BBQ Season is here: Impress your friends with a new patio door!

BBQ season is finally upon us! It’s time to bring out the patio furniture and spruce up your outdoor space. One thing that homeowners tend to overlook is the state of their patio doors. If yours is looking worn and cracked, or if you had to cover it with plastic to keep the cold out through the winter, it’s probably time to invest in a new one. A new patio door is a sure fire way to refresh your space and impress your neighbours!

Here are some things to consider when shopping for a patio door:

Functionality and Design

For the most part, patio doors either slide or swing open so it’s important to consider what works the best for your home and lifestyle. If you know you’re constantly going to be carrying items in and out, a sliding door would likely be more practical since it’s easy to manoeuvre. Also, if you have a small house or apartment, a swinging door could take up too much valuable space.

On the other hand, if space is not an issue, swinging doors can be configured as two side-by-side doors that both open. Perfect for summer parties when guests are constantly coming in and out. Swinging doors also tend to compliment older character homes more than sliding doors as some, such as French doors, have a more traditional look.

As well as the functionality, there are also design elements to consider. Your patio door is likely to be a focal point both outside and inside so you’ll want to make sure the colours compliment the interior and exterior of your home.

Maintenance

Patio doors are constructed from a variety of materials, such as vinyl, aluminium, and wood, and some require more maintenance than others.

Vinyl doors, made from strong plastic, are a low maintenance and cost effective option. Vinyl is resistant to scratches and peeling and your vinyl patio door will rarely, if ever, need to be repainted. Aluminium doors are likewise a low maintenance option. Made from metal, they are resistant to corrosion and environmental conditions so they won’t swell, crack, or warp in the same way as other materials.

Wood is also a popular choice because of its natural look but wood doors do require more maintenance than vinyl and aluminium. Exposure to the elements can damage wood doors if they need to be stained or primed every few years to protect them from the changing weather conditions in Canada. With that said, a wood door that has been properly treated can be enjoyed for a long time!

Energy Efficiency

People often joke that there are two seasons in Canada – six months of winter and six months of construction, which is actually a pretty accurate statement! Since the winter is long, it’s important to check the energy efficiency of your potential new door. Cheaper doors made with low quality materials will likely let the cold air into your house, which in turn will drive up your energy bills and make it difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Glass thickness and coatings, frame quality and insulation are other important factors to consider when shopping for a new patio door. If in doubt, look for products that have been given an Energy Star rating, as they have been reviewed against the highest energy efficiency standards.

Tilt & Slide Patio Doors are an all-in-one solution

If you’re not sure where to start, consider investing in a Tilt & Slide patio door. Unlike other styles of patio doors, Tilt & Slide doors offer two different opening positions. With a turn the handle, a Tilt & Slide door will operate as a full sliding patio door. Or, simply close the door and turn of the handle again and you can tilt the door inwards at the top, enabling you to let some fresh summer air into your home, without leaving your patio door wide open.

Tilt & Slide patio doors also offer fully unobstructed views, which lets you enjoy the view of your outdoor space even with the door closed, and they come in a wide range of colours and finishes so you can customize your door to compliment both the interior and exterior design of your home. When in the closed position, the multi-point locking system in Tilt & Slide doors ensures that your door is flush with the frame, greatly increasing your home’s security and energy efficiency.

If you want to really make an impression this summer, Tilt & Slide patio doors really do offer the perfect solution.

Contact Catana today to learn more! Our skilled and experienced team can provide further information and guidance, as well as a completely free, no-obligation quote.