Patio doors in Northern Ireland: how to choose the right door for your opening
Patio doors for homes in Northern Ireland come in two main types: sliding patio doors, where large glass panels glide sideways and nothing swings into the room, and French doors, a pair of doors that open fully for the widest way out to the garden. We make both to measure in our Ballymoney factory and supply and fit them across Belfast and NI.
Patio doors in Northern Ireland, made to measure
A patio door is usually the busiest way between the house and the garden, so it pays to choose it for the room and the space outside, not just the look. We manufacture patio doors to order in our own factory in Ballymoney, County Antrim, and supply and fit them for homes in Belfast and across Northern Ireland.
There is no stock size list. Every door is made for its opening, so the first decision is the type of door that suits the opening you have. Our French doors in uPVC or composite and the uPVC patio sliding doors in our full door range cover most homes. This guide walks through each choice so you know what to ask for.
Sliding doors suit compact rooms and wide views. French doors suit an opening you want to throw fully open.
Sliding patio doors are part of our uPVC range. French doors come in uPVC, the cost-effective choice, or composite.
Supplied and fitted, we survey and carry the risk on sizes. Supply only, the sizes you give us are the sizes we build.
Sliding patio doors: wide glass without the swing
A sliding patio door has large glass panels that slide sideways along the frame, so the door never opens into the room or out onto the patio. That makes it a good fit where a sofa or dining table sits close to the door, or where a door swinging outward would block a step or a path.
Nothing swings, so the floor in front of the door stays usable.
Large panes give a clear view of the garden even with the door shut.
The glass is specified with the door to suit the room.
French doors: the widest way out to the garden
French doors are a pair of glazed doors that open together, so on a good day the whole opening becomes the way out. They can be made to open outward or inward. Outward opening keeps the room clear; inward opening keeps the patio or path clear.
uPVC is durable, low maintenance and cost-effective. Composite is timber reinforced, GRP skinned and foam insulated for extra strength, security and thermal performance.
Our French doors come with multi-point locking and weather seals against draughts and water.
Slim frames keep as much of the opening as possible for glass and daylight.
See colours, glass and hardware for our uPVC and composite French doors, from classic white and anthracite grey to woodgrain effects and bespoke colours.
Which patio door suits your opening?
Start with what sits on each side of the door, then the look. This is how the two types usually line up for homes in Northern Ireland.
| Your opening | Usually suits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture sits close to the door, or the room is compact | Sliding | The panels slide along the frame, so nothing swings into the room. |
| A path, step or seating sits right outside the door | Sliding, or French opening inward | A door that swings outward would block the space outside. |
| You want the whole opening clear on a good day | French | Both doors open fully, giving the widest way in and out. |
| The view of the garden matters most | Sliding | Large glass panes keep an uninterrupted view with the door shut. |
| A traditional or period style house | French | A classic look that suits traditional and contemporary homes, with heritage handles available. |
Still torn between the two? Our French doors vs sliding patio doors comparison sets them side by side on light, space, security and energy efficiency.
Tell us the opening and the type of door, and we will price exactly that
Supplied and fitted across Belfast and Northern Ireland, or supply only for trade customers.
What goes into a patio door quote
Every patio door we make is made to measure, so we do not publish a price list: a figure given without the door and the opening would be a guess. What we can show you is what the quote is built from, so you can decide each point before you ask and compare quotes like for like.
| Choice | Your options | What it means for your door |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Sliding patio door, or French doors | Sets the frame, the way the door opens and how much of the opening is glass. |
| Material | uPVC; French doors also in composite | uPVC is the cost-effective option. Composite adds a timber reinforced, foam insulated construction with a GRP skin. |
| Opening direction | French doors open outward or inward | Decided before the doors are made, by what sits on each side of the door. |
| Size | Made to measure for your opening | There is no stock size list, so the quote is built around your opening. |
| Glass | Energy efficient glazing; clear, frosted or decorative glass | Glass is chosen with the door. Privacy matters more where a patio door faces a neighbour. |
| Colour | White, anthracite grey, woodgrain effects or a bespoke colour | Colour is fixed at order, before the door is made. |
| Hardware | Modern or heritage handles, locks and hinges | Our French doors come with multi-point locking and weather seals. |
| Service | Supplied and fitted, or supply only | Supplied and fitted, we survey and carry the risk on sizes. Supply only, the sizes you give us are the sizes we build. |
Weighing up triple glazing for a large expanse of glass? Our triple glazing guide covers what the third pane does and when it is worth the extra.
For a supplied and fitted door we survey before anything is made, so rough sizes are fine for a first conversation.
Supply only patio doors for installers and builders
We also make French doors and sliding patio doors on a supply only basis: made to opening size with the sash and frame combination you specify, handed and prepped so your fitter is not making decisions on site, and delivered to your yard, unit or site. On a supply only order the survey stays with you, and a door made correctly to a wrong measurement is not a manufacturing fault.
Trade buyers can read how our supply only uPVC windows and doors service works, or see our French and patio doors for builders and developers.
Patio doors in Northern Ireland, answered
Do you supply and fit patio doors in Belfast?
Yes. We make patio doors to measure in our factory in Ballymoney and supply and fit them for homes in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. Trade customers can also order French doors and sliding patio doors on a supply only basis.
Are sliding patio doors or French doors better for a small room?
Sliding patio doors usually suit a small room better, because the panels slide along the frame and nothing swings into the room. French doors can still work in a smaller space if they open outward and the area outside the door is kept clear.
Can French doors open outwards?
Yes. We make French doors to open outward or inward. Outward opening keeps the room clear, and inward opening keeps the patio or path clear. The direction is decided before the doors are made, so it is worth thinking about early.
Are patio doors available in uPVC and composite?
Our French doors are made in uPVC or composite, and our sliding patio doors are part of our uPVC range. uPVC is durable, low maintenance and the cost-effective option. Composite French doors are timber reinforced, GRP skinned and foam insulated for extra strength, security and thermal performance.
How much do patio doors cost in Northern Ireland?
It depends on the type of door, the size of the opening, the material, the glass, the colour and the hardware, because every patio door we make is made to measure. That is why we do not publish a price list. Send us the opening size and the door you have in mind, or call 028 2769 8392, and we will price that door supplied and fitted or supply only.
What colours can I choose for French doors?
French doors are available in finishes from classic white and anthracite grey to woodgrain effects and bespoke colours, with clear, frosted or decorative glass and modern or heritage handles. Ask about the colour options for a sliding patio door when you request a quote.
Do I need to measure the opening myself?
Not for a supplied and fitted door. We survey before anything is made and carry the risk on the sizes. On a supply only order you measure and sign off the sizes yourself, and the sizes you give us are the sizes we build.
Get a price for your patio door
Send us the opening, the type of door and the finish, and we will price it supplied and fitted or supply only. Hurricane Windows & Doors has over 30 years of experience making windows and doors in Ballymoney, and we supply and fit patio doors across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Call 028 2769 8392 or email info@mrworxltd.com · Unit 11a Ballybrakes Business Park, Ballymoney BT53 6LW