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Your patio serves as a bridge between your home and your yard. It makes sense that your patio doors should embrace the beauty of your landscape while letting plenty of natural light shine through. Between different hardware finishes and glass patterns, there’s no end to the possible looks you can create with your patio doors. But there really are two main styles to choose from: gliding doors, which slide open to the side, and French doors, which open on a hinge.
Read on to discover which is the better choice for your Cincinnati home.
When considering hinged French versus gliding patio doors, consider the amount of space you have to the inside of the doors. If space is limited, gliding patio doors are a good choice since you don’t have to leave room for them to open. You can place furniture and rugs right next to or in front of the doors without concern.
Gliding patio doors have more of a contemporary look, so they look nice in modern homes. They tend to be less expensive than French doors, too.
One small downside to gliding patio doors is that only one side of the double doors can be open at a time. This can make it difficult to fit large pieces of furniture through the doors. The threshold for a gliding door also tends to be raised higher off the ground since it has to accommodate a track for the doors to slide in. This may not be an issue for most homeowners, but it can present a tripping hazard for older adults and young children.
French patio doors have quite a traditional look, making them the perfect choice if your Cincinnati home has a Victorian-inspired or Colonial design. Usually, one panel will be locked into place while the other one is left to open and close freely. However, if you ever need to bring something large through the doors, you can open them both to take advantage of the entire door space. Since the doors do not require a track, the threshold is lower.
French patio doors do tend to be more expensive than gliding patio doors. Their other main downfall is that if the foundation of your home shifts after they’re installed, they can be difficult to adjust properly. The fact that they swing open widely also means that you’ll need to be careful where you place your furniture inside the home. You’ll also have to carefully select any area rugs you place to the inside of the door to ensure they’re thin enough for the door to swing open over top of them.
When choosing French versus gliding patio doors for your Cincinnati home, keep in mind that both options offer security, thanks to today’s modern, multiple-locking designs. Continuous weatherstripping also blocks drafts and makes Renewal by Andersen’s patio doors energy-efficient. You can fit either style of patio door with a grille to add customized style, and customizing your hardware color makes it easy to coordinate the doors with your home’s current aesthetics.
If you’re having trouble deciding between French versus gliding patio doors for your Cincinnati home, contact Renewal by Andersen for a free, in-home consultationwith one of our knowledgeable technicians.