A Guide to Aluminium Patio Doors
It’s easy to see why they’re popular. Creating an outdoor living area, more effective use of space and increased light inside the home are the most commonly cited reasons.
There are a number of options available to homeowners, but currently, if you’re looking for a solution that pretty much ticks all the boxes, aluminium patio doors are a safe, economic and durable option. What’s best for your home?
Sliding Patio Doors Won’t Break the Bank
The good news is that putting in patio doors isn’t the onerous or expensive project some people think. And the benefits are significant.
So, how best to get from A (inside the home) to B (the patio out the back)? After ruling out doing anything with the limited space afforded by the old-fashioned kitchen back door, people look at what they can do with that end of the living room overlooking the patio and garden. They’re generally thinking ‘patio doors’ at this point. Bifold doors are also a popular option.
Things to Consider
Firstly, homeowners need to think about what they want out of a renovation that won’t break the bank but will significantly change their property. Most people are generally considering two things: Creating easy access to an outdoor entertaining area (current or future), and/or looking to generate more light inside the house.
If you’re considering sliding patio doors, then typically a set of doors will consist of a fixed glass panel and a sliding door moving on tracks parallel to the fixed panel.
They can be weighty – up to 300kg per glass panel, but improvements in design and manufacture of the tracks in recent years mean they are very easy to slide.
Door position, size or width, bifold or – if sticking with the likely original thoughts of ‘sliding’ doors, homeowners will be weighing up a choice between uPVC and aluminium. Advances in manufacturing include an interesting option to ‘fill’ a corner of a room with glass by having doors meet at a right angle in the corner.
Different companies offer varying solutions to suit a range of requirements. It’s worth looking around. Consumer advisors Which is always a good option when researching.
Which Type of Sliding Doors for Your Patio?
Essentially it comes down to choosing between uPVC and aluminium sliding patio doors. Both will do the job but it’s worth delving a little further into the respective differences offered by both solutions.
The uPVC option might better suit the budget-conscious and offers the key features you would expect. The aluminium option is long-lasting, works aesthetically with different types of properties – new and older, has advanced thermal break technology (essentially stopping heat conduction through the metal framing to the outside of the doors) and is robust from a security perspective.
Installing sliding patio doors of either type will also enhance the value of your property for a relatively modest outlay. If your doors are going to be in direct sunlight though, it’s worth noting that uPVC can fade and is also prone to expanding in hotter weather.
Benefits in Installing Aluminium Patio Doors in Your Home
In warmer months you’ll have easy access to your outdoor living and entertaining area. At other times of the year, you’ll have more light coming into your indoor living area. And you’ll be adding value to your home without taking out a second mortgage.
