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Patio doors can be a gorgeous addition to your Michigan home. They allow more light to shine in, illuminating your space. They also give you a beautiful view of the great outdoors. However, with so many different patio door options available today, choosing the right ones for your needs can be a bit of a challenge. Here are five tips to ensure you arrive at the right ones.
1. Measure Your Entrance Space
There are both sliding and hinged patio doors to choose from. If you have very little space around your entryway, sliding doors are the smarter choice since you don’t need to leave any swing space in front of them. On the other hand, if you like the idea of hinged patio doors, you need to measure carefully to ensure you have enough space for the doors to open fully. Out-swing patio doors are a safer choice in a windy area because high winds won’t push the doors into your home. However, if you don’t have swing-out space on the patio, you can get away with using in-swing doors in Michigan, since high winds are a rare occurrence.
2. Consider How Much Wall Space You Want to Use
This mostly applies when you are installing new patio doors. You can choose large doors that encompass most of the wall, or you can choose smaller doors that leave more wall space on either side. A good way to go about sizing the doors is to measure your wall, and then measure the space you want occupied by the doors. Then, look for doors — or have custom doors made — to fit that pre-determined fraction of your wall.
3. Choose Your Glass Option Wisely
Patio doors contain a lot of glass. As such, the glass you choose is very important. Using cheap, low-end glass can easily lead to high energy bills and a lack of security. For safety reasons — both to prevent storm damage and to prevent break-ins — laminated glass is a smart choice. For energy-efficiency, look for low-e glass. Low-e glass reflects heat waves, rather than allowing them to pass through the glass, thus leading to lower heating and cooling bills. High-Performance Low-E4 glass from Renewal by Andersen, which comes standard on all patio doors, can lower your energy bills by up to 25%.
4. Pick Your Frame Color
The door frame makes a huge difference in the appearance of your patio doors. Light-colored door frames are good for a smaller space as they make it feel lighter and more open. They also work well in more traditional homes. Darker frames have a more modern look and can add balance to a big room. Also decide whether you want a thicker or thinner frame around the door. Thicker frames have a more rustic appeal, whereas thinner ones look more contemporary.
5. Look for a Good Warranty
Finally, make sure you look for patio doors with a great warranty. This not only prevents you from having to pay for expensive repairs a few years down the road; it also gives you peace of mind. Renewal by Andersen offers a 20-year warranty on glass and Fibrex, plus a 10-year warranty on installation and parts other than glass.
For more help choosing the best patio doors, contact Renewal by Andersen of Cincinnati to schedule a free, in-home consultation. We’re proud to offer stylish, energy-efficient doors.