Choosing between hinged and sliding patio doors is trickier than you may think. Before making your decision, you should carefully consider the factors below.
Home Style
First and foremost, think about your home’s architectural character. Generally, traditional architectural styles are best suited to the classic look of French doors. Our hinged patio doors feature modern enhancements, but still boast Old World classic charm.
Contemporary sliding doors are typically better suited to modern-style homes. Their slim frames and large glass areas provide a sleek, minimalist appeal.
Size of Opening
Since hinged doors swing open, they can fit into any opening. They can also be configured in multiple panels to occupy a large part of the wall’s length. With gliding patio doors, having a narrow opening often creates a problem because these doors require more wall space to operate.
Floor Space
Hinged doors swing open, which means they need ample clearance to operate freely. If the area is small, French doors might not work. But if you love the traditional door appearance in a space-saving format, our Frenchwood® gliding patio door system is the perfect solution. It looks exactly like our standard French door except it slides smoothly on Andersen’s patented track rollers.
Security
French doors are usually the preferred door replacement option when it comes to safety because they feature a multi-point locking system. However, modern sliding doors are more secure than they used to be. Our sliding doors are reinforced with a unique reach-out locking mechanism. It pulls the active panel tightly into the jamb for impregnability and energy efficiency. Our keyed exterior lock is also available with all of our patio doors. Plus, our sliding door models have an optional auxiliary foot lock that offers another measure of security and a partial ventilation opportunity while restricting access.
Renewal by Andersen of Seattle can help you choose between hinged and sliding patio doors. Call us at (206) 777-0954 today to schedule your free, in-home consultation and estimate in Seattle.