Patio Doors – A Natural Home Update

As I write this blog, it’s St. Patrick’s Day. It reminded me of Callen‘s annual “Patty O-Door” sale, which brought a smile to my face.

Then I started thinking about today’s patio doors, and how they have changed. Many years ago, Callen installed an Infinity from Marvin patio door at our house. Before that, our house featured swinging wood French doors. Air infiltrated as you could see the gap where the door met the frame. We knew we needed new doors and wanted to continue with the French door, though we were educated that the sliding door was much more efficient. In other words, a tighter seal. As a side note, you can get the appearance of French doors with grids in the glass if you wish. So, Callen installed our new patio door.

If you have a patio door that is more than 15 years old, you may not realize how far they’ve come in terms of appearance and functionality. The glass is better, they’re built stronger, and if you install Infinity from Marvin, you’ll have a fiberglass product that is eight times stronger than vinyl.

I believe the patio door in our house is approximately 15 years old and functions as if it were the first day it was installed. Besides cleaning the glass, there is no maintenance. We even keep our screen on in winter because, as it’s been this year when it’s been so mild, we like to let fresh air in.

We just returned from a Caribbean cruise and many homes in this part of the world have virtually walls of glass – fixed glass panels but in the middle, a patio door is installed – adding much more natural light to the home and changing the appearance drastically.

Additional options for patio door installation include adding more panels if your space allows. Callen skilled contractors can also give you more glass, a wider patio door with a thinner frame that brings in more light, and in my opinion, adds a little bit of sophistication to your home.

We’re also approaching the time of year to use that patio door much more as we spend more time in the backyard or deck, grilling and entertaining family and friends.

I hope you had a great St. Patrick’s Day, are enjoying March madness, and are ready for the start of the baseball season – Go Brewers! It’s also time for new patio doors. You still have time to contact Callen and take advantage of Patty O-Door savings through the end of this month. Call Callen at 414-529-5509 or visit its Muskego Design Center to learn more about enhancing your home’s look.

Paul Kronforst, News-Talk 1130 WISN