What to Look for When Choosing Patio Doors for Kansas City Homes

One of the first decisions you’ll face when choosing patio doors for your home is whether you want sliding glass or French-style swinging doors. To some extent, your decision may come down to personal preference, but it’s a good idea to consider the pros and cons of each style before making a selection. At Johnson County Siding & Window Co., we offer ultra-sturdy patio doors in both styles, beautifully crafted and made to order by leading manufacturers. Our design experts will be happy to go over the options with you and help you select the best doors for your home in the Kansas City metro area. In the meantime, here are some things to consider:

Your Floor Plan – Inside & Out

How much open space will be available on either side of your patio doors? Hinged doors will require more room to open. If you choose doors that swing inward, you’ll need to consider the open space indoors. Is there plenty of room for your patio doors to open, or do you have furniture and other belongings that will prevent your doors from swinging wide? If you opt for hinged doors that swing outward, you’ll have to consider whether you have ample space to accommodate fully opened doors on your porch, deck, or patio. Sliding glass doors, on the other hand, require much less space to open and close.

In fact, if you have a wide patio entranceway that you’d like to completely open up to the fresh air, you might opt for bi-fold patio doors. This type of patio door consists of multiple glass panes that you can fold and stack to one side of the doorway so there’s nothing blocking your transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces.   

Ventilation & Convenience

With a traditional hinged patio door configuration, both doors can usually be opened at the same time, thus providing more ventilation than sliding doors, which typically allow only one glass panel to slide open at a time. Hinged or bi-fold sliding doors may also be a better choice if you often host parties on your porch or patio because the wider opening will better facilitate heavy foot traffic and the movement of large furniture.

Aesthetic Effect

Traditional French-style patio doors often complement the architectural style of an older home better than the contemporary look of typical sliding glass doors. However, Johnson County Siding & Window Co. offers innovative Marvin^® sliding glass doors with a French-style look that can solve this dilemma.

We also offer exquisitely crafted patio doors from the esteemed manufacturers Andersen^® and ProVia^®. Our generous selection of patio door brands means you can take your pick from these frame materials:

• Fiberglass – The exceptional strength of fiberglass allows for patio door construction with ultra-slender frames, thus creating a sleek, modern appearance and providing unobstructed views of the outdoors.
• Steel – Available with a smooth or simulated woodgrain-textured finish, this is another great choice for homeowners who prioritize security but don’t want to compromise on beauty.
• Vinyl – This perennial favorite for home upgrades is not only an energy-efficient and low-maintenance choice, but it’s also available in a broad array of colors and simulated woodgrain finishes.
• Wood composite – For many homeowners, only the classic look provided by wood-frame windows and doors will do. But they don’t look forward to the tedious maintenance required to keep wood looking its best. Fortunately, there’s a solution! We can install lovely Andersen patio doors crafted with the manufacturer’s proprietary Fibrex^® frames or with wood frames protected by vinyl or fiberglass cladding.

Additionally, our selection of patio door brands means you’ll have a remarkable assortment of frame colors to choose from, including black, which has become a popular choice for homeowners in the Kansas City area. And because we install exterior doors only from manufacturers known for using high-quality materials, you’ll feel confident that any patio doors you receive from us will retain their rich color for many years despite exposure to the elements.

If you’d like to learn more about the beautiful patio doors we install for homeowners throughout the Kansas City metro area, we’ll be happy to schedule an in-home consultation for you. Contact Johnson County Siding & Window today to get started.