As the home improvement craze continues to sweep the nation, a lot of homeowners are beginning to look beyond sheer size and focus on ways to improve their home's styling. One of the more popular upgrades these days are exterior doors, and not just the ones on the front of the house but also those leading to outdoor living spaces.
“ We've invested years of extensive research to develop wood patio doors that perform well under difficult conditions ”
Vinyl sliding glass doors have been the default choice for quite a while now primarily because of cost. They work just fine, but lack warmth and appeal. In contrast, wood French doors add a touch of class and make a passage between indoor spaces and outdoor living areas a feature, not just a transition. Wood provides a much more classic and traditional look, and it can be stained or painted to blend with any dİcor.
A classic set of swinging, double French patio doors creates a nice, wide entry to let cool breezes flow into homes on warm summer days. They also bring in soft, natural light to help make rooms appear larger on gray, wintry days.
Wood French doors can cost more than vinyl sliding glass doors, but they can also add value by giving your home character that sets it apart. It's also worth a little extra investment to install quality wood patio doors that are more resistant to weather and better insulated, especially if you live in a colder climate. Durable weather stripping and thermally insulated glass are "must haves" for winter.
Historically, exposure to tough weather conditions such as rain, snow, direct sunlight and standing water can, in some cases, pose a challenge to wood doors causing problems with leakage, rotting and warping. Wood doors do require a little care now and then to keep them functioning at their best, but recent developments have made them much more resistant to moisture and the ravages of harsh weather.
"We've invested years of extensive research to develop wood patio doors that perform well under difficult conditions," says Jim Brandt of Simpson Door Company. "Our revolutionary Performance Series doors are built using a revolutionary construction process that enhances resistance to moisture and helps preserve the natural beauty and integrity of wood."
Simpson's Performance Series doors are a great choice for almost any patio door situation, including areas with poor overhang protection and wet and humid climates. All Simpson exterior French doors feature the company's patented ViewSaver Technology, a construction process that combines a sleek 1 and 3/8-inch profile bar design with 3/4-inch thick insulated glass, resulting in an energy efficient door with maximum viewing area. The bar is kerfed at all wood-to-wood joints and, in combination with a sealing compound, provides a barrier against water infiltration.
Adding a transom, a matching overhead window, and sidelights, one or a pair of matching side windows, is another popular option for many homeowners -- as is placing multiple sets of patio doors side-by-side to create a wall of windows. To enhance security, homeowners may also choose to add slide bolts at the top and bottom of one door with the other positioned to close and lock against it.
Most patio door openings are a standard size of 80 inches tall and six feet wide, but wood patio doors can be custom ordered to fit just about any size. French doors are even available in larger sizes to accommodate today's taller ceilings. They also can be installed to swing either in or out depending on what will work best for your situation.
To find out more about Simpson's French doors or to locate an authorized dealer near you, just call (800) 952-4057 or visit the company's Web site at www.simpsondoor.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
