Beyond the standard sliding or French patio door, a few specialty patio door features are worth knowing about: built-in pet doors, sound-reduction glass, and skylight pairings that most buying guides skip over. For the full breakdown of patio door styles, see our Types of Patio Doors guide, or read on for these lesser-known options, available through our patio door replacement options in Salt Lake City.
Pet Patio Doors
For homeowners with dogs or cats, a patio door with a built-in pet door removes the daily hassle of manually letting pets in and out, without sacrificing the look of a standard sliding or French patio door.
Built-In vs. Add-On Pet Doors
A built-in pet door is manufactured directly into the patio door panel itself, giving a cleaner, more integrated look and generally better weatherproofing than an add-on unit installed into an existing door after the fact. If you’re already planning a patio door replacement, it’s worth asking your installer whether a built-in pet door option is available for the style and material you’re considering. Explore our professional door installation services services to discuss options for your project.
Sound-Reduction Glass
If your patio faces a busy street, a shared property line, or just a noisy backyard, sound-reduction glass is worth considering. It uses laminated or multi-pane construction specifically engineered to dampen outside noise more effectively than standard glazing.
This feature is especially useful for homes near major roads or in denser neighborhoods, where a standard patio door might let in more outside noise than expected once it’s installed. It’s a smaller upgrade than most people realize, but one that can noticeably change how a room feels day to day.
Pairing Patio Doors with Skylights
Skylights and patio doors work well together to maximize natural light in a room, especially in spaces where the patio door alone doesn’t fully brighten the interior, such as rooms with a covered patio or a north-facing exposure.
Pairing the two lets you brighten a room from multiple angles throughout the day without adding more wall-level glass than the space can accommodate. If you’re planning a larger renovation, it’s worth discussing both together with our window replacement services in Salt Lake City rather than treating them as separate projects.
More Specialty Patio Door Features: Etched Glass & Finishes
Beyond function, patio doors can be customized to reflect your personal style. Etched glass and finish choices round out the list of specialty patio door features you can bring to your project, a family crest, or clean geometric lines for something more modern.
Frame finishes add another layer of customization, aluminum, aluminum-clad wood, and fiberglass are all available in a range of colors and tend to resist scratching, fading, and the expansion and contraction that comes with Utah’s seasonal temperature swings. Explore our custom door replacement options in Salt Lake City options to see finish choices for your home.
Choosing the Right Specialty Patio Door Features
Pet doors, sound-reduction glass, and skylight pairings are just a few of the specialty patio door features worth discussing with your installer, but if any of these match a real need in your home, they’re worth raising with your installer before you finalize a standard patio door order.
Interested in a specialty feature for your patio door? Schedule a free consultation with our Salt Lake City team for a free quote.