Sliding Patio Doors or Double Opening Doors?

[CointreauVersial]

We are replacing the double doors in our living room, leading onto the patio. We have the choice of sliding doors (French windows) or double-opening doors. We haven't the room or the budget for fancy bifold doors. The house is fairly contemporary (1980s extension), and the cost is broadly similar. So far, I've thought of the following pros and cons:

Sliding:

• Thinner frame, so more glass, no ugly handles spoiling the view.
  
• No danger of slamming doors
  

• Can't open fully - only half open at once

Double Opening:
+ Can have a full/double opening on sunny days.

• Have to be fastened back, no pots beside wall.
• Danger of slamming
• Thicker frames, so less attractive when closed.

Predictably, I want one option, and DH the other. So please let me have your opinions and share your experience.

[Mrsladybirdface]

we've just had this debate and went with sliding, mainly as space saving and because of the trapped fingers scenario. love them and the fact you can just leave it fractionally open to let in a breeze

[Rockdoctor]

I have always freaked out at the thought of sliding doors since a good friend's toddler slid the door over his foot and severed his big toe. They managed to stitch it back on - but I will never get the image out of my head.

To be fair that was many years ago and they may be safer now.

[yamsareyammy]

We have had a sliding door for about 20 years. Never had a problem, even with young children. It has been open and closed countless times, and is still fine, apart from a probable weaker handle?

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

We've just replaced old siding doors with double doors and I have to say they do look nice. I do know what you mean about just being able to leave sliding doors open a bit though. I just prefer the look of traditionally opening doors.

[CointreauVersial]

Argh, no clear winner so far.....!

I can't imagine anyone losing a toe on a sliding door; anyway, we've had them since the DCs were born, and no toes lost so far.

Do they make glass doorswhich repel handprints?

[RoseFlowerFairy]

I don't like sliding doors at all, I would prefer the double doors with a panel of glass with an opening.

[ILikeBirds]

We have double doors, love the fact that we can open them up completely and have a huge opening right onto the decking. I personally think they look better than sliding doors when closed even if there is less glass.

[Joanna2010]

I prefer the look of double doors but I can see why sliding doors may be more practical. No help at all then

[CointreauVersial]

Ilikebirds - have you been talking to my DH? Just wondering, with this dreadful weather, how many days this year have you had both doors open to the elements?? My argument is that 99.9% of the time we will be looking at the doors when closed, so best maximise the amount of glass.

Aaargh!

[wonkylegs]

My dads sliding doors were jimmied and busted open by an intruder. Apparently this can be quite easy for some sliding doors. Make sure that whatever lock mechanisms you have are really good.

[nemno]

I think wooden painted double doors but not (UPVC) look nicer but our 25 year old aluminium sliding doors have just had their rollers oiled, cleaned and adjusted and they are as good as new. With no painting they are maintenance free and still bright white.

[NotGoodNotBad]

We've just been through this.

Double-opening (these are actually French doors)
pros

• look more traditional
  
• open wider if we ever get a summer
  
• more design options available
  

cons

• need a step to the same level outside, so if there is a step down from your living room to patio you'll need a platform outside the door
  
• need to be pinned back or they can slam
  
• take up more room when open
  

Sliding (patio doors)
pros

• don't take up any room when open
  
• don't slam
  
• no step needed
  

cons

• less traditional looking
  
• fewer designs available
  

We went for sliding in the end, mainly due to space issues both inside and out. I was dubious at first as we have a Victorian house and I thought they might look a bit 1970's, but they've been in about 2 weeks and I just love them. Incidentally, we went for cream timber-effect to avoid the synthetic modern shiny uPVC look.

[CointreauVersial]

Thanks NotGoodNotBad, I got my terminology wrong then, I see!

I don't quite understand the bit about needing a step/platform if you have opening doors.....but our patio is fairly level with the living room floor anyway. I guess you have to step over a lip whatever.

[NotGoodNotBad]

The platform part was something about Building Regs (round here at least) saying that if a door opens outwards, whether a double door or a normal single door, you must step out at the same level, and the platform must extend out for the width of the open door + 40cm. If it's sliding, you don't have to. No idea why.

[kitsmummy]

To me sliding doors (eg patio doors???) are really dated and 70s/80s ish? French doors every time for me

[NotGoodNotBad]

To me sliding doors (eg patio doors???) are really dated and 70s/80s ish?

That's kind of what I thought till mine were finished - but they're lovely .

[nemno]

French Windows

I'll get my coat .....

[blueshoes]

We went for French doors because it was more in keeping with the period of the house. Our decor is also more traditional and we did not go for the minimalist look. If our house was minimalist, then would consider sliding doors.

There could be a maximum height for sliding doors - we were looking at concertina doors, so not sure whether the same applies to sliding doors. But with French doors, I could have a foot higher worth of glass which I can enjoy the benefit of 365 days a year.

I love our French doors. Very pretty.

[kitsmummy]

Not good - do you have any pics as I genuinely would be interested to see them

[NotGoodNotBad]

Will have a go at uploading when DD gets off the main computer...

[NotGoodNotBad]

OK kitsmummy, got round to uploading some pics.

The first three show the old door - and why we wanted a new one. Narrow kitchen, door when open blocked the kitchen. The patio is small as well, and is a step down, so a French door would lose us some space outside.

The second three show the new door - very space saving, and very light indoors now. I tried to get a closeup of the woodgrain effect but you couldn't really see it on the picture.

Incidentally, the kitchen is not an extension - it's constructed in different materials, but it's as old as the rest of the house.

Excuse the mess everywhere, other renovations to follow.

[CinnamonAddict]

We had the same problem, dh wanted French doors, I wanted sliding. Because dh hardly ever had any preference on anything in the house, he got the French doors.
I'm ok with them, they do need something to hold them open, we haven't got anything there yet.
We have those without the top window bits you sometimes see. Ours are glass from top to bottom, they are 2.20m high.

[NotGoodNotBad]

I wanted French, DH wanted sliding... I went with my head (sliding) due to the space, rather than with my heart (French, more traditional I think), and for once I'm glad DH got his way.

[MisForMumNotMaid]

We've just gone for double from blown old aluminium sliding. They look so much cleaner and brighter that the extra trim thickness isn't an issue. We went for outer edge mounted but inward opening as we have lots of room at that end of the lounge and the doors are quite small so don't actually take up much floor space.