What do all San Diego homeowners have in common? They all are able to enjoy the year-round great weather that comes with living in San Diego! This great weather is one of the reasons so many homes in San Diego have patio doors. You can open them up almost any day of the year and allow fresh air into your home. Or you can, in effect, extend the square footage of your home by opening up your home to an outdoor living area like a patio or balcony.
Many homes in San Diego were originally built with patio doors for this very reason, but over time, those with aluminum frames start to not function as well as they once did. They may not slide well due to bent frames or broken rollers. They also weren’t manufactured with all of the energy-saving technology included in today’s vinyl and fiberglass replacement patio doors.
If it’s time for you to replace the patio doors in your San Diego home, or if you want to add patio doors to your home for the first time, here are several popular options:
Sliding Patio Doors
When most people think of patio doors, they think of two-panel sliding patio doors. These are by far the most common type installed in San Diego homes. They allow in a good amount of natural light, and they give you a nice opening to the outdoors, with one door panel sliding over the other.
You can also install three- or four-panel sliding patio doors if you have a larger wall space leading your outdoor area. In a three-panel patio door setup, only one of the doors will be operable (sliding), though you can usually choose which one. It is important to note that while you will have a larger viewing area with a three-panel slider, you will still have basically the same opening area as a two-panel slider. With a four-panel sliding patio door, usually the middle two door panels will slide open, giving you a very large opening.
French Hinged Patio Doors
French hinged (or swinging) patio doors are a popular option for San Diego homes with a more traditional look. Instead of sliding open, French hinged doors swing open like a typical door and usually have a thicker rail around the glass areas. French hinged doors are particularly popular for San Diego homes with a balcony.
These doors are also available in two-, three-, or four-panel configurations. Unlike two-panel sliding patio doors, however, both doors are operable in two-panel French doors, giving homes a large opening area without taking up a lot of wall space. In three-panel French door setups, usually only the middle door will open, and in four-panel French doors, two of the four panels will usually be operable. Depending on the replacement door manufacturer, you can usually choose if your operable doors will swing in or out.
It is important to note that if you choose French hinged patio doors that you need to have the same type of clearance that you would for a typical door. With sliding patio doors, you have more flexibility with where you place your furniture.
Sliding Patio Doors with the Look of French Doors
For San Diego homeowners who like the look of French doors, but who don’t have the room to have doors that swing in or out, some patio door manufacturers make sliding patio doors with the look of French doors. Both Anlin Window Systems and Simonton, two popular replacement window and door manufacturers in San Diego, make sliding patio doors with thicker rails that mimic the look of French doors.
Other Popular Options with Patio Doors
As with all products on the market, there are many options and upgrades available with replacement patio doors. If safety is your main concern, look for patio doors with security glass and an advanced locking system. You should also compare the Energy Star labels on the various products to ensure you are purchasing a patio door that won’t allow too much hot or cold air to pass through into your home.
For San Diego homes with pets that like to go in and out of the house, certain patio door manufacturers, like Anlin, offer in-glass pet doors.
With many manufacturers you can also choose from a variety of patio doorframe colors and hardware finishes to match or complement your San Diego home.
Whatever options you choose, a patio door is a great investment in your home and in your quality of life!
