Folding, Sliding and Swing Doors: Your Guide on How to Choose

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Do you love the look and airy feel of an expansive wall of glass that opens to the outdoors but wonder if it would work for you? Renovating your home is a perfect time to take advantage of a new folding, sliding or swing door system. A wall of glass that opens can be a prominent design feature, allowing for a near-seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Doors that open wide across a wall can be perfect for entertaining and a convenient way to access patios from kitchens, living areas and bedrooms. Read on for five things to consider when choosing a new large-opening door system.

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1. Consider Your Space

Before selecting a folding, sliding or swing door, determine how much room you have and how much space each type of door requires. Is there enough room for a folding door’s stacking panels when they’re pushed to the side? Do you have a small door opening and are simply looking for a quick way to get in and out, or is there a large enough opening to create a true indoor-outdoor experience?

Accordion-style folding doors make a striking statement when your home has a wide door opening. “Folding doors can really open up a space,” says Joe Schultz, owner of Cabana Concepts in Oceanside, California. “When you’re ready to entertain, you can stack them open or split them so you have symmetry when the doors are stacked.”

The home seen here and below features a LaCantina folding system with door panels paired with folding servery windows to offer the homeowners flexibility when entertaining on their poolside terrace.

LaCantina Doors

When planning, be sure the stacked panels won’t get in the way of furniture, lighting or plumbing. And since they’re top-hung, it’s wise to consult an expert about whether there’s enough overhead support.

If space is at a premium, a sliding door is a good option and less likely to interfere with furniture. If you’re mid-renovation or your current wall can accommodate it, a sliding door can pocket into a wall for a complete opening. Without a wall pocket, a single sliding panel or multi-slide panels will stack flush against a fixed panel.

Swing doors offer quick access between spaces and work well when there isn’t room for a wide expanse of door panels. Schultz likes LaCantina’s taller and wider swing doors. “They’re unique because they allow panels when open to stack against the house, whether inward or outward, which really can open up a space,” he says.

LaCantina Doors

2. Are You Highlighting a View?

If you have an amazing view or want to draw attention to a particular feature outside, folding and sliding doors can make that happen. “Choosing which type of door is right for you depends on what problem you’re trying to solve,” Schultz says. “Maybe you have a great view, want to gain natural light or make your home feel bigger.”

There are differences in how much view is obstructed when the various types of doors are open or closed. When a sliding door is open and stacked, or even hidden in a pocketing system, it reduces visual obstructions and minimizes rails and stiles in the way of sightlines. For example, the multi-slide door shown open here has glazed panels stacked neatly behind a fixed pane. The sliding door’s slim black frame brings the treetop views of the neighborhood front and center into the living space, acting as a large-scale picture frame.

Typically, when all the way open, a folding door provides the widest, most unobstructed view compared with sliding and swing doors; when closed you’ll see the panel frame. LaCantina’s new V2 folding door, pictured below, has glass panels that can reach up to 12 feet high, with ultrathin rails and stiles.

LaCantina Doors

3. Decide on a Frame and Hardware

Just like clothing accessories, a patio door’s frame and hardware make the outfit. When choosing a door, you’ll have to decide which frame material and finish work best, along with the style and color of handles and hinges. Aluminum, wood and vinyl are common frame materials.

Aluminum works best in moderate climates, and to improve energy efficiency in more extreme locales, LaCantina’s Aluminum Thermally Controlled system has thermal breaks that provide insulation. Wood frames have a classic look and can be sealed, stained and painted. LaCantina’s Aluminum Wood covers all the bases. It features low-maintenance aluminum outside and natural wood inside. Contemporary Clad offers the same aluminum-wood combination with narrower stiles. Vinyl folding doors have a contemporary look that can be economical.

For the sleekest style, go for a door frame like LaCantina’s V2 folding door, shown above, with its ultrathin stiles and rails, and concealed handles and hardware for a clean, sleek aesthetic.

LaCantina Doors

4. Coordinating With Your Home’s Style

Folding, sliding and larger-scale swing doors fit a variety of architectural styles, with frames and finishes ranging from cool aluminum to warmer wood, offering design flexibility for your home. If you have the space for it and want to connect to an outside area, a folding or multi-slide door works for modern as well as traditional-style homes.

In addition to your home’s architectural style, you should consider interior finishes and furnishings. For example, if you have a Craftsman or farmhouse style, you can tie in the woodwork inside with a wood folding or swing door, or an Aluminum Wood or Contemporary Clad door with wood interior details for a coordinated design. For modern homes with a cool color palette, you might consider a lighter wood tone or choose from LaCantina’s wide range of in-stock, optional and custom colors to complement your home’s style.

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5. Climate Considerations

Whether your climate is mild or extreme, it’s important to choose a door that’s weather-resistant and energy-efficient. Low-emissivity tempered glass that’s dual- or triple-glazed can help keep energy bills down. An aluminum frame with thermal breaks, such as LaCantina’s Aluminum Thermally Controlled system, provides additional insulation, keeping cold or hot air out and maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Contemporary Clad is another energy-efficient option, with solid wood stiles and rails visible to the inside and aluminum facing the outdoors.

For a sliding glass door in a wet climate, make sure the sill the door slides on is weather-resistant. Installing a screen also helps naturally regulate temperature, letting breezes in while keeping bugs and dust out. LaCantina’s screen systems in pleated and non-pleated mesh fully retract when not in use.

With screens, Schultz says, “I tell people it’s like an extra bathroom — it’s there when you need it. It tucks in on the side, it’s good during fly season and you can enjoy fresh air at night. It also catches dust and pollen. Homeowners who end up with screens enjoy keeping their doors open more.”

More: For more information on LaCantina folding, sliding and swing doors, visit the LaCantina website.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.