HINT: IT’S IN THE TITLE… IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DOOR!

It doesn’t matter how spectacular your outdoor area is, if it’s not seamlessly integrated with your indoor living, the entertainment atmosphere is poorly affected. Without that seamless connection, you have two areas completely separate from one another and the entertainment value simply diminishes.

There are some crucial elements that will ultimately provide that seamless connection to your outdoor area and it’s all to do with the type of doors you have, the overall size of the opening and even the use of door material and type of glass.

You don’t want your guests to be split into two separate groups, the ‘insiders’ and the ‘outsiders’. You want things to flow elegantly and seamlessly from inside to outside without any conscious effort which is why this literal connection is so important when it comes to outdoor entertaining.

There are 3 main things to consider when choosing your indoor/outdoor connection, the type of door, its material and the type of glass. Here’s some insight into each:

The Type of Doors

The best results will come from the largest connection, i.e. the biggest opening that can be achieved once the doors are opened. So, not the overall frame size of the doors but rather the actual space you walk through. Let us explain: a glass sliding door is a door that slides over another glass panel. If the overall frame size was 2 metres, but only one door can slide open, the size of your ‘connection’ is only 1 metre wide (the space you walk through). This isn’t necessarily ideal when it comes to seamlessly integrating your outdoor area with your internal living.

Here are some of the best door options:

Stacker Doors 
Stacker doors use multiple sliding panels which creates the largest opening for that seamless integration. They’re great for open plan entertaining and ventilation.

Bifold Doors
Bifold doors create the largest possible opening of any door type on a single wall which is why it’s the best option for that truly effortless connection to the outdoors.

Corner Doors
If your design allows for it, opting for a corner door will completely transform the area and create the perfect space to entertain with easy access and ventilation. It also acts as a great architectural piece in your home.

Of course, budget is to be considered in all of these options, larger doors create more expense especially when retrofitting as they can sometimes required structural work to support above loads. But we believe the payoff is worth it!
Images from www.rylock.com.au

The Door Material

Doors come in three main types of materials, Timber, Aluminium, and PVCu. And with each material brings different levels of thermal performance and luxe to your home.

– Timber
The warmth of wood resonates quality and strength, plus, it’s a natural insulator. It adds thermal value to any space. Timber is mid-range in terms of price but you need to consider the maintenance. Timber requires regular oiling especially if it’s in direct sunlight. It’s also more susceptible to dents and scratches.

– Aluminium
The modern alternative. The entry-level aluminium doors can underperform thermally, but there are ways around this. There is zero maintenance involved and they come in an extensive colour range. It gives a great modern and minimalistic look but can either be the cheapest or most expensive option depending on your selections.

– PCVu
PVCu doors provide ultimate versatility. PVCu stands for Polyvinyl Chloride Un-plasticised, essentially, think of your white plastic stormwater pipes – that’s PVC. It can easily be clad with a veneer to imitate Western Red Cedar or any other type of timber. It is naturally a high-performance insulator with very low conductivity (heat does not transfer easily) and when used with double glazing, it can be the ultimate performer. PVCu is mid to high range in terms of price.

The Type of Glass

Glass is a fantastic way to create a feeling of space and will help build that relationship with the outdoors. Light is ultimately what will set your area apart from others and with more glass, there’s more light, so make sure to include it in your door design.

Visually, glass is very important to seamless outdoor entertaining but the physical aspect should also be considered because at the end of the party when those doors are closed, you want to keep that comfortable atmosphere inside. For instance, a west facing room may need something that reflects the afternoon sun during Summer, but a door that’s facing east may benefit from a glass solution that keeps the heat in during Winter.

Here are some types of glass you can get:

– Double Glazed
A multi-layered glass enclosing an air space, it reduces the loss of heat through the doors.

– Safety Glass
Tempered or toughened glass that is very important for large glass fixtures. It has been through a chemical process to make it much stronger than regular glass. You can also acquire laminated glass that is shatter-proof, this glass has an inner plastic layer that makes it extremely difficult to break.

– Low-E Coated Glass
A microscopically thin, transparent coating that reflects long-wave infrared energy which means that the temperature in your room is regulated by the glass, i.e. not getting too stuffy in Summer or too cold in Winter.

The better the glass, the less heat will be lost through them; therefore the lower your heating bill. A door that is mostly glass can cause an increase in the noises that you will hear from the outside, so using double glazing in your doors can reduce this significantly.

There is no definitive ‘best glass’ for a door because there are so many factors that will determine how your glass will perform but it’s worth remembering that you will get the best out of your doors if you choose the best glass that you can afford.

Determining what type of door you use to connect the two areas comes down to many different factors including design and, of course budget. There is no right or wrong answer here, there is only what works for you and your entertaining desires. If you’re thinking of renovating your home to create that seamless connection, click here to book a discovery phone call with our team and begin your renovation journey on the right foot!