How to Pick the Best Patio Doors in 2021 – And Four Great Options
Everyone loves spending time out on the patio, but not everyone spends time thinking about the door that gets you from the inside of the house out onto your deck or patio. Of course, at The Window Store, we think about these kinds of things all the time. So, with that in mind, we’d like to offer a little helpful advice on how to choose the right patio door for your space. And, while we’re at it, let’s take a closer look at four great Milgard patio door options that are worthy of your attention.
It Starts with Function
First and foremost, your patio doors need to function properly based on the space they are serving. That might seem like an obvious point, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind as you shop. Aesthetics are important, of course, and we will get to that in a moment, but function should be your primary concern at the start.
To pick out the right patio doors for your space, think about how your patio is used currently. Do you regularly have large groups of people coming in and out of your home, or is the space just used by you and your family? Obviously, if a space is used commonly by larger groups of people, a bigger opening is going to be called for.
Another way to think about this purchase is to match the function of your patio doors to the size of the patio itself. If there is only room on the patio for a couple of chairs and a small table, it wouldn’t make sense to have large doors that can accommodate a lot of traffic – there simply isn’t going to be that much traffic coming and going. On the flip side of that discussion, a big patio isn’t going to be served well by a single door that makes it hard to come and go with food and drinks, etc.
Establish your needs for this patio door first by thinking about how the patio is going to be used in the years to come. You don’t even need to look at specific models at this early stage, because it will be easy to find the right product to match your vision later on.
Finding the Right Look
Once you have a concept in mind for how your patio will be used, and what kind of door should serve it, you can then move on to thinking about the look of that door. If you are someone who puts a lot of time and effort into the appearance of your property, selecting the right patio door is another important piece of that puzzle.
There are really two elements to think about here – color and style. The frame of the patio door is going to be seen from the outside, so you’ll want to make sure it delivers on the overall décor that you are trying to achieve. Fortunately, when you browse the various options available from Milgard, you’ll find that there are plenty of choices to meet just about every taste.
In terms of a frame, you’ll be able to pick from thicker designs as well as thin, modern styles. Thick frames give off the impression of a traditional, classic design, as older window and door frames were made of wood. On the other end of the spectrum, sleek, thin frames lend a decidedly modern feel to a property. That can be a great touch, but only when it works with the rest of your style choices.
Color is an area of patio door design that has become more and more versatile in recent years. Your options used to be somewhat limited in this area, but Milgard now offers plenty of choices, including some exciting dark shades that can make a bold statement. Often, frames are used as a color contrast on the outside of the building, so a light frame may work nicely with a dark house color, and vice versa.
Budgetary Considerations
Finally, we couldn’t wrap up this first part of our discussion without talking about the cost of your new patio door. Every project has a budget, and we have to acknowledge that element even if we would rather shop with no restrictions at all.
Despite the reputation Milgard holds as one of the top window brands in the business, you’ll be happy to know that a range of price points exist within the Milgard product collection. You can look into the higher-end product lines if you’d like the best in performance and appearance, but you can also look at a more budget-friendly option to complete your project while still getting the quality that is associated with the Milgard name.
Four Excellent Patio Door Options in 2021
To help narrow down your search and bring you closer to getting started on this fun project, we’ve taken the time to highlight four types of patio doors that are especially notable for the year ahead.
Aluminum Patio Doors
The first option on our list is aluminum patio doors. These Milgard products come with a couple of important features that may appeal to you as a buyer. First, the thin frames allow for a lot of natural light to come into your home through the door opening. If you have a beautiful outdoor space that you want to highlight, minimizing the thickness of the frames is a smart move.
Also, these are some of the most affordable patio door styles available, so you can complete your project even if you are on a tight budget. Aluminum is a stable, durable material, so you should expect to get a long useful life out of these doors – even at a modest price point. If you like the combination of a thin frame design and great value for your money, aluminum may be a winner.
Vinyl Patio Doors
Vinyl windows are extremely popular thanks to their great looks, durability, and performance benefits. So, it only makes sense that vinyl patio doors have a lot to offer, as well. It’s the well-rounded package delivered by this product that makes it so appealing, and you’ll be particularly impressed by the various options available from Milgard.
Plenty of different exterior frame colors are offered for Milgard patio doors, so you can make the right statement on the outside of your home with this product. Since the frames are going to be thicker than the aluminum doors we highlighted above, you will be able to have the color you select play a more prominent role in your design.
Given the long-lasting nature of vinyl patio doors, they too deliver great value for your money over time. Also, if you are going to be featuring vinyl windows throughout the rest of your home, it makes sense to keep the look consistent by using the same kind of product in your patio doorway.
Moving Glass Walls
This is the perfect solution when you want to dramatically open up your patio to the inside of your home. For the patio that is going to see a lot of traffic, and a lot of use during the nice weather months of the year, it’s hard to beat the functionality of a moving glass wall. People often talk about wanting to enjoy indoor-outdoor living at home, and it’s hard to imagine that being implemented any more effectively than with a moving glass wall installation.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to this style of patio door is that it brings a great view and tons of light into your home whether it is open or not. Obviously, with the glass wall opened up, nature will be invited right in. But, even when it’s closed, there is a ton of glass stretching across the space, allowing you to take full advantage of your view.
Black Framed Patio Doors
Traditionally, light color choices have been the standard for patio door frames. However, as more and more products become available with black frames, the trend to go dark with this style element has taken off. This style choice won’t work for all homes, but it can be a bold element to include when it fits with the surrounding design. If most of the exterior of your home uses light shades as a finish, adding a patio door with black frames is an opportunity for a bold contrast and a particularly intriguing visual element.
Let’s Get Started Today!
Whether you are sure that one of the options above is right for your project or you would still like help to figure it all out, the team at The Window Store would love to guide you. With years of experience in this industry and in-depth knowledge of all things windows and doors, you can get the advice you need just by reaching out. Give us a call or fill out our contact form and we’ll be happy to serve you. Thank you for considering The Window Store!