How Much Do Patio Doors Cost?
Prices for Patio Doors
How Much Do Patio Doors Cost? A fairly obvious question to start with if you are thinking about installing some.
However, the answer may not be as obvious as you think because, depending on what you want in your home, there are a lot of things that can lower or raise the final cost for your work.
Prices for Patio Doors can be split into 2 categories – prices for fully fitted installations or those for just supply only.
Taking on the job of installing your own patio doors is not something you should do if you don’t have a good level of DIY skill, as if you fit it badly it can cause damp, heat loss and not function properly, costing you more money to eventually pay an expert to refit the doors.
Basic Checklist Prior to Getting Quotes
Whether you go DIY or Professional, it is worthwhile making sure that you have a very good idea of what you want before searching for quotes and in either case its best to get at least 3 or 4 examples from various suppliers in order to check out what is on offer.
The main reason for asking for multiple quotations in writing is that you can easily establish the common features on offer and also spot if a particular installer is too pricey, or even too cheap.
Here is our basic checklist of things to think about before you buy.
- MEASURING
For an existing opening, do you know the exact opening size. Also you need to check whether the opening is not “out of square”. In other words check that the top & sides are parallel. For those who are having professionals do the work, they should make sure the company who are quoting come “on-site” and do their own measuring to confirm the sizes.
DESIGN
What type of door do you want? Really, there are only 2 types – sliding & hinged.
Sliding designs are useful if you don’t want the doors to get in the way and Bi-fold Patio Doors offer the widest clear opening.
Bear in mind that for a sliding design one panel may be fixed into place. So if you want all the doors to move you should specify this at outset.
Also the clear opening space is going to be restricted by the doors themselves, because the doors slide within the frame and don’t’ swing out of the way like a regular door.
Hinged designs such as French Doors can open in or out. But be careful which version you choose as they will take up space one way or the other. For smaller rooms its probably best to have them open outwards.
If you have the doors open inwards, then don’t forget the doors will drip water into your home when you open them during wet weather.
Thresholds can also be problematic, if the threshold is intrusive then someone may trip over it and have an injury – you can easily find “flush” or floor level thresholds on bi-fold doors. (You may also need some kind of step outside when creating a new opening).
- MATERIAL
What do you want the doors made from? A large number of homeowners select UPVC patio doors as they are quite cost effective, energy efficient & secure, they also come in a decent range of colours but you could also choose Hardwood, Hardwood Veneer, Softwood, Aluminium or even Glass Fiber.
- MISCELLANEOUS
Things like the type of glazing – single, double or triple glazed, energy efficient glazing & toughened glass can all have different cost impact. Other cost factors for the glazing can be how wide is the “thermal gap” between the panes which can vary from 6mm up to over 20mm. The profile dimensions of doors & window frames selected will also have a price influencing factor.
- BUILDING WORK
If you are creating a new opening or replacing a window with a set of doors, then you must consider the amount of building work that needs to be carried out, its not just as simple as banging a hole in the wall and “slapping in” a new patio window.
For example, cutting a new opening means you have to create a new “DPC” or damp proof course between the outer & inner walls – if you are widening an opening then you will need to replace the overhead lintel. Plastering & making good will also need to be done. (and you need to make sure all the debris is removed).
- GUARANTEES
Check to clarify what guarantees are on offer with your purchase – is the work itself warrantied and carried out by accredited fitters from CERTASS, FENSA or GGF? Do you get a manufacturers warranty on the doors, frames, handles, glass, locks etc? Does the company doing the work offer deposit guarantees?
Summary
If you know what you want and have the skill to fit it, then you can probably find the doors you want online quite quickly.
But if, as in most cases, you want someone else to do it then arming yourself with as much foreknowledge as possible before quote hunting online for “patio doors cost” is going to pay dividends in the long run.
Always get a selection of written quotes from companies with a decent track record who can show that they are competent to do the work you need.
Take your time to decide who to use and don’t fall for high pressure sales tactics – any reputable company will give a quote valid for at least 7 days or more.
