Replacing your back door or patio door? Choose the best type for your new door for the back of your house...
This article provides an overview about what to consider when replacing your back door or patio door. We give you the advantages and disadvantages of different door types. This should help you to make an informed decision before buying your new door.
Use our Window and Door Configurators
Design online your own new doors and windows, send it to us and we give you a detailed quote. Choose between PVC and composite materials (Palladio).
Choose your back door carefully
Most houses in Ireland have a back door or patio door. Before you decide what door you get you should think about the main goals that door has for your house. You should ask yourself the following questions:
Is safety the main concern for your back door?
Do you need additional light in the room?
Do you want in summer to make one room out of the patio and kitchen / dining / living room?
Would an open swing door be in the way on the patio?
Is the back of your house susceptible to strong winds?
Depending on the goals you have identified for your back door you can choose from the following general back door types.
Back door types:
The Standard Single Door is perfect if security is a main concern and you only use the door as access to bins, shed, garage, etc. As a slight variation, the Single Doors with half or full glass allow some light to enter the room. French doors are perfect for access to a bigger patio. Sliding doors are better if the patio is small without space to swing door panels open. Folding doors are perfect if a large area needs to be opened. However, sliding and folding doors are more susceptible to mechanical problems throughout their life time.
Advantages & disadvantages of each back door type
Each door on the market comes with pros and cons. It is important to find out what is important to you.
Standard Single Doors
This type of door would be similar to your front door. There is no glazing and the door is a single swing door with secure locks. The most popular materials used for this type of back door are uPVC or composite doors. We recommend this door for back doors which are only needed to access bins, sheds, garages, etc.
Advantages
More secure than the other types of doors
Nobody can peep into the room
Sturdy, weather-resistant and difficult to break into
Vast choice of doors to pick from
Very little cleaning needed
Very energy-efficient
No blinds needed
Low maintenance
Reasonable price
Disadvantages
It offers no light for the room behind it
Having a narrow opening, it doesn't allow to connect patio and room to one living space in summer
The door allows no views into the garden
The doors need space outside or inside to be opened
To keep door open on windy days it needs a special latch
We can install any standard single door you pick. We take the measurements for you, source the door and fit it professionally. We recommend Palladio composite doors! Design your own door and get a detailed quote from us:
Single Doors with Glass
There are many variations how glass can be introduced into a Standard Single Door for the back of your house. Half glass, full glass, or anything between can be used. The more glass, the more light. However, more glass means less privacy and less security.
Advantages
Compact door
Allows some light to enter room
Vast choice of doors to pick from
Very little cleaning needed
Low maintenance
Reasonable price
Disadvantages
Not as secure as a standard door without glass(alarm recommended)
Easy to peep into the room
Not as energy-efficient
Needs regular cleaning of the glass
Might need blinds to avoid overheating of room in summer
The doors need space outside or inside to be opened
To keep door open on windy days it needs a special latch
We can install any single door with glass you pick. We take the measurements for you, source the door and fit it professionally. We recommend Palladio composite doors! Design your own door and get a detailed quote from us:
French Doors
As the name suggest, the French door originates from France. In the 17th century the nobles wanted to look out into the gardens even when sitting in their living room. This fully glazed door allowed them a great view and it lit up the living room at the same time. A French door has typically two glazed wings, which can be open separately.
Advantages
Lightens up the room behind it
Allows views out into the garden or patio
Gives a feeling of more space in the house
Allows to watch children playing in the garden
When open it can connect the room in the house and the patio to one big living space
Sturdy opening and locking mechanism
Medium price
Disadvantages
Not as secure as a standard door (alarm recommended)
Easy to peep into the room
Not as energy-efficient
Needs regular cleaning of the glass
Medium maintenance
Might need blinds to avoid overheating of room in summer
Both doors need space outside to be opened
To keep door open on windy days it needs a special latch
We can install any French Door you pick. We take the measurements for you, source the French Door and fit it professionally. You can design your own French Door and send the result to us:
Sliding Doors
Sliding doors are usually fully glazed and don’t fold outward, but instead slide behind one another. The sliding is typically achieved by having several tracks offset from one another. Most sliding doors have a fixed half and a sliding half. For external doors it's rare to have both parts sliding.
Advantages
Doesn't need space outside to be opened
No latch needed to hold it open on windy days
Lightens up the room behind it
Allows views out into the garden or patio
Gives a feeling of more space in the house
Allows to watch children playing in the garden
Medium price
Disadvantages
Only half the door can be opened
Not as secure as a standard door (alarm recommended)
Easy to peep into the room
Not as energy-efficient
Needs regular cleaning of the glas and the sliding tracks
Might need blinds to avoid overheating of room in summer
More maintenance required
Moving parts get damaged quicker
We can install any sliding door you pick. We take the measurements for you, source the sliding door and fit it professionally. You can design your own Sliding Door and send the result to us:
Folding Doors
Folding doors are also called bi-fold doors and are typically fully glazed. A folding door consist of a series of panels, each of which is tethered to its neighbours via hinges so that the entire arrangement can be collapsed in a concertina. It can span over a wide area and allows the rooms of the house to connect fully to the patio and garden.
Advantages
Allows to open up a wide area
When open it can connect the room in the house and the patio to one big living space
Needs only little space inside and outside to be opened
No latch needed to hold it open on windy days
Lightens up the room behind it
Allows views out into the garden or patio
Allows to watch children playing in the garden
Disadvantages
Danger for injury when folded up
Many moving parts which can get damaged.
Not as secure as a standard door (alarm recommended)
Easy to peep into the room
Not as energy-efficient
Needs regular cleaning of the glas, the sliding tracks and the hinges
Might need blinds to avoid overheating of room in summer
More maintenance required
High price
We can install any folding door you pick. We take the measurements for you, source the folding door and fit it professionally.
About Perfect Home
Your door & window service in Ireland
Perfect Home Windows & Doors is a leading service company for window repairs, window replacement, door repairs, door replacement and uPVC spraying in Ireland. Our specialists are repairing and replacing uPVC, aluminium and wooden windows as well as all types of doors. Our service includes installing new doors and windows as well as fixing hinges, handles, glass, seals and vents of windows, skylights and doors in county Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
GET A FREE QUOTE NOW!