Choosing the Best Material for Your Patio Doors
Enjoy access to your outdoor spaces with the perfect patio doors for your home
It doesn’t get much better than closing out a sultry summer day with a nice, cool glass of lemonade in your hand as you watch the sunset from your backyard patio. But that picture of the American dream can quickly fade if you have to pass through a stained, rotting, sticking, or warping patio door to get back into your house.
A well-designed and well-maintained patio doesn’t only mean good times and great memories for your family, though. If you want to preserve the look, feel, function, and value of your patio, then you’ll want to be selective with your patio door materials. When it comes time to install your new doors, you’ll have a range of options to choose from, including wood, vinyl, steel, aluminum, and fiberglass. And to figure out which is the best material for your patio doors, you’ll also have lots of factors to consider, from aesthetics to durability to cost.
Wood Patio Doors
When it comes to classic elegance, you can’t get much better than wood patio doors. Wood doors come in distinctive finishes and lend a touch of traditional grace to your exterior.
The downside, though, is that you’re going to pay more for all of these perks. Wood patio doors tend to cost significantly more up front than other materials. They can also be less energy-efficient, which can boost your heating and cooling bills. You may also find yourself doing significantly more upkeep. Because it’s a natural material, your wood doors will be especially vulnerable to weather. Moisture can warp wood-based patio doors, and extended exposure to sunlight and heat can cause the wood to fade.
However, you can usually repair your wood doors with relative ease. Stains and superficial scratches can generally be taken care of with just a bit of sanding and refinishing.
Steel Patio Doors
If sturdiness with style sounds more your speed, then you might consider steel for your patio doors. True, they may not have quite the old-world charm of wood doors, but they can withstand even the most brutal of weather conditions. No matter what Mother Nature throws at them, they won’t bow or warp like wood doors. Another perk of steel doors is that they cost less and are easier to maintain than wood. And steel doors also insulate better than wood.
On the downside, though, steel doors can rust if they get scratched, or dented, or if protective layers of paint peel off. Because metal conducts temperature, these doors can get very hot or cold, depending on the weather, and even painted material can remain uncomfortably hot or cold to the touch.
If you can’t decide between wood or steel, consider clad-wood patio doors. These wooden doors have a layer of metal on their exterior. Clad-wood patio doors are expensive, but they provide the aesthetics of wood doors with the minimal upkeep of metal.
Aluminum Patio Doors
Aluminum patio doors have many of the same perks that steel does. They can withstand the elements and require minimal upkeep. Aluminum patio doors, however, are even lighter than their steel counterparts. Like steel, aluminum doors won’t blow your remodeling budget. They’re usually reasonably priced and relatively energy-efficient.
There are some drawbacks to aluminum doors, however. Aluminum doors have many of the same issues as steel, but worse. Since these doors are lighter than steel patio doors, they accumulate dents more easily. And, although aluminum doors resist corrosion, scratches, and dents, breakdowns in the protective layers can cause big problems.
Vinyl Patio Doors
Like Muzak in an elevator, it seems that you can’t escape vinyl in home materials these days. But, unlike Muzak, it’s not hard to understand why vinyl is such a popular choice among homeowners. When it comes to affordability, durability, and energy efficiency, you pretty much can’t beat a vinyl patio door. These well-rounded doors can withstand the most punishing weather conditions without flaking, peeling, or rusting.
And they look good, too. Vinyl doors come in a seemingly endless variety of styles, meaning you probably won’t have trouble finding that lovely vinyl door that matches your home’s trim perfectly.
But don’t break out the ticker tape just yet. Vinyl doors do have their shortcomings. First, extreme temperature shifts can potentially cause cracks in the vinyl. Second, vinyl can be more flammable than some other patio door materials. Still, both of these issues are relatively minor compared with the benefits this patio door material provides.
Fiberglass Patio Doors
When you envision a patio door, fiberglass likely does not leap to the front of your mind. However, fiberglass offers a lot of advantages over other materials. They can be manufactured to be virtually indistinguishable from traditional wood doors, but without the headaches.
Fiberglass doors require very little maintenance, and they’re superstars for withstanding harsh weather conditions without warping, rotting, or deteriorating. You’ll also save on heating and cooling bills due to their high energy efficiency.
Other Considerations
When you’re choosing the best materials for your patio doors, there are additional factors to keep in mind. For instance, you’ll want to consider the style of door you prefer. Do you want gliding or French doors, for example? And what kind of conditions will your doors be exposed to? A covered patio, for instance, will likely be less punishing for your patio doors than an uncovered one.
Energy-Efficient Patio Doors
No matter what kind of patio doors you’re considering, you’ll want to keep energy efficiency in mind. Metal, fiberglass, and vinyl doors are more energy-efficient than their wood counterparts, but even modern wood patio doors offer better insulation and allow less heat transfer than older, draftier models.
How your patio doors are installed can also have an effect on their energy efficiency. It may be worth the cost of exterior door installation by a local door installer to ensure your new patio door is installed and sealed properly to deter drafts or heat loss.
Backyard Door Maintenance
Once they’re installed, you’ll want to make sure your patio doors last as long as possible. Maintenance will vary by material type; metal, vinyl, and fiberglass doors can be difficult to repair when damaged, often needing to be replaced and resulting in new door installation costs. Wood doors often just need to be sanded or filled and repainted or stained after incurring dings, dents, or scratches.
When it comes to regular cleaning, though, vinyl and fiberglass require the least amount of effort, as they can be cleaned with soap and water and left to air dry. Metal doors can also be cleaned with mild soap and water, but you need to take care to not allow rust spots to develop. Wood patio doors require special wood cleaner as well as protection from moisture, so you’ll put the most work into regular cleaning of these types of doors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Regular maintenance of patio doors can keep them working and looking their best for years to come. Cleaning tracks and rollers, replacing damaged or worn weatherstripping, and routinely checking the door’s alignment can extend the life of your patio doors. Exercising care while using the doors can also keep them in good condition; avoid slamming doors shut, exerting heavy pressure against them, or forcing the latch mechanisms.
The best material for sliding patio doors will depend on a number of factors, including how much use they’ll get, the type of environment and weather they’ll be exposed to, your budget, and the amount of upkeep you’ll be willing to do. Active households may want a door that’s more durable, like vinyl or fiberglass, while homes with small children might benefit from a lightweight aluminum door that’s easy to open and close.
Fiberglass patio doors tend to offer the most energy efficiency, particularly when compared to wood doors. Vinyl and metal patio doors are also known for their energy efficiency, with wood doors among the least efficient of the bunch. Doors of any material that include double- or triple-pane glass will add to their energy efficiency.