8 Things To Consider When Choosing A Patio Door For Your Sterling, VA, Home

8 Things To Consider When Choosing A Patio
Door For Your Sterling, VA, Home

Use These Tips To Help You Find Your
Perfect Patio Door


If your Sterling, VA, patio doors show signs of wear and tear, it’s probably time to replace them. However, the sheer number of choices can be panic-inducing if you’ve started looking at your options. There are different sizes, styles, color choices, energy-efficiency ratings, and much more to consider. It can feel overwhelming.

However, if your Loudoun County area patio doors are an eyesore, broken or damaged, not as energy efficient as they could be, or have aged out, replacing your patio doors is a must! And with the right expert tips, you can cut through the noise and find exactly what you need.

We’ve compiled a list of eight things you will want to consider to help you narrow down your patio door choices. With these concepts in mind, you can rest assured that your patio door will be perfect for your home!



1. Energy Efficiency Rating

You want a patio door that can withstand the weather in Sterling, VA, which includes hot summers and frigid winters. That’s why it’s best to look for patio doors that have the Energy Star seal on them.

Having the Energy Star seal means the patio door has met or exceeded the expectations set forth by the government for energy efficiency. Thus, it will be an excellent fit for your home.

A side note is that the energy guidelines differ according to region. Thus, double-check that the Energy Star label is for the Virginia area.


2. Safety And Security

Your safety and security are something to consider when looking at various patio door options for your home. What type of locking system does the patio door offer?

Many people opt for a patio door with at least two locks to feel safe at home. However, other safety components to consider include the following:

  • Can you opt for tempered glass to make the glass shatterproof?
  • Is there an option to have the glass tinted for privacy?
  • Can the door be configured for multi-point locking systems?

These are all considerations to ensure you feel comfortable with your patio door choice.


3. Style

What style are you considering for the patio door installation on your Sterling, VA, home? While this is a personal choice, it can be one of the easiest ways to narrow the possibilities.

French patio doors open out or in, depending on your preference. While sliding patio doors will slide along a track. From there, you can opt for two panes, three, and up to six panes of glass via these patio doors.

Look at your current patio door and decide whether to keep it in the same genre or to go with something entirely different. Find inspiration and ideas from websites and magazines, or talk with professional installers to discover their opinion.


4. Size

While there are no set standard sizes for patio doors, there are average sizes that are easy to find. Is your patio door an average size? Or is it a custom job?

You may have numerous choices if you have an average size. However, a custom-sized patio door may limit aspects like the material you can choose from or even the options for the glass.

Let the professionals measure your patio door to find the accurate size, and let them show what they can do for the space. Nothing is more frustrating than falling in love with a patio door you see on a website only to find it is unavailable in the size you need.


5. Aesthetic Appeal

Do you find the door appealing when looking at the various patio door options on the market?

Take it from us – patio door trends come and go almost as quickly as this year’s fashion runways. So while you want something modern in features, it doesn’t matter if the design you are looking at is considered the next big thing.

Simply put, you will not be happy if you don’t find the door aesthetically pleasing.


6. Functionality

Do you need your patio doors to open into a room, to open out onto a deck, or to slide to avoid giving up space for the doors to open? Many people opt for sliding patio doors to allow them to use the maximum area.

However, traditional French patio doors are still a favorite as they are classic and add elegance to a deck or patio. It would be best to decide what will work better and allow your home to function better.


7. Door Material

After looking at the design of the door and finding those you want to consider, you need to check into the door material. Patio doors come in a wide array of materials like steel, fiberglass, vinyl, and more.

Many people find vinyl a great option in terms of energy efficiency. Vinyl is known for its long life, durability, numerous color options, and easy maintenance. Look at each material and determine what works best for your home.


8. Patio Door Options Offered

Are there any options offered on the patio doors you are considering? The good news is that when working with a reputable professional, they will probably provide you with options like the following:

  • Privacy film installed onto the glass
  • Ability to add an extra lock to the patio door
  • Tempered glass to reduce chances of cracks or breaks

You want to find a door that offers numerous options so you can pick and choose what means the most to you. Plus, you can “build” the patio door of your dreams with more options.


Get Your Free Estimate For Your Sterling, VA, Patio
Door Replacements

If your Sterling, VA, home needs a new patio door, consider what you want in your door. Use these eight things to check for and compare your options, then let Milcon be the professional you turn to for replacement.

Contact us or call us today at [tel] for your free estimate!

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Matt Kavanah

Matt Kavanah is the owner of Milcon Design & Build. He has 20+ years of experience and has a simple philosophy, only the absolute best will do. On every single job. For every single customer. Down to every single detail.

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Nolian Papa
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Excellent work, and the estimating scheduling process was very quick and hassle free. I'm really glad I went with Milcon.
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Jonelle Hilleary
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We’re so pleased to be able to provide this review of our recent window replacements project with Milton Design and Build- all in all, truly a 5 star event. Owner, Matt Kavanah, followed up on a Thumbtack request for proposals with a home visit to see what we needed and how Milcon Design and Build could help. Matt explained the process, how long it would take to order and get ready for the installation, and most importantly, what we could expect as performance from the ProVia window and door products recommended for our home. Matt indicated that he would have Project Manager, Josh, come out and take precise measurements to make up the order, but for the proposal pricing he was able to give us a very competitive bid based on our conversation that day. We kept coming back to Matt’s straightforward conversation and the value of the windows we would be ordering. The price and quick time-to-install just sealed the deal. Matt made some key suggestions that, after our installation today, proved to be great advice. One of the reasons we chose to do a window replacement now (January) was the cold spots in both our primary bedroom and dining room - opposite ends of our house. Even upgraded HVAC hadn’t been able to overcome the heat loss. Tonight, with a new package of high-efficiency thermally broken windows and sliders installed, we’re actually turning the thermostat down because we’re warm! Thank you to Matt, Josh, Luis, Martin, and the rest of the crew for a great job, for explaining all the tips and techniques to get the most out of the new windows and front door, as well as to keep them looking beautiful for years to come! Thank you, Milcon Design and Build for working with us on this purchase… you guys are awesome!
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Thomas Volk
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Outstanding! After weeks of countless window contractor interviews, we found the perfect company. Matt at Milcon, with his many years of experience, provided us with detailed product descriptions to meet our environment requirements, that included muffling the Ashburn Data Center and air traffic noise. They installed over 40 windows in two days! Most important, my wife is so happy with our choice.
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Willmer Romero
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I went to Milcon for a quote and they came in under the competition. The staff was super professional and did everything I asked for. The team was quick and was done within hours. I would go back for any future projects.
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Bernadette Rahmani
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Matt was very professional, gave us very good advice for the 2 massive doors we had to replace. We were very happy with the process, the execution of the project and the products. We had a very pleasant experience with Matt and his installation crew. Thank you so much.
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Meghan Kavanah
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Excellent customer service. Quick install. Impeccable job. Would highly recommend!
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Josh Evans
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Right on time. Matt and his team did what they said they were going to do when they said they were going to do it. Painless process from start to finish. I had a new roof in about 48 hours. Highly recommended.
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Justin Houghton
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We were in need of a roof replacement so we threw out a few requests on Thumbtack and I’m glad we did since it brought us to Milcon Roofing. Matt reached out very quick and if I recall correctly came out the following day to discuss options. He wasn’t pushy or trying to just sell me something. It was clear he has been in the business for years and more or less just informed me of my options. He also noted his crew gets certified on the roofing systems which we really liked. So we needed up asking for a quote and it was very fair and competitive. I will say, Matt was very professional, quick to reply to texts, his quote was very fair, and his crew was on time and knocked out the job out in less than one day. Oh, also their clean up was outstanding. While I hope to never see Matt again (since the roof will last many more years than we should be here) I would 100% call him back for any future work here or at our next home. If you need a new roof, give them a call, you won’t regret it!
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Jorge Manuel Trasmonte
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We hired Milcon Roofing, Design & Build for replacing the original aluminum siding on our house. Matt took the time to explain different options and we opted for the insulated siding. Matt was very easy to work with and communicated with us through the entire process. The work crew did an great job despite some days with rough weather. We are very happy with the results, less cold drafts, a reduction in noise and a more modern looking exterior. Everything looks great! Can't recommend enough.
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Kristina Milberg
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Matt and his team were great to work with, would recommend!

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