Selecting Balcony Doors for Your Home: A Beginners Guide

Modern interior designers and architects often focus on opening up spaces and optimising the use of natural light. Sliding window designs with expansive glass panels help them achieve this goal. Nowadays, many homeowners install large doors and windows, particularly in balconies, patios, and terraces. With these additions, not only is there a chance to admire spectacular views but also create spacious, bright, and beautiful interiors.

Balconies extend living spaces beyond the walls of a home. They can become a mini oasis where you relax, entertain or work. Want to enjoy your balcony to the fullest? You must also have the perfect door for it! The door you select would also impact the ventilation within your living space. The choice of balcony door design would depend on several factors, including your style, preference, space constraints, and the like.

How to Select the Right Balcony Doors?

Choosing a balcony door is essentially a one-time activity. So, you must not cut any corners. The selection of the right door, as with any other product, requires thorough research to get it right the first time. Being careless may result in choosing a door that is not right for you. As a homeowner, you need to find a door that is functional, beautiful to look at and easy to maintain. Keep reading to know how to select the best doors for your balcony: -

Focus on Your Space

Firstly, you must know the exact measurement of the balcony, both on the exterior and interior sides. It will help you decide the ideal operating style of the door. Whether the door swings inwards, outwards or has a sliding mechanism, the choice you make would rely on the amount of available space. The direction of the door opening shall impact the utility of the balcony space.

• In-swing doors – They are common in larger rooms where there is more space to swing the door inside rather than outside. In-swing door style helps maximize exterior space usage without the fear of obstructing the door. Such doors, however, may allow rainwater and small debris to be driven by winds into your house when they open. To avoid such issues, you may install a screen door to ensure protection against elements.
• Out-swing doors - This style requires a clear path outside and is generally installed in areas prone to high winds. Out-swing doors are more weather-resistant as they seal tighter when wind or rain presses against them. If the room leading to the balcony is small or already heavily furnished, installing an out-swing door would be a good way to save interior space since the door opens outward.
• Sliding doors - When it comes to balcony door designs, sliding doors are the most common option. They only help save space, but would make your balcony appear more spacious. Glass panels in sliding doors give you a good visibility of the exterior while beautifying the elegance of the interiors. Also, consider adding a mosquito mesh on your sliding balcony doors to stop the insects from coming in.

Pay Attention to the Door Size

After settling on the design style of the door, the next thing to consider is the size. Remember, proportions must be maintained. The door size should match that of the bedroom or living room. You also must think about the traffic volume that shall be flowing through the door. There is no standard size for balcony doors that works for all homes. The door size you select would rely on the type of your house, the space available, and your specific requirements.

Prioritise the Door Material

The choice of the door material relies on factors like weather conditions, ventilation, light, and more. The balcony door frame you select must be durable, sturdy, stable, and weatherproof. When deciding on the door material, you must also consider the geographical location of your house. For example, if you live in an area with high humidity, it is better to stay far away from wooden frames as moisture would have an adverse effect on the wood. For places with extreme weather, people must look for materials that offer decent insulation.

When it comes to door frames aluminium and uPVC are the most preferred materials, each having their pros and cons. You must think about the weather, budget, and maintenance costs to select the appropriate one for your home. Aluminium doors do not require much material to support the glass panel. Hence, these frames are sleeker, providing doors with a stylish appearance. On the other hand, uPVC doors will provide you with better thermal insulation and are also more budget-friendly.