them satisfactory, even if not perfect in every way.
The next most popular type is the aluminum sliding patio door. These offer several advantages over vinyl, including energy efficiency, durability, and ease of maintenance.
Aluminum has become popular because it doesn’t rust or corrode the way steel does, making it perfect for coastal areas with lots of salt in the air. They also won’t fade over time like vinyl which means you’ll never have to repaint them.
There are two basic types of aluminum patio doors: hollow core and semi-hollow core. An open core door uses an extruded material.
In contrast, a semi-hollow core door is constructed with a piece of foam sandwiched between two sheets of aluminum, leaving you with more insulation value at an increased cost.
If you’re looking for less expensive sliding patio doors, consider a single-pane version. They don’t provide the privacy of a double-pane variety, nor do they insulate, but they do reduce your energy costs, making them worth considering if you live in an area where it’s mild during most of the year.
Double Pane Patio Doors
If you’re looking for something more architecturally interesting, try a double pane swinging patio door with glass on both sides to provide an even better view.
These types of patio doors have been gaining popularity because homeowners want to enjoy their outdoor space all year round, and using two sheets of glass will help keep out cold drafts during winter, hot sun rays during summer, and bugs whenever you entertain outdoors, so it makes perfect sense to use this type of door if you have a view.
If you’re looking to go green, consider using a French patio door that is becoming very popular because it makes your home more environmentally friendly and increases its value.
It works because instead of having two doors next to each other, an outside pane slides back into the wall.
In contrast, the inside pane swings open, creating an entire opening for people to walk through, unlike other types, which leave at least one side obstructed, thus limiting your ability to move from indoors to outdoors without going outside first or vice versa.
Swinging Patio Doors
Although relatively uncommon, several varieties are available for swinging patio doors depending on how much money you want to spend and what type of maintenance you want to do.
The cheapest variety is the single-pane version made of aluminum or vinyl and swings open like an average door depending on your preference.
The next most common type of swinging patio door is the double-pane one which can also be constructed with vinyl or aluminum. Still, it has glass windows on both sides that provide you with better insulation than a single-paned variety.
This will help keep things cool during summer and warm during winter, so if you live in an area where seasons are extreme, this may be what you want to consider.
You can go even greener by opting for a triple-pane patio door which not only provides you with the best insulation value but lets light into your home, so it’s brighter and more cheerful. These come in both aluminum and vinyl varieties, depending on your preference.
