UPVC Patio Doors

UPVC Patio Doors Designs

What are the options for upvc patio doors & how much do they cost?

UPVC patio doors are a well-liked and frequently fitted home improvement in many properties around the UK. Bringing an abundance of natural light to a room, and offering total ease of access to the outside, there are a number of different options from which to choose.

With so many designs to choose from, we think it will be really helpful to take a look at the key features and costs of the main contenders.

So, let’s start with a quick summary of the most popular types of uPVC patio doors and what you can expect the average prices to be.

Then we will go into more detail about why UPVC is such a great material to use for your patio door and examine each design in greater detail later in the article.

Options for upvc patio doors & how much do they cost?

As you can see, there is some variation in the prices for uPVC patio doors depending on the style that you prefer, with Bifold designs being the more expensive.

Why is UPVC such a great material to use for your patio door?

If you think about what are (typically) the most important factors to someone wanting to install a set of new patio doors, you could probably come up with a shortlist something like this one:

1. How much will they cost?
2. Do they look good?
3. Are they secure?
4. Will they last a long time?
5. What about energy efficiency?

So let’s see how UPVC patio doors compare to the shortlisted key features.

1UPVC Patio Doors Prices

Compared to the alternatives, such as doors made from aluminium or hardwood, uPVC patio doors consistently have lower average prices when doing a “like-for-like” comparison.

So, in this area UPVC is a great material to use.

2UPVC Patio Doors visual appeal

Firstly, you can find any type of patio door style in Upvc, French, Sliding, Tilting, Folding, you name it, there is a UPVC version – so you have maximum freedom of design choice.

Secondly, you can personalise the material by use of different colours and finishes. It’s possible to find up to 20 different “foiled) colours and if you have RAL coatings, that number can be as high as 100.

So, in this area UPVC is a great material to use.

3UPVC Patio Door Security

If we look at forced entry prevention, there are quite a few features built-in to make it a difficult as possible for an unwanted visitor to gain access to your home.

UPVC frames are chambered and contain galvanised steel reinforcing for extra strength.

Modern installations have anti-lifting tracks so that the doors cannot be levered out of the frame when closed. With multi-point locking, there are hooks and claws that engage between the door and frame to ensure, once locked, the doors stay firmly shut.

A standard full length glazed UPVC patio door will also have toughened double glazed safety glass which is very difficult to break – you could also fit the option of laminated glass to go one step further.

4UPVC Patio Door Lifespan

As a rigid polymer or vinyl, UPVC is an exceedingly durable material that can take all the bumps and hard knocks that you could expect an entrance door to suffer with ease.

It is also, for all intents and purposes inert, in that it hardly reacts to anything. No excess expansion or contraction due to heat, cold, damp or dryness, and most airborne pollutants have no discernible adverse effect on it (try using aluminium or timber for a house on the coast that is subject to a high salt environment).

With just minor maintenance you can expect decades of trouble free service. So, once again, in this area UPVC is a great material to use.

5UPVC Patio Door Energy Efficiency

To be fair, all modern replacement windows & doors are built with energy efficiency in mind, but UPVC does have one or 2 unique aspects.

The first is the chambering of the frame profiles. This is a kind of honeycomb effect within the profiles which reduces heat transfer and also adds a little extra structural strength.

The second is that UPVC itself is a very poor conductor of heat or cold, so its natural state is that of an insulating material.

These 2 factors combined with the use of high quality double glazing make them some of the most energy efficient types of patio door.

In summary

1. How much will they cost? – they are some of the cheapest patio doors.
2. Do they look good? – with around 20 colour options and wood-grain effect finishes, they look great.
3. Are they secure? – multi-point locks, anti-lift tracks and toughened glass keep you safe.
4. Will they last a long time? – you can expect decades of service from UPVC.
5. What about energy efficiency? – combining natural insulating properties, chambered frames and double glazed units keeps them highly energy efficient.

That is why UPVC is such a great material to use for your new or replacement patio door.

UPVC Patio Doors Designs

Here we look at the key features of the different door styles in more detail and check out the average cost of each style.

Sliding UPVC Patio Doors

The style of the door is given away by its’ name. These doors slide side to side on top & bottom tracks. Bypassing each other within the frame.

Some 2 panel sets may have one door fixed in place and only one opening door, but you can elect to have both opening. However, this may push up the price a little.

One thing to bear in mind is that the more door panels you have, the wider the threshold and overhead guide tracks need to be in order to accommodate the bypass action of the doors.

Average Door size configurations

• 2 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 1600 to 3000 mm
• 3 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 2400 to 4000 mm
• 4 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 2900 to 4200 mm

Pros & Cons of sliding patio doors

Cons

You will lose some entry /exit space. As the doors travel within the frame (unlike bifold or French patio doors) you will always have some of the opening space taken up by the doors themselves – a simple example is that for a 2 door installation only half of the opening will be clear because the other half is taken up by the doors themselves.

Underfoot tracks need to be kept clear of dirt & debris to avoid potential derailing or making the door difficult to move.

Pros

Easy to fit, can’t be blown open or shut by the wind and loads of suppliers make the prices very competitive. Low threshold options for disabled access.

How much do UPVC Sliding Patio Doors Cost?

Bifold UPVC Patio Doors

The signature feature of Bifolding patio doors is the way they open and close. Once you start opening the doors, each panel will alternate folding in or out, much like a “concertina effect” until they stack neatly at the side of the frame.

The doors run on rollers mounted at the top and bottom of the frames which makes them very easy to handle. As an extra safety measure (little fingers get everywhere), where the doors are hinged together you can have “finger safe” guards fitted.

The weight of the door can be taken by an overhead or underfoot track (top or bottom hung). For top hung doors you need to have a very solid & secure fixing.

When the doors are fully opened it creates the widest clear opening for any type of patio door.

Average Door size configurations

• 2 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 1200 to 1900 mm
• 3 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 1500 to 2700 mm
• 4 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 2400 to 3600 mm
• 5 panel configuration: height 2000 to 2400 mm / width 3000 to 4500 mm

Cons

This would mainly centre around the cost of bifold patio doors, they are more expensive than most other types.

More complex to install than sliding or French doors

Pros

Super wide opening allows for nearly 100% clear entry / exit. Ease of use. Panoramic external views.

 How much do 3 panel bifold doors cost?

How much do 2 panel bifold doors cost?

UPVC French Patio Doors

This is a classically styled set of swinging patio door. Their key feature is the double door configuration of 2 side-by-side doors that most often open outwards from the centre. Although you can elect to have them open inwards.

You can choose to have the left or the right door to be the primary or secondary door (the one that opens first).

The favoured look of the French patio door is to have a lot of small glass panes, rather than one full length glazed panel, in a configuration of 3 x 5 panes or 2 x 5 panes. That’s not to say that you can’t use more or less.

Unlike a French window, most UPVC French patio doors will not feature a centre mullion post, as it gets in the way. In this way, once the doors are open it gives a clear entry / exit.

Average Door size configurations

With French doors they only come as a pair, so you can only go to a limited width before needing to add a side or top panel.

• 2 door sizes: height 2000 to 2200 mm / width 900 to 1900 mm
• 2 door + 2 side panel sizes: height 2000 to 2200 mm / width 1800 to 3000 mm

Cons

Is really about width restrictions. Once you get up to around 1.9 to 2.0 metres you will need side panels. This means that for wider apertures you lose out on entry/ exit space.

Pros

For widths under 2.0 metres you get a good clear entry / exit.  Easy to install, no complex hinges or tracks to worry about. Lots of suppliers keep prices competitive.

How Much do UPVC French Patio Doors Cost?

Final Thoughts

UPVC patio doors are purpose built to give maximum performance across a range of features that most of us want when we buy a new or replacement door.

You have a wide design choice, you can have them in different colours, they last a long time and are energy efficient and very secure.

In terms of what anybody could ask, we feel that UPVC patio doors “tick all the boxes” and are the right choice for any family home.

We can help you find some of the most competitive prices from a panel of accredited installers that covers all of the mainland UK – just provide a few basic details about your project and we’ll do the rest.

ABOUT Benny Eastman

Benny is a regular contributor to many home improvement blogs and very knowledgeable in the double glazing, conservatory and home refurbishment market.