Hinged vs. Sliding Doors: Which Option Is Best for My Home?

Both hinged and sliding doors create a functional and aesthetically pleasing access point between your home and the patio. But each type of patio door has different characteristics to consider.

Patio doors create a convenient entryway between your indoor and outdoor living spaces. When shopping for a new or replacement patio door to complement your space, it's important to distinguish the difference between hinged and sliding types of patio doors.

With the right information about each product, you can change the look and function of your room. Read on to learn more about the difference between hinged and sliding patio doors.

When it comes to choosing the right door for your home's patio, many people are unsure if they should opt for a hinged or sliding patio door. Therefore, knowing the pros and cons of each door type can help make your shopping experience easier. Especially when deciding what is most convenient and best for your home. With that in mind, it's time to analyze the pros and cons of hinged versus sliding patio doors. Before we do that, however, let's define the two gate types.

Hinged patio doors typically consist of solid wood planks or hollow-core doors that are fastened to the door frame with two or more hinges. Typically, new hinges are often required to support taller doors that are above average heights. For these exceptions, heavier and larger doors require stronger hinges. Of course, the size of the door will depend on the size of your home's courtyard and the relative size of the room in which it is installed.

Remember that the hinged door is opened by pushing the door, which will open from the inside.

As opposed to opening outwards, sliding doors are designed to slide horizontally via an operating panel and a fixed panel. Compared to hinged doors, they fit into tighter spaces because their panels won't interfere with your room or patio. These doors slide left and right and are generally more aesthetically pleasing to any room in the home as they are perfect for large patios/rooms and don't take up much space.

When looking at the advantages of installing hinged doors, it is clear that there are many benefits. These include,

- The ability to fully open the door without any restrictions or only left and right opening

- Considered the more traditional option. As a result, you're more likely to find more doors in different sizes and finishes to fit your space and cater to your home's unique structure.

Regarding the disadvantages of installing a hinged door, the following points may be of interest:

- Hinged doors usually take up more space because they have to swing outward when opened. So if you don't have enough space on your patio, then you may want to consider the advantages of sliding doors.

 

Simple elegance is the hallmark of a single-hinged patio door. It is a door panel that can provide a more formal entry, often connected to a deck or even a sunroom. You might see it paired with large windows to create the look of a glass wall. Single-hinged patio doors are often found in spaces where wall space is limited. They can be customized with additional features to add character to your home design.

Available door combinations include single-hinged doors with left or right side lights or both. No matter which type of sidelight you choose, the transom window can be placed above the door.

If one isn't enough, double-hinged doors are the answer. This style features two panels that open from the center and is often referred to as a French patio door.

Double-hinged patio doors offer a level of versatility because they can make an eye-catching statement in your home whether your style is contemporary or traditional. If you want the door to open into the room, you can choose to use a French patio door. The swing-out option works well when dual patio doors lead to a patio or deck.

Regarding sliding doors, the benefits include,

- Extensive market selection

- Also often less intrusive as they allow you to open sideways instead of outwards, they can invade another room

Ventilation: Most French doors or other types of hinged patio doors do not include screens. Sliding patio doors almost always do. If your patio door is in the kitchen, we recommend a sliding patio door with a screen, as the kitchen needs ventilation. The best stove fans don't ventilate like windows, and letting fresh air into your home has many health benefits.

Space Saving: Sliding patio doors move parallel to the wall and do not require a designated space for operation. This is the main advantage of the small interior space and CT deck. Swing patio doors require more design consideration. Measure the width of the door and draw a semi-circle with the same radius. That's the space you can't use.

If you choose to swing your patio door, decide where you can afford to lose that space. If the indoor space is relatively limited, choose the swing door. For example, the exterior doors of Connecticut sunrooms often swing outward because the sunrooms are so small. However, be aware that if you leave swing doors open, they are prone to accelerated weathering. If outdoor space is more limited, choose a swing door. This might be a better option for a CT deck for entertainment.

 

Problems with sliding doors include:

- Difficult to clean the exterior. While cleaning them from the inside is relatively easy, the sliding doors slide back and forth, making it difficult to clean from the outside, especially in winter.

- There is a higher risk of damage as the door can get stuck or get stuck between the openings.

Operation: Sliding patio doors don't always slide as easily as you would like them to. The rollers will wear and debris will accumulate on the track and increase friction. Even a brand-new sliding door can be tricky to operate when you're tossing a plate of the marinade onto the grill.

Opening Dimensions: Sliding patio doors cannot open fully, while hinged patio doors can open to the full width of the door configuration. The wide available space offered by a hinged door may only be used on move-in and move-out days, but when you're moving large objects, hinged doors make it easier.

 

Safety and Security: Patio doors are more susceptible to security breaches than other types of doors because they are made of glass and many are not equipped with modern locking mechanisms and other safety features. No matter which style you choose, the security features of your patio door should be the number one consideration. For both types of patio doors, we recommend a multi-point locking system. We also recommend not only having, but also using a security system.

Style: It's hard to compare French doors (or other hinged patio doors) to sliding patio doors because the styles are completely different, but both are common. Sliding patio doors are more modern, but they are very versatile because they are not the focal point of the room. French doors are more traditional but are also suitable for any style of home. The decor of the room, and the curtains you choose (if any), contribute far more to the overall aesthetic of the room than the type of door itself.

Color and Appearance: Some homeowners are very picky about color. Sliding patio doors generally have fewer color options than swinging patio doors.

Energy Efficiency: Glass is never as good as wood or fiberglass as an insulator, but some types of glass are much better than others. Always check the Energy Star rating, built-in weather strips, and Low-E glass.

Privacy: Sliding patio doors often come with internal shutters. Internal blinds give you optimal lighting and privacy control without the need for cleaning.

The above briefly introduces the differences between the two types of doors. If you are still not sure which door to buy, or you already have an idea, you are welcome to contact us.

ROPO is a custom door and window manufacturer with 16 years of experience. Our main products are sliding doors, hinged doors, folding doors, combination windows, sunshade windows, casement windows, etc. We offer customer service and work with you to create stylish products that enhance your home. From initial design consultation to fabrication and installation, our team of experts takes care of the entire process.