Patio Doors

Patio doors are generally described as doors to the rear of your property linking the house to the garden and come in various opening options, such as bifolding doors, sliding doors and French doors.

The type of patio door you will select will depend on whether it’s replacing old doors or is for a new build or extension, the size of the door opening, and the view to your garden.

When chosen thoughtfully, modern patio doors can be a striking addition to your home and enhances the property’s aesthetics viewed from the garden. From the inside, they not only provide a pleasant view but also flood your space with natural light, and offer easy access to your garden and provide a focal feature.

You’ll find patio doors widely used in high-end architectural glazing for some of the best house designs that feature expansive floor-to-ceiling glass. In essence, they have the potential to add a ‘WOW’ factor to any property!

Patio doors come in different materials, types, and functions. They usually allow access from a room to a paved area or garden. Nowadays, patio doors also include sliding doors, French doors, frameless doors, slide & turn doors, and bifolding doors.

They can be made of aluminium, steel, timber, PVCu, or a hybrid combination of wood and aluminium. Serving as a fully functional door in the home, patio doors bring in natural daylight and offer a means of ventilation.

The type and style of patio door you choose will depend on many factors.

Find out which types of patio door are best suited for various scenarios. Everything is considered, from materials to configuration and use.

Patio door Solutions

Understanding the options available can help you choose the right patio door in the most suitable material.

origin sliding door handles3 1

Sliding

Large glass door panels that slide across each other.

reynaers bifold door2

Bifolding

Folding door system with multiple panels that stack together when open.

slide and turn design as alternative to bifolding doors

Slide & Turn

A space-saving solution that allows for easy opening and closing.

alumina french door 1

French Doors

Double glass doors ideal for small openings and for a heritage, steel-look.

What is the best material for patio doors?

When looking to replace or install a new patio door in your home, there is an excellent choice of materials, and there is no absolute best material for patio doors.  Factors to consider are budget, house style, door function, personal taste and longevity.

Our at-a-glance comparison table provides an overview of the different types of patio doors available with their frame material options.

AluminiumPVCuSteelTimberHybridFrameless
Single door✓✓✓✓✓✓
French door✓✓✓✓✓✓
Bifolding door✓✓✓✓✓ 
Sliding door✓✓ âœ“✓ 
Slide & turn door✓✓ âœ“ âœ“
Steel-look door✓ âœ“   
Doors with windows/screens✓✓✓✓✓ 
Ultra-slim sliding door✓    âœ“
Pivot door✓ âœ“   
Automatic door✓     
Doors with open/moveable corner✓ âœ“ âœ“ âœ“✓
Flush/timber-look doors âœ“    
Special shapes✓ âœ“✓✓ 
Oversize patio doors✓ âœ“  âœ“
Table comparing the different types of patio doors and their available frame material options.

If a combination you would like for your project is missing, you can, you can contact us for advice.

When buying new patio doors, the current materials used in manufacturing all offer the following benefits:

  • Excellent door energy ratings and U-Values thanks to insulated profiles and glass
  • Choice of double or triple glazing for most products
  • Latest security and weather protection due to their design and high-quality hardware
  • Extensive choice of colours and colour-matching service
  • Solutions for lower thresholds, improved access or meeting specific requirements

6 ways patio door materials differ

  • Price
  • Design, such as contemporary or traditional
  • Specifications
  • Quality of the components, including screws, joins and tracks.
  • The capability of the product, such as sizes, strength and integration with other products
  • Security, weather and other accreditations

How your patio door integrates with your design and structural requirements will also determine the choice of material and brand. For example, you need to consider cladding, gutters, fascias, corner posts and steelwork, aluminium panels and even integral blinds.  

In aluminium especially there is a big choice when it comes to finding who makes the best bifolding doors. For sliding patio doors, there are over fifty aluminium sliding doors to choose from, so invariably it is worth seeking advice on some of the best patio sliding doors on the market today. 

Summary of patio door options

Aluminium patio doors

  • Offers very flexible patio door size options
  • Specialist configurations such as open corner and pocket sliding doors
  • Multiple opening options such as tilt and slide, slide and stack doors
  • Provides a better choice of frame styles
  • Slimmer frame possibilities
  • Endless colour options
reynaers bifold door2

PVCu patio doors

  • The most affordable patio door solution
  • Provide the best timber-look option without buying real wood
  • The foils and woodgrain foil options are excellent
pvcu patio sliding doors

Steel patio doors

  • The slimmest and most luxurious option
  • Unbeatable sightlines and design detail only available with steel
  • Similar matching internal doors and screens
  • Fire-rated options available
steel-patio doors in black art-deco design

Timber patio doors

  • The best natural material
  • Warm to the touch feel
  • Excellent natural thermal insulation
  • Long service life
  • Quality guarantees and minimal maintenance
timber patio doors in a country kitchen

Hybrid or composite patio doors

  • Best of both materials, quality wood inside, low maintenance durable aluminium outside
  • Excellent U-values and thermal insulation
  • Distinctive styling creates altogether different-looking glazing
solarlux hybrid patio doors in a german house

Frameless aluminium patio doors

  • The best choice for minimal frame profiles and maximum glass area
  • Creates distinctive and contemporary patio doors in the home
  • Suitable for larger openings
  • Still comes with the security, energy-efficiency and weather protection of wider framed doors
frameless slide and turn patio doors in a character home

Patio doors threshold options

A door threshold is located at the bottom of the doorway and covers the gap between the door frame and the floor. It is usually made from a strip of wood or metal and acts as a seal to stop rain and draughts.

With larger door sets a low level, easy access and even flush threshold, such as those found on bifolding doors, is also available on sliding doors, pocket doors and open corner designs. French doors, by nature, don’t have a flush threshold, but most door brands offer a low threshold option similar to those used on front doors.

Getting a low threshold is easier when designing doors as part of a new extension rather than when replacing dated doors. However, a good installer has the skills to modify an existing opening, allowing the doors to sit lower.

Contact us if you would like some advice about your particular project.