A Guide to Modern Heritage Patio Doors

Heritage Patio Door Styles

Heritage patio doors pay homage to architectural traditions while meeting today’s performance standards. From Georgian elegance to Art Deco boldness, various styles cater to different period properties.

Georgian-Inspired Patio Doors

Georgian architecture, known for its symmetry and proportion, influences many heritage patio door designs. Tall, multi-paned windows characterise this style, typically featuring a 6-over-6 or 8-over-8 grid pattern. Modern Georgian-inspired patio doors often incorporate these distinctive elements.

Astragal bars, which sit on the glass surface, recreate the look of individual panes without compromising thermal efficiency. Some manufacturers offer slim frame aluminium heritage doors that mimic the delicate wooden frames of the 18th century. These doors maintain the Georgian aesthetic while providing superior weather resistance and low maintenance.

Victorian-Style Patio Doors

Victorian-era architecture embraced ornate details and gothic influences. Heritage sliding patio doors from this period often feature intricate glasswork and decorative mouldings. Stained glass panels, popular in Victorian homes, can be incorporated into modern designs for an authentic touch.

Bay windows, a hallmark of Victorian architecture, inspire some patio door configurations. Three-panel sliding doors can create a similar effect, allowing light to flood the room from multiple angles. For a truly period-appropriate look, some homeowners opt for heritage external doors with arched tops, echoing the gothic revival style popular in Victorian Britain.

Edwardian Patio Door Designs

Edwardian architecture marked a return to simplicity after the ornate Victorian era. Patio doors inspired by this period often feature larger glass panes and less ornate detailing. Clean lines and subtle elegance characterise these designs.

Many Edwardian-style heritage sliding doors incorporate a mix of materials. Wood and metal combinations were common in the early 20th century, and modern manufacturers replicate this look with durable aluminium frames and wood-effect finishes. These doors offer the warmth of timber without the associated maintenance.

Art Deco Patio Doors

Art Deco, with its bold geometric patterns and luxurious materials, offers a distinct aesthetic for heritage patio doors. Designs inspired by this era often feature strong horizontal lines and stylised motifs. Some manufacturers offer heritage sliding patio doors with frosted glass panels etched with Art Deco-inspired patterns.

Customisation Options

Many suppliers offer bespoke options for heritage patio doors. This allows homeowners to tailor the design to their specific property, ensuring a perfect match with existing architectural features. From custom colours to unique glazing patterns, these doors can be crafted to suit individual tastes while maintaining historical accuracy.

Colour Options for Heritage Patio Doors

Selecting the right colour for heritage patio doors can make a substantial difference in how well they complement a period property. The choice of hue affects both the exterior appearance and the interior ambiance. Modern manufacturing techniques offer a wide range of options, from traditional shades to contemporary tones.

Period-Appropriate Colour Choices

When choosing colours for heritage patio doors, it’s wise to consider the architectural era of your home. Georgian properties often feature subdued, earthy tones like sage green, warm grey, or deep blue. These colours work well with the symmetrical designs typical of Georgian-inspired patio doors.

Victorian homes, known for their bold colour schemes, allow for more adventurous choices. Deep reds, rich purples, or forest greens can suit Victorian-style heritage sliding doors. These darker shades contrast beautifully with the ornate glasswork often found in Victorian designs.

Edwardian properties typically favour lighter, airier colours. Cream, light green, or soft blue can be excellent choices for Edwardian-inspired heritage external doors. These gentle hues reflect the era’s preference for brighter, more open spaces.

Dual Colour Heritage Patio Doors

Dual colour options offer flexibility in heritage door design. This approach allows for different colours on the interior and exterior faces of the door. For example, you might choose a traditional colour for the outside to match your home’s exterior, while opting for a more modern shade inside to suit your interior design.

Aluminium heritage patio doors are particularly well-suited to dual colour finishes. The powder-coating process used on aluminium allows for precise colour matching and excellent durability. This means you can have heritage sliding patio doors that look authentic from the street but coordinate perfectly with your indoor colour scheme.

Finish Options and Durability

The finish of your heritage patio doors is just as important as the colour. Different finishes can affect how the colour appears and how well it stands up to the elements. Matte finishes often work well for heritage doors, providing a subtle, understated look that suits many period properties.

For coastal areas or locations with harsh weather conditions, consider heritage doors with a textured finish. These finishes can help hide small scratches and are often more resistant to fading. Some manufacturers offer specialised coatings that mimic the look of traditional materials like wood while providing the durability of modern finishes.

When selecting a finish for aluminium heritage doors, it’s worth considering how it will age. Some finishes develop a patina over time, which can add character to heritage patio doors. Others maintain their original appearance for many years, requiring minimal maintenance to keep them looking fresh.

Integral Bars in Heritage Patio Doors

Integral bars play a key role in the aesthetic of heritage patio doors, replicating the look of traditional multi-paned windows. These bars add character and period authenticity to modern doors, helping them fit readily into older properties.

Astragal Bars

Astragal bars are a popular choice for heritage sliding patio doors, providing a convincing illusion of separate glass panes. These bars are applied to the surface of the glass, creating depth and shadow that mimics the appearance of true divided lights. The three-dimensional effect of astragal bars adds visual interest to heritage patio doors, making them a focal point in any room.

In aluminium heritage doors, astragal bars can be colour-matched to the frame for a cohesive look. Some manufacturers offer bars in contrasting colours, allowing for creative design options that can highlight the door’s geometry. Astragal bars are typically made from the same durable materials as the door frame, ensuring they withstand the test of time.

Georgian Bars

Georgian bars offer a low-maintenance alternative for heritage external doors. These bars sit between the panes of double or triple-glazed units, creating the appearance of divided lights without compromising on energy efficiency. The result is heritage patio doors that combine historical aesthetics with modern performance.

One advantage of Georgian bars is their ease of cleaning. With no surface-mounted elements, these heritage doors can be wiped down quickly and easily. Georgian bars are available in various widths and configurations, allowing homeowners to choose a design that best suits their property’s era and style.

Many manufacturers offer customisation options for integral bars in heritage patio doors. This allows homeowners to tailor the look of their doors to match existing windows or architectural features. Whether opting for astragal bars or Georgian bars, the key is to choose a design that complements the overall style of the property while meeting practical needs for light, view, and maintenance.

Heritage Patio Doors in Different Rooms

The application of heritage patio doors varies depending on the room and its purpose. These doors can add character and light to different spaces while maintaining historical authenticity.

Heritage Patio Doors for Kitchen Extensions

Kitchen extensions often present a challenge: how to connect a modern addition to a period property. Heritage patio doors can provide an elegant solution, bridging the gap between old and new. By choosing doors that echo the style of the original house, homeowners can create a cohesive look that respects the building’s history.

In kitchen extensions, aluminium heritage doors offer practical advantages. Their slim profiles allow for larger glass areas, bringing more natural light into the space. This can make the kitchen feel more spacious and airy. Heritage sliding patio doors are particularly useful in kitchens, as they don’t require swing space, allowing for more flexible layout options.

Heritage Doors in Living Rooms

Living rooms benefit greatly from the addition of heritage patio doors too. In period properties, heritage external doors help maintain the room’s character while improving access to outdoor areas.

The choice of heritage patio door style can dramatically affect the ambiance of a living room. Georgian-inspired designs with multiple panes can create a sense of grandeur, while simpler Edwardian styles might suit a more understated decor. Some homeowners opt for heritage sliding doors in living rooms to save space and allow for larger openings.

Heritage Patio Doors for Conservatories

Conservatories present a unique opportunity to showcase heritage patio doors. These light-filled spaces often serve as a link between the main house and the garden, making the choice of doors particularly important. Heritage style sliding conservatory doors can help the conservatory feel like a natural extension of a period property.

When selecting heritage patio doors for conservatories, it’s important to consider both aesthetics and practicality. Aluminium heritage patio doors offer excellent thermal performance, helping to regulate temperature in these glass-heavy spaces. The slim profiles of these doors also allow for larger glass areas too.

Balancing Light and Privacy

In all rooms, heritage patio doors must balance the desire for light with the need for privacy. Many manufacturers offer obscured or textured glass options that maintain the period look while providing increased privacy. Some heritage sliding patio doors can be fitted with internal blinds, offering a modern solution to light control that doesn’t detract from the door’s historical appearance.

Installing Heritage Patio Doors

Conservation Area Guidelines

Properties in conservation areas often face strict regulations regarding alterations. Installing heritage patio doors in these areas requires a delicate balance between preserving historical character and improving living spaces. Local planning authorities typically have specific guidelines for heritage external doors, which may dictate materials, colours, and designs.

Energy Efficiency in Heritage Patio Doors

Improving energy efficiency is a common goal when installing new doors in older properties. Modern heritage patio doors can significantly reduce heat loss compared to original single-glazed doors. Double or triple glazing, combined with thermally broken frames, can help keep homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Aluminium patio doors often excel in energy performance. The material’s strength allows for slimmer frames, which means larger glass areas and potentially more solar gain. Some manufacturers offer heritage sliding doors with low-E glass coatings and argon-filled cavities, further improving their insulating properties.

Fitting Patio Doors in Older Properties

Older properties often have uneven walls, floors, and openings, which can complicate the installation of heritage patio doors. Experienced installers can use various techniques to overcome these challenges, such as using adjustable frames or custom-made thresholds. In some cases, minor building work may be necessary to create a suitable opening for the new doors.

When fitting heritage patio doors, it’s necessary to maintain the building’s structural integrity, for obvious reasons! This might involve adding lintels or reinforcing existing ones to support the weight of new doors. For larger openings, heritage sliding patio doors can be a good option, as they distribute their weight across a wider area.

Integrating Existing Architectural Elements

Preserving original features is often a priority when installing heritage patio doors. This might involve working around existing stonework, incorporating original glazing patterns, or matching the profile of other windows in the property. Some homeowners choose to repurpose elements of original doors, such as using old door furniture on new heritage external doors.

Bespoke manufacturing allows for heritage patio doors that perfectly complement existing architectural elements. This might involve creating custom mouldings, matching specific paint colours, or replicating unique glazing patterns. While this level of customisation can increase costs, it often results in doors that look as though they’ve always been part of the property.

Heritage Patio Doors FAQ

We’d Love to Help You