A seamless indoor-to-outdoor patio transition adds a sense of openness and continuity to your home. While the concept is simple, the execution is a bit more complicated and requires several considerations. In today’s post, Southwest Exteriors, an expert in patio doors in San Antonio, shares four key considerations for your next home improvement project.
1. Door Style
To create visual continuity, maximize the glass area on your patio doors. Eliminating grills is an excellent way to achieve this look. If you’re remodeling the entire wall adjoining the patio, consider installing wall-to-ceiling windows to give the area an even more open feel.
2. Floor Height
The indoor and outdoor floor heights should be the same to provide a continuous effect. The transition should be seamless, not just for visuals. Consistent floor heights prevent people from tripping on the threshold and will also allow easy access for anyone with accessibility issues.
3. Door Bottom
Sliding doors run on tracks, which could break continuity depending on their installation. we offer exterior doors in San Antonio that glide on tracks with minimal protrusion, which makes them nearly invisible when open.
4. Water Channel
A common problem with transitional thresholds is that rainwater can easily seep indoors. Our patio doors are built with a tight seal, but what if you open them? A raised threshold is one solution, but it compromises your seamless transition.We recommend creating a narrow transition strip right outside the threshold. A narrow gravel bed with a drainage channel underneath is effective. Alternatively, you can incorporate a slight downward incline starting from the top of the threshold, which should direct all water outward.
Our San Antonio doors can help create that highly desirable seamless look for your outdoor living spaces. Call Southwest Exteriors today at (210) 625-7865 or fill out our contact form for a free design consultation.