Patio doors open your home to the outside, allowing natural light and fresh air into your living spaces. They can also improve your curb appeal and increase your property value.
They’re available in a variety of designs and sizes, including hinged and sliding options. Some are crafted with insulating materials that regulate temperatures and prevent drafts.
Hinged
Hinged patio doors, also known as French doors, add a classic look to your home and are perfect for those looking to open up rooms with big views. These doors swing in or out and come in two styles: center-hinge and jamb-hinge. Both options open up your space and provide more room for walkways, furniture and more.
They’re also a more secure choice than sliding patio doors since they are harder to force open from the outside and have more secure hardware overall. These doors can also be crafted with impact glass, making them an excellent option for Florida’s stormy weather and helping to protect your home from debris and changes in air pressure.
Window World offers a wide variety of hinged patio door options in traditional, contemporary and classical designs to fit your style. You can also boost energy efficiency by adding an ENERGY STAR rating and a Low-E coating.
Sliding
Sliding patio doors offer a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, brightening interiors with natural light and offering unobstructed views. They’re also easy to maintain and help increase your home’s energy efficiency.
However, it’s essential to choose doors that meet the required standards for the area where you live. In coastal areas prone to hurricanes, it’s critical to choose impact-rated sliding glass doors that can withstand the force of powerful winds and flying debris.
Sliding glass doors should be properly installed by a professional to ensure proper alignment and weather sealing, which minimizes air leakage and drafts. It’s also important to work with a reputable manufacturer or dealer to ensure the best results and warranty protection. This is especially true for luxury sliding glass doors that are designed with advanced technology and materials to withstand severe weather conditions.
Impact Glass
Hurricanes and severe storms can wreak havoc on homes, leaving behind shattered windows and compromised entry points. But impact-rated sliding patio doors offer protection against the elements without sacrificing natural light and seamless indoor-outdoor flow.
These doors use laminated insulating glass and a polymer interlayer to hold together during an impact. This design is more effective than tempered glass, which shatter into shards when broken.
The impact-resistant design also flexes as air pressure changes during a hurricane, helping to prevent the lifting or blowing off of roofs and portions of buildings. This flexibility may even qualify homeowners for an insurance discount on their premiums. Look for permanent etched marks or temporary stickers to identify impact-rated glass. Professional installation is recommended to ensure proper alignment, weather sealing, and optimal performance.
Impact-Rated
In Florida, storms and hurricanes are common occurrences that can cause significant damage to your home. You can help protect your property by investing in impact-rated patio doors.
Our impact-rated patio door products come with laminated glass that helps prevent shattering if struck by debris. They also offer a streamlined appearance without metal obscuring your view.
Patio doors with an ‘WBDR’ rating are designed to meet the needs of wind-borne debris regions, while those with a ‘HVHZ’ label are specifically rated for High Velocity Hurricane Zones. They can withstand up to 155 mph winds and stay sturdy, helping protect your home from severe weather conditions.
Upgrading to impact-rated doors instantly increases your home’s security, and reduces the risk of burglary. These doors are stronger and more shatterproof than regular patio doors, making them difficult for intruders to break into your home.
Energy-Efficient
A high-quality, well-installed patio door will reduce drafts and energy costs. However, if your doors aren’t made from durable materials or if they don’t have the right hardware, they will fail to perform as designed.
Patio doors connect indoor spaces to the outdoors, so they must not only enhance the aesthetics of your home, but also protect it from extreme weather conditions and intruders. FWDS offers impact-rated and non-impact patio doors with strong vinyl frames that never need refinishing, as well as insulating glass that prevents the transmission of heat and cold.
Thanks to modern innovations, many patio doors achieve a high level of energy efficiency – even those with expansive panes of glass. Premium door brands like Marvin accomplish this by using low-emissivity glass and krypton or argon gas between the panes.