Do you have a pooch? I do, and I know that she loves the outdoors just as much as I do. She also enjoys my patio. How do I give her access without cutting a hole in my wall or marring my beautiful patio doors? Is my pooch forced to wait for me to let her out before she can enjoy the patio?

Don’t despair, there are a variety of options for pet lovers with patios!

Some sliding glass doors come with the option of a pet panel. These attractive dog patio doors are designed to fit right in with your beautiful sliding glass doors. Far from an eyesore, these allow fido to come and go as he pleases without obstructing the beautiful view your sliding glass doors afford you.

Already have an older sliding patio door? No problem, there are many third party “one-size-fits-all” options available. An endless variety of colors and styles await the savvy shopper. Start, as always, on the internet, then move to your local store armed with the knowledge you need to spot a deal!

If you have a larger dog and are worried about security, never fear. Make sure your dog patio door comes equipped with a sturdy and handy door cover and latch so that you can leave home with the peace of mind that fido and your belongings are safe and secure!

As with any purchase, look for a guarantee. Seek out customer reviews online before you buy so that you can spot any potential issues. Go to the store with the proper information handy - dimensions of your door, preferred color, security needs and anything else you think you may need to make an informed dog patio door purchase!

Happy times on you patio, and tell fido he’s welcome!

Sliding patio doors are a great looking option to consider when choosing a style of door for your patio. Sliding patio doors allow for maximum light penetration into your house and offer a sweeping floor to ceiling view of your patio from indoors. There are a variety of styles to choose from, from solid glass doors to attractive paned models.

Screens, either vinyl or metal, are installed. These are great - they let the breeze and wonderful outdoor smells inside while keeping unwanted visitors out. If possible, find a vinyl screen. They stand up to the test of time better than traditional aluminum screens do.

A great look isn’t the only benefit you get from your sliding patio doors (though it shouldn’t be understated, they ARE beautiful). Sliding patio doors can also help with your heating and electrical bills. Many models come with automotive style glazing and quality weather stripping ensuring an ultra tight seal - much tighter than you can expect with a traditional set of french doors. This keeps the heat (or the cool for that matter) inside where it belongs.

When building your new patio, don’t overlook the traditional beauty of sliding patio doors.

Installing patio doors can be expensive. Sliding glass or french, patio doors can be taxing on your wallet. Luckily there are ways to minimize the costs and get yourself some good, cheap patio doors.

First: are you handy? Installing the cheap patio doors yourself mitigates the most major cost - the labor charge. A savvy handyperson can find volumes of information online, offering walkthroughs, tips and hints for door installation.

Next: can you transport the doors yourself? Purchasing the doors beforehand can help keep labor and transport costs down. Sure, you’ll have to take accurate measurements to ensure you get the right size door for your opening, but you also wont be staring at a marked up door raw materials cost and transport fee on your installation bill!

Finally: Should you decide to purchase or install the doors yourself, shop around. There are often great deals to be found at your local stores. With french doors, keep in mind - you can paint them. So if you see a good deal on a set of cheap patio doors with a less than desirable color, don’t pass immediately. Consider the savings should you paint them yourself!

Good luck, and happy bargain hunting!

Patio Doors

Patio doors are more than just a way to go from the house to the backyard. They are a vital part of a home’s security system. Patio doors are also a subsidiary element of a house’s heating and cooling systems. Of course, they are also a decorative portion of the home’s architecture and, quite often, they are overlooked. A homeowner may be concerned with the design of the patio and the design of the rooms inside the house. Obviously the furniture inside and outside the home is of interest to its owner. How many times though are the patio doors a big part of a homeowner’s discussion with anyone? They should be though because they protect the home, contribute to its bills (or save on them) and they add to (or subtract from) a home’s value. Patio doors are important.

What then makes good patio doors?

First, good patio doors protect the inhabitants. They protect the inhabitants from intruders and they protect the inhabitants from themselves. Patio doors come in three basic styles: Standard doors of glass or half wood and half glass; double sliding glass doors; double French glass doors. For safety from break-ins, standard glass patio doors should have the same security as front entry doors; i.e., a locking knob and a dead bolt. The security of double sliding glass patio doors and French double doors is more difficult. Sliding patio doors should have rods which are placed in the glide path of the opening door. Double French patio doors can be equipped with removable security bars which prevent the door from being opened from the outside.

Even more important than locks and bars though is the strength of the glass in the doors. A family is in more danger from accidentally breaking the glass in a patio door than from a burglar coming in through the patio door. For this reason strongly consider patio doors made of tempered glass. Tempered glass is stronger than ordinary glass. If it does shatter, tempered glass is engineered to break into small pieces with blunt edges.

Second, good patio doors are energy efficient. Heat lost through patio doors in winter and air conditioning lost through patio doors in summer can substantially increase a home’s utility bills. Double paned glass patio doors and patio doors that are coated to reflect the sun greatly enhance energy efficiency.

Third, good patio doors add to the beauty of their surroundings and reflect the taste of their owners. Even sliding glass patio doors come in a vast number of options now. They have wooden jambs that mimic standard doors and come with a variety of glass styles. The glass can also be coated not only to increase energy savings but to protect the furnishings inside the house from deterioration due to sunlight. Noise diminishing patio doors are also available. French patio doors can open wide to 180 degrees giving complete access to the patio. They can also be equipped with decorative wood and stained glass inserts. Depending upon the materials from which they are constructed, many glass patio doors can now either be painted or come in a variety of baked on paint finishes.

So, don’t be a homeowner who overlooks his/her patio doors. They protect the home, insulate the home and decorate the home. Patio doors deserve their owners’ attention.