Alternatives to Sliding Glass Doors

Alternatives to Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors are widely used to access patios and decks, but there are plenty of innovative and practical alternatives that are worth a look. Learn about your patio door replacement options and discover some unique and functional alternatives to sliding glass doors for your home.

French Doors

Adding exterior French doors can be a classic, upscale investment in your home. Because French doors can be ordered to fit the same framed opening as your existing sliding door, installation is usually simple and straightforward.

Another thing that makes French doors the most popular alternatives to sliding glass doors is that you can configure the doors to fit your particular needs. For example, if you don’t need both sides to function, you can opt for a fixed panel combined with one opening door. You can also choose whether to have the doors swing inward or outward.

Exterior Pocket Doors

If you’re looking for space-saving patio door ideas, be sure to consider exterior pocket doors. This type of door has long been used in interior applications where space is at a premium.

Just as with sliding glass doors, exterior pocket doors slide along two fixed tracks. The great thing about this type of door is that you can create a wide, barrier-free opening to your outdoor space without any visible framing.

Multi-Panel Sliding Doors 

Sliding glass doors with three or four panels can be used to increase natural light and expand the usable opening on your existing patio door.

Three-panel sliding doors have one sliding panel in the center flanked by a fixed glass panel on each side. In comparison, four-panel sliding patio doors have two movable center panels, which provides double the opening size of a traditional sliding glass door.

Exterior Bifold Glass Doors

As with pocket doors, exterior glass bifold doors are a great space-saving solution that can be customized to suit your needs. Also called folding doors, exterior bifold doors are mounted on an upper and lower track, which makes moving the doors effortless.

A bifold glass patio door can be configured to match your existing door opening, making this type of door a great option for odd-sized openings in older homes.

Choosing the Best Alternatives To Sliding Glass Doors for Your Home

If you’re looking for alternatives to sliding glass doors for your renovation or new build, here are some things to consider:

  • The size of your exterior door opening
  • Whether you want a standard walk through, or you’d prefer an extra-large opening between your interior and exterior spaces
  • If you want a patio door that fits your existing door framing, or if you’d like to modify the size of the door frame
  • Whether you need bug screens on your patio doors
  • What your project budget is

Keep in mind that installing some of these patio door ideas is relatively easy, while installing others, such as the exterior pocket doors, will involve renovating the walls bordering your door frame.

To learn more about how you can increase your home’s curb appeal and improve access to your outdoor spaces by installing new patio doors, contact our door experts here at Thompson Creek Window Company.