Give Your Home a Touch of Glass: Brighten Up Your Home
Patio doors can transform a room into a bright and open space with lots of natural light. It is not surprising that this is one of the most popular ways to add value to a property, particularly if you are lucky enough to enjoy good views or a nice garden.
Children’s playrooms, dining areas or sitting rooms get a new lease of life with this simple transformation. Patio doors can be made to measure or bought ready made. When browsing for inspiration, sites such as eBay offer a massive choice. Because of the inherent possibilities of leaks and draughts, however, it is worthwhile hiring a professional builder or joiner to fit them.
So what are the benefits of buying patio doors?
Apart from the extra natural light that floods into the room, benefits include:
- Glass panes that are almost floor-to-ceiling offer great views, even if you only have a small garden. A nice patio area with colourful pots and plants, or a distinctive water feature, will look even nicer through your patio doors, bringing the garden ‘inside’.
- Glass doors in apartments are often installed in combination with a Juliet balcony. They can then be opened fully to let in fresh air and sunlight, and provide access to a pleasant place to sit.
- A wide range of different styles of patio doors are available, including bi-folding doors and French doors, in addition to the traditional sliding patio doors.
- Patio doors in a bedroom offer the opportunity to view spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
- They provide an additional entryway into your home that can be used when entertaining, barbequing, or simply relaxing in the garden.
Folding, sliding patio doors
Real Homes Magazine illustrates just how folding sliding patio doors can transform a room, let in light, and become an attractive, practical feature. The most cost-effective material for these doors is generally thought to be uPVC, with the added benefit that it is easy to clean and maintain.
Timber is also a popular material for folding doors, and looks good in an older, traditional house or a barn conversion. Care needs to be taken to keep it weather-proof, however, and it may become more expensive to maintain over time.
Sliding patio doors that do not fold offer the advantage of better views, with more glass and less framework. They are generally cheaper due to their simple design, and are easier to fit.
French doors
French doors look very stylish and can completely change the look of a room. They will not be as wide as traditional patio doors, but are a feature that many people choose because of their aesthetics.
Often seen in 1930s houses, French doors let in more light without making the room too hot in the summer. A room with this style of glass door will also retain the heat in the winter more than patio doors, which are virtually floor-to-ceiling glass panes.
The Patio Doors Guide website offers some hints and tips to help you choose the right doors for your house and lifestyle, including such considerations as whether you will need to move electrical wiring, water and gas pipes before fitting, and if blinds will need to be added to filter out the sunlight.
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