Each door on our list is designed to allow lots of natural light and fresh air into a space, creating an open and inviting path for you and your guests.
So how do you determine which door is the right for your home? It comes down to the operation and how you will use the space connecting you to the outdoors. We know that every project brings its own unique challenges and opportunities, and the experts are here to help you navigate your choices and help you determine what will function best for your lifestyle.
To help you choose the best door design for your needs, we have created a patio door design guide for doors we feel perform the best in our New England climates to help narrow your choices.
1. Sliding Patio Doors
This is the most common patio door, composed of two or more panels that open sideways rather than inwards or outwards, gliding alongside another fixed panel.
Key Benefits:
- Sliding Patio Doors offer quick and easy access to commonly used areas, such as patios and backyards
- The most affordable option as it relates to large glass doors
Things to Consider:
If you are looking to stretch your views beyond 16 feet, then you may want to consider a folding or stacking door to maximize your indoor-outdoor connection.
2. Bi-Fold Doors
Bi-Fold Doors, also called folding doors or accordion doors, have two or more panels that are hinged to each other and fold open and closed like an accordion.
Key Benefits:
- These doors offer a much larger opening than traditional swinging or sliding patio doors to maximize views.
- If you have decided on replacing a wall, you can choose to include a “traffic door” with the structure. This will mean that you are able to make fast exits and entrances without having to close or open every leaf.
Things to consider:
Consider the surrounding space when choosing accordion doors. Since the panels in a bifold wall system fold outward or inward and stack together, be sure that your home exterior or interior has ample space for the panels to operate. Think in terms of, can I open the door panels outward without obstructing a pathway or structure, or in verse, can I open the door panels inward without overcrowding furniture? If you said yes to any of these questions, a sliding or stacking door would be a better fit for your home.
3. Multi-Slide Door
Multi-slide patio doors featuring three or more panels with operable panels that easily glide open that either stack or slide into a wall pocket.
Key Benefits:
- Largest unobstructed visual and physical link to the outdoors
- This door serves as a statement feature of a home
- Pocket feature to make the door panels disappear
Things to Consider:
This door requires careful structural planning, and the complexity of installation (like increasing the wall thickness) can be an investment. However, if one decides to invest in this door, the appreciation that this will add to your property value offsets the up-front investment.
Why Choose Marvin Patio Doors?
- Easy operation and superior multipoint locking system
- A variety of exterior and interior finishes
- All doors can be outfitted with a variety of glass types
- Various design configurations
- Choose between traditional and contemporary hardware for most door styles
Need help with a project? Connect with one of the JB door experts or book an appointment to visit our showroom to touch, see and feel the door that inspired your project.
