The warm weather is slowly starting to roll in, and those dreams of getting outdoors are closer than ever. A new appreciation for our backyards came to the forefront throughout the pandemic and various lockdowns. It was the only place we could gather safely with our friends and family for a while. And during that time, many homeowners realized how important it was to have a safe, comfortable, and functional outdoor space, not to mention how much fun could be had there.
If you're looking forward to another patio season filled with relaxed afternoons in the sun, evening barbecues, and nighttime gatherings, you should make sure your patio is ready. There are endless ways that you can beautify your backyard and make sure it's optimized for endless summer fun.
We've put together a guide for making your patio the place to be. We'll talk about the importance of choosing the right patio doors and how to decide between sliding doors and terrace doors, and we'll touch on the different types of doors in Kitchener we offer at Golden Windows to help make your dream patio a reality.
Tips for Improving Your Patio
When planning to improve your patio, there are certain aspects you should be focusing on to make sure you're going in the right direction. Of course, most people want their backyard space to be a beautiful oasis, but they also don't want to sacrifice functionality. When it comes to function, you should be looking at safety, comfort, privacy, and maintenance. From your patio doors and furniture to your landscaping and lighting, you should keep each of those points in mind when making improvements to your backyard.
How to Choose the Right Patio Doors
Sliding doors and terrace doors are both beautiful options for your patio. So how do you decide? We pride ourselves on making quality windows and doors in Kitchener, and all our products serve different functions. Ultimately, there is no correct answer on whether sliding doors or terrace doors are the better choice. They both have plenty of benefits. It really comes down to personal preference.
However, we can give you the information you need to make an informed choice and know what to expect with either option. First, you can look at what kind of aesthetic you're trying to achieve. However, it's important to remember that functionality is king when it comes to choosing the right patio doors for you.
Think about how you plan to use your backyard space and your specific needs when going in and out of your house to your patio. Do you have large amounts of guests making their way in and out? Do you often have your hands full? Is allowing the maximum amount of natural light into your home a priority? Or is matching the aesthetic of your house of the utmost importance?
As you think about how you plan to use the space, we'll take you through some of the biggest considerations and benefits of each option so you can make a choice that will work best for your home.
Benefits of Sliding Doors
The most popular option for leading the way to the backyard, sliding patio doors have a modern appeal and are easy to operate. They are an ideal solution for smaller spaces because they don't take up space when they open, and they allow for a maximum amount of natural light to flood into your home.
Golden Windows Sliding Doors
All our sliding doors offer security features, including an optional foot bolt or security bar for those homeowners wanting extra peace of mind. Each product line also offers plenty of options for customization, including various grille patterns, glass types and hardware options. Our GoldenWood® and GoldenClad® product lines are available in a traditional (wide French rail) and contemporary (narrow rail) design.
If you're looking for the stunning natural aesthetic of wood, look no further than our GoldenWood® sliding patio doors. Combining comfort and class, these hand-crafted doors are made from the highest quality materials and are the perfect way to blend the indoors with the outdoors.
Our GoldenClad® sliding patio doors provide the warmth and elegance that traditional wood doors offer inside your home while adding the protection of aluminum outside your home, encasing the exterior to protect the wood core. This keeps the wood protected from the harsh elements and makes the frames much easier to maintain.
Featuring reinforced construction and superior energy-efficient performance, our GoldenVinyl® Sliding Patio Doors are designed and engineered to be the highest quality in the industry. They provide a comfort-enhancing weatherstripping system and premium warm edge spacer to increase the performance value of these doors.
With each of these options, you also get to decide if you want standard, triple or quad sliding doors. With standard sliding doors, there are two glass panels – one panel is functional, and one is fixed. Triple sliding patio doors have three glass panels, with one panel being operational and the other two are fixed. Quad sliding patio doors have four glass panels, with two panels being operational and the other two are fixed. The sliding panels can either open in the middle or off centre depending on your home’s layout.
Benefits of Terrace Doors
If you love a classic, elegant look, terrace doors might be for you. This timeless option is a perfect match for classic homes, rustic aesthetics, cottages, and cabins. Rather than sliding, these doors swing either inward or outward. They come with a multi-point lock handle, which is excellent for added security. Due to their sill, they are less of a tripping hazard than the track found with sliding doors. They are also convenient if you host big parties and have large amounts of people flowing through them.
Golden Windows Terrace Doors
With plenty of options for terrace doors and sidelite designs providing unlimited combinations for every budget, it's easy to find what you're looking for among our Golden Windows products. Choose from our GoldenWood® or GoldenClad® Terrace Doors.
As with our sliding patio doors, all options come with many opportunities for customizing, including various grille patterns, glass types and hardware options. Both options also come in double, triple and quad options. This means, in addition to the doors themselves, they can have a fixed panel on one or both sides.
Our GoldenClad® Terrace Doors allow homeowners to enjoy a beautiful wood interior while gaining the benefits of an extruded aluminum clad exterior frame. The exterior frames come in various colours, including standard options of Golden White, Taupe, Sable and Black, and multiple optional colours, including cashmere, slate or wedge wood blue.
The GoldenWood® Terrace Doors are designed with a wood frame and brickmould, which allows for your choice of stains or paint colours. Our wood terrace doors are perfect for log homes or to keep the authenticity in heritage homes. Choose from the standard frame species of finger joint pine or optional species of clear pine, clear oak, or mahogany.
Other Ways to Improve Your Backyard
A patio is enhanced by the doors you walk through to get to it, but they aren't the only things that matter. Backyards and patios come in all different shapes and sizes, and there are plenty of different ways to make improvements to them.
Made in the Shade
In the winter, all we can think about is getting out in the sun. And then summer arrives and brings those sufferingly sunny days to remind us why shade is necessary. Having a canopy, awning, or the increasingly popular pergola where you can both get a break from the sun and still enjoy the outdoors is a great option to make the most of your backyard without getting a sunburn.
Make sure to consider where the sun's glare is harshest. Depending on the configuration of your backyard, you may want to opt for moveable options like free standing umbrellas that can be adjusted as the sun journeys across the sky.
Another bonus of adding shady areas to your backyard is that it will keep you covered during those summer rains, so you won't have to run for shelter at the first sight of dark clouds.
Light It Up
Adding some ambient lighting to your backyard is the perfect touch for those who like to gather in the evening. When done right, it can be magical to watch the afternoon fade away and slowly transition to dark while being surrounded by a lovely glow.
There's really no end to the ways you can incorporate lighting in your backyard. Add solar lights to your garden and around walkways, candlelit sconces to outdoor dining areas, or twinkle lights to trees or fences.
Don't Skimp on Comfort
You've put in all the work to create a beautiful backyard, so you want your furniture to be equally beautiful. But don't neglect the comfort. After all, what good is creating a stunningly beautiful backyard space if no one uses it because it's not comfortable?
Nothing will make or break your backyard's inviting and homey feeling more than furniture. If you plan on spending hours on end outside, make sure your furnishings will stand up to the test.
You can still choose the style you prefer, whether you're a wicker lover, sectional enthusiast or go crazy for Adirondack chairs. There are plenty of outdoor textiles that are durable enough to stand up to the elements while also being comfortable enough to cover cushions. Comfortable furniture will make family members and guests gravitate toward this space.
Don't forget to add some throw pillows, a fantastic way to bring a splash of colour, and have some blankets on hand in case of chilly nights.
Fire It Up
The one thing that is a definite bet to drastically improve any backyard evening gathering is a firepit. Perfect for building memories on those lazy summer nights, a firepit allows for plenty of relaxing evenings roasting marshmallows and s'mores. It will keep your gathering cozy and warm on those chilly evenings.
From simple, affordable fire rings you can purchase in stores to building a permanent, brick or concrete one, there's an option for everyone craving the warm glow of an evening fire. Just remember to check regulations regarding firepits in your local area before installing or purchasing one and always keep safety in mind.
Go Green
Landscaping is vital to creating an oasis in your backyard. Without it, backyards and patios can be unwelcoming, even if the furnishings are cozy and inviting. Filling your backyard with flowers and plants adds life and colour to your outdoor space. You can choose container gardens, which are perfect for decks and patios for their portability or opt for built-in planters. Hedges can be used to bring privacy. Or consider an herb garden, which not only adds a lovely fragrance but is a handy way to liven up your meals.
If you're a nature lover, you can consider adding plants and flowers that will attract birds and butterflies. You can also add birdhouses, feeders, or a birdbath to really welcome the wildlife.
Big Barbecue
A grill is central to the backyard experience, and you can amplify its prominence by building a grill station. In addition to turning your barbecue into a significant design feature, a grill station brings function. You can create more space for meal prep, serving and storage, making your life easier as you won't have to constantly run back and forth from the kitchen to fetch things.
You can choose to build a station with the grill set inside of it or just build around your grill. It's easy to customize the space depending on your specific needs and can make the outdoor cooking experience even better than it already is.
Ultimately, your outdoor space should be beautiful and functional while inviting visitors to relax. There are many things you can do to achieve this, starting with beautiful, functional patio doors that invite and welcome people to it for a nice relaxing time.
We hope we've provided you with the information you need to choose the best patio doors. If you're curious to see each option up close, we suggest visiting one of our showrooms in Kitchener, London or Kanata to be able to see how they function in person before making a decision.