Gliding Patio Doors

In the 16th century, humanity was still hundreds of years away from the light bulb invented by Thomas Edison in 1879. The French figured out that doors could act as windows and that this would increase light in a room at least during the daytime. This was the origin of the French door. This was also the Renaissance era when style and décor grew in importance over pure function. Today the French door style has been adapted to patio doors that open to the outside adding an elegant look to any room.

You now have a choice of traditional French doors that swing on hinges like any entry door, French doors that glide (or slide) on rollers along the wall and of course the more contemporary sliding patio door.

This article will explore the benefits and drawbacks of the hinged French door and the sliding French or patio doors.

Sliding patio doors give any room a distinctive streamlined look and can make the room seem larger than it really is. They are also easy to maintain. Because they are made to glide along the wall on out of sight rollers, they do not steal any space in the room or interfere with the furniture placement. Sliding patio doors are more appropriate for homes with a modern or contemporary design with smaller rooms.

Sliding French doors are a better choice for older homes that have traditional designs.

They are made with extra wide stiles and give any room an air of hospitality and elegance. They can be used in larger rooms and will create a great view of outside scenery. With hinged French doors the doors swing out or in so any obstruction such as furniture or a place where people walk must be accounted for.

The French door, either hinged or sliding will be more expensive than the patio sliding door. The French door has wider stiles and crossbars that hold the distinctive individual window panes. Other differences between hinged French doors and sliding doors are:

The frame of a French door is wider than the patio design meaning that the patio door will allow more light to enter the room.

The hardware is different. French doors will have the curved handle that is pushed down to release the latch. The sliding doors will have the elongated C shaped handle to push the door on the roller and track system.

Hinged doors swing in and our while sliding doors move along the wall so there are no space concerns with the sliding doors.

Hinges can get squeaky and stiff if not maintained. The rollers and tracts in sliding doors will become dirty and full of debris making them harder to move if not cleaned on a regular basis.

Other minor concerns are with how the doors lock and how secure they are. Hinged doors meet at the middle creating a vulnerable area. The sliding door will not have this problem. Hinged doors are affected by strong winds and can fly open or closed with a strong gust. Sliding doors can sometimes fall off their track and can be difficult to get them back on the tracks. The rollers on sliding doors of lower quality can become flat or misshapen.

Finally, you will have to make a choice that best matches your house and style preference. Consult with a professional contractor or even an interior designer to get the perfect doors to your house.