design question - replacing double-hungs with large patio door

4 years ago

Hi all - we recently moved into a house where the owners had a screened porch added, with exterior door to the deck. In the adjacent kitchen/eat-in area, there are 3 double-hung windows that we're thinking of replacing with a 3 panel swing-out patio door (1 stationary) or a large 2-panel (more glass, less obstruction but wonder if too heavy) instead, so we have immediate access to the deck, without having to wonder around thru the screened porch. My sister says the look of a patio door right here behind our island in the kitchen was never meant to be, but my husband and I like the idea of more function and more glass (the door glass would span ~108 inches wide to 88 inches tall). The other thought was to keep our current deck exit via the porch and swap the windows for a picture window w/ 2 adjacent casements. If you have any recommendations, would really appreciate it. Thanks! (PS -we are soon renovating the kitchen too so the black granite will be gone). I have posted pics - top one is the 3 double-hung windows we'd look to replace and the bottom one shows the interior door to the screen porch which we then have to exit to the deck via another door in the porch. Thx!

Featured Answer

jck910

4 years ago

A slider there will certainly help bringing food etc from kitchen to deck without walking through the porch

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Comments (7)

jck910
4 years ago
I have an 8' Andersen sliding french door and it is heavy to slide. When you say "renovating" your kitchen, are you just changing the counters? I would would for the ideas the kitchen designer comes up with before changing the windows.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Of course you can do it but you will need a whole new header the size of the door and IMO outswing doors take up space either inside or outside I do not think you have space in either of those it also seems that you have this style of window in other spaces so unless you are ready to replace them all I would stick to a french door look slider as close as possible to the style of the windows you have.
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lmk978
Original Author
4 years ago
Good to know! We aren't able to change our footprint/cabinet layout in the kitchen due to various reasons so I wasn't sure how much a designer per se would be involved. So appreciate the input! Thx!
lmk978
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Patricia - we did have a structural engineer come and provide the info for a new header but I hear ya on the swing outs - the deck furniture is right there.
partim
4 years ago
We converted a single window to an out-swinging French door when we renovated. Converting your single window is simpler than converting the triple window. If you did so, you'd have to rotate your kitchen table 90 degrees to allow for a traffic path, but it looks as if you have room to do that. Try the table turned to see how it feels before you commit.
lmk978 thanked partim
lmk978
Original Author
4 years ago
Hi Partim - great idea! I tried rotating the table and it doesn't work size-wise / traffic-flow wise with the rest of the adjacent rooms and entrywall hallway - the table is longer than wide so matches the table nook (it's not a circle table and since it's new, it's staying). I so loved that idea, though! Maybe we will forego the patio door idea and put more $ towards the kitchen reno. Question if anyone is still following this - we will be redoing the ceiling lighting and I'd like to get rid of the one piece pendant and have 2 separate hanging over the island, however wonder since the view out the windows and yard is there and we have the other adjacent nook table pendant, if we should just go w/ recessed lighting instead. Can't asking a lighting designer as they want to sell you lighting fixtures (lol).