Sliding Patio Doors or Double Opening Doors?

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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.

50:50 split so far - c'mon, people, I'm after consensus here!

A few pros and cons we hadn't thought of, so thanks for that.

Our opening is quite wide so the doors would be massive....I'm worried they would get in the way.....and would anyone bother to fasten them back? Hmmm....

DH doesn't get his way much here either.

Thank you notgood - you're right, they look great! (V pretty house btw)

Lovely slidey doors, Notgoodnotbad - look very smart! I can absolutely see why that was the better option for you.

Our doors would open outwards, but that will leave a massive "exclusion zone" on the patio outside.

Thanks

You can have stiffner bracket things put on the top so they give a little bit of resistance (amount is adjustable) to being closed. Not as good as tieing back but less likely to slam at every light gust.

I love my large sliding door.
I have vertical blinds with them.

Looks good

Oh! I meant to add, we used to have a single door with a window frame at either side but swopped it for the sliding door.
More space. I'm so glad I did it and wonder what I was thinking when I put in the original door.

We switched from sliding to French about 10 years ago and have not regretted it for one moment (the frame surrounding the sliding doors was completely rotten when we moved in so they had to go). We only find the door slams very occasionally and it is open pretty well all the time we are at home when it's warm enough. They look nicer and I love being able to have the double opening. It's useful when we need to get large items of furniture etc into the house too. Our patio is large enough that having the doors open doesn't intrude onto the space and we have big pot plants behind the doors.

sliding here, i have it currently opened just enough for a lovely breeze, no trapped fingers in hinges or toes and no openings them outward into anyone's head and when its windy i don't worry about them blowing in the wind also as on back of house not really bothered how they look they are just so practical .

We're revamping our kitchen and dining room soon - knocking them semi through - and we've decided on sliding doors. We have a slider in our living room and, even when it's only open a fraction on a gusty day, the door from the hall to the living room can slam so goodness knows what the dining room to hall door would do if we went for a french door where it's either open or shut, nothing in between. Plus, as we have a six year old and friends hurtling around the patio, I didn't want something we could open outwards. My friend, who lives in a similar house nearby, had french doors and when we were in her garden last summer one of the mums opened the door whilst she was busy chatting and looking the other way. The door swung back and hit one of the kids who was running on the patio. Luckily no harm done but it made me realise that the way we use our patio needs a sliding door. Yes we could be careful, yes the kids could be told just to play on the lawn but kids are kids and people forget when they're focussing on something else. We also have a big group of people over at some point most summers and french doors would just take up valuable sitting and boozing space!

I will say go with sliding patio doors. It will give so much light to the interior as well as uses less space compared to the double opening doors. Just like you mentioned in your pros and cons, there is no need to be afraid of slamming doors which can be a concern with kids at home. I also feel they look way better than the other, but obviously it depends on the construction of the entire building as well individual person’s liking.

We are planning to have patio doors for our new house in Toronto. Here is an article about patio doors: www.clerawindows.com/blog/why-is-it-better-to-choose-patio-doors-over-garden-doors/
Hope this would be helpful.