Customization Features for Patio Doors: 7 Things to Consider
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Customization Features for Patio Doors

Customized patio doors can help you enhance your home's look. They let you choose a door that's ideal for your personal style, comfort, and home architecture. Many customization features are available, and these are the most important things to consider when purchasing a new patio door.

1. Choosing the Right Frame Material

Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum, and Fiberglass

Wood has a classic, elegant look that's great for patio doors. However, wood doors are expensive, and other materials are usually more efficient. Wood can also get scratches, warping from high humidity, and fading from heat and sunlight. You may need to repaint or refinish wood windows more often than other materials.

Vinyl patio doors are cost-effective, efficient, and mostly weather-resistant. However, extreme temperature changes could cause cracks.

Aluminum is durable, strong, and resistant to high humidity or insects. It's inexpensive, and most aluminum doors don't need much maintenance. However, they can conduct more heat than other options, increasing power bills. Condensation can form on aluminum doors as well.

Fiberglass is expensive, but it's lightweight, efficient, and strong. The glass and the frame contract and expand at the same speed with temperature changes, so the door won't become rotted or warped. It's also low-maintenance and insect-resistant.

How Frame Materials Affect Aesthetics

For a warm, natural, organic look, choose a wood patio door. Vinyl and fiberglass are available in many colors, but the range of options these materials offer isn't usually as wide as with wood or aluminum. However, you can stain or paint these materials with a specialized stain or paint. Aluminum offers a sleek, modern, metallic look in lots of shades.

2. Customizing Glass Options

Decorative Glass Options

Many types of obscure glass are available. This glass is difficult to see through, and it can add privacy to your home. Frosted glass is opaque on one side, and it has a white shimmer that resembles frost. Etched glass often has decorative images like flowers or leaves. Tinted glass comes in a wide variety of colors, and it can be obscure or clear. Many homeowners use tinted glass to add stained glass windows with appealing images to their homes. 

Energy-Efficient Glass

Low-Emissivity or low-E coatings can control heat transfer. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, low-E glass usually costs about 10% to 15% more than regular glass. However, it can lower energy loss by up to 50%. Some low-E glass is spectrally selective, keeping out 40% to 70% of heat while letting in the full amount of light.

Double-pane glass has one pane on each side of the door. The space between them contains air or a gas like argon or krypton for more insulation. You can also choose a door with triple-pane glass for even more efficiency.

Impact-Resistant Glass

Impact-resistant glass, also called hurricane glass, is a type of laminated glass. It can add safety and security to your home, especially if your area gets extreme weather. It has at least two panes of glass and a layer of plastic for additional strength and noise reduction. Impact-resistant glass can withstand hurricane-force winds and debris. These doors often have stronger frames as well.

3. Grid Patterns and Design

Different Grid Patterns 

Door grids or grilles come in many patterns, and they can help you make your home look more appealing. Standard or colonial grids are popular squares that people use on an entire door. They can choose the sizes of the squares as well. Farmhouse grids have one horizontal and one vertical line for four evenly sized squares. 

Perimeter, valance, or prairie grids provide outlines near the edges of doors, and they intersect in the corners. A Queen Anne grid is similar, but additional pieces of material divide the grid near the edges of the door. Victorian grids are also like perimeter grids, but they get closer to the center of the door. A diamond grid has lots of equally sized squares that point upwards and downwards.

Matching Grids to Home Style

For a classic look, you can choose standard, colonial, or farmhouse grids. Perimeter, Victorian, and prairie grids have a more contemporary look, while Queen Anne grids have less space between them for a more traditional style. For a door that looks more artistic, consider a diamond grid with obscure glass. For a futuristic style, think about gridless glass.

4. Side Panels and Transoms

Side Panels for Added Light and Style

Side panels on patio doors can enhance light flows and frame views.

Transoms for Height and Light

A transom is a window on the top part of a door. It can make a door look taller and add more natural light to the nearest room.

This example of an Andersen E Series gliding patio door looks great with transoms:

5. Hardware Choices and Finishes

Handle Styles and Locks

Door levers are easier for many people to use than knobs, but some dogs or cats could learn how to open them. Flush or recessed door handles sit flush against the door for a sleek look. Pull handles are easy to hold, but they don't turn like lever handles. People often use them with sliding glass doors. Keyed entry door handles are available in all of these styles, and you can add a deadbolt for even more security. You can also choose a handle with a rustic or antique look.

Hardware Finishes

Many finishes are available, including chrome, matte black, satin nickel, and brass. Handles with these finishes can complement or contrast with door frames and surrounding areas.

6. Color and Finish Customization

Exterior and Interior Frame Colors

You can customize patio door frame colors to match the exterior or interior of your home. Black, white, wood finishes, and many bold colors are optional.

Textured and Smooth Finishes

A textured, smooth, or metallic finish can make your patio door look more attractive. You can also paint some types of doors.

7. Accessibility and Functionality Add-Ons

Easy-Glide Track Systems

Easy-glide systems can make opening and closing sliding glass doors easier.

ADA-Compliant Thresholds and Low Profiles

Doors with low-profile thresholds are more accessible for people with mobility issues. They're also compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Screening Options

Customizable screen options, like retractable or sliding screens, can help protect against pests while preserving your view.

The right patio door can help you meet your aesthetic preferences and functional needs. When you choose a patio door, consider your lifestyle, your long-term needs, and the style of your home.

Brennan
Brennan
Published
January 11, 2025
Updated
January 23, 2025

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