When choosing sliding glass doors for your patio area, you can typically choose between wood, steel, vinyl, or aluminium. While each material may have its own advantages, there are some reasons to consider aluminium over any other. Note a few of those reasons here so you can make the best choice for your home.

Lighter weight

Aluminium is very lightweight, so it may be easier to open an aluminium door with several panes of a sliding door wall. This can be important for the elderly, someone with arthritis, or anyone with physical issues that make large and heavy doors cumbersome or downright impossible to manage. The lighter weight of aluminium can also mean less weight on the door frame itself, which is important for older homes; the building material around the frame can already be weakened due to age, and a heavy wood or steel door might cause splintering or warping of the frame.

Durability and maintenance

Wood doors may eventually need repainting or a fresh coat of stain to keep them looking new, and they may also hold mould or mildew. They may also be more prone to chipping and cracking. While steel is very durable, it can also rust or corrode. Aluminium, by its nature, doesn't rust or corrode, so it can be the most durable choice over time.

Aesthetics

If you were to opt for wood sliding doors to your patio, note if the material might clash with a wood deck or wood furniture on a patio. Trying to coordinate two different types of wood or even two wood tones can be very difficult, and you may find that the doors seem more out of place than you expected. Wood doors might also clash with any wood furniture pieces you have inside the home, including an entertainment centre, coffee tables, and the like. An aluminium door, however, will coordinate with just about any surface material on the deck or patio as well as interior furniture and accessories.

Eco-friendly option

Aluminium is a very eco-friendly option, as you're not having trees cut down to have the doors made. Since they're so durable, aluminium doors may also last longer than wood doors; over time, you'll use up less virgin material for aluminium doors than if you choose wood. Aluminium may also be easier to recycle than vinyl, so you can keep your doors out of landfills if you should decide to replace them in the future.