Sliding patio
door handle
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As so many homeowners have
sliding patio doors that lead to their outdoor
space, we thought it fitting to dedicate a
whole section to sliding patio door
handles.
Mostly, your decision on
choosing a handle for your sliding patio door
will be dictated by your current doorframe. For
example, is it a wooden, aluminum or fibreglass
frame?
More importantly, is the lock
and handle surface mounted or mortise type
handles.
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What
is the difference between surface mounted and
mortise?
Surface
mounted handles
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Usually this
type of handle is screwed onto the face of the
sliding door frame and already has a built in lock
that comes with the handle. They are notoriously
easier to replace as the installation will amount
to merely having to pull out the old screws,
removing the broken or old handle and replace this
with the newly purchased
handle. |
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Mortise locks and
handles
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These are slightly different
in that they fit into the frame of the sliding
door. From an installation point of view, the
handle and lock are two separate items that has
to be fitted
separately.
The handle is fitted and the
lock actuator stick is slipped through an
opening in the door frame straight into a hole
in the mortise lock. Installing this type of
handle is therefore more complex and generally
consumers are limited to their options. This is
due to the fact that these locks and handles
are specific to
manufacturers.
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Below
we have a brief look at a couple of examples of some designs
available on the market today. As with almost all other
patio door accessories, your choices are vast, so this is
merely a short ‘sample’ of what to
expect:
Wood-Aluminum patio door
handle
This
is a very basic handle and installation will be extremely
simple. This design is frequently used in cases when your
patio door frame is made of wood. The aluminium brackets
provided a nice decorative touch and normally come in a
variety of colours. If fitted well enough, this sturdy
handle will last for years.
Zinc sliding glass patio door
handle
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This door handle has a
distinct hybrid characteristic, as it appears
to successfully merge the vintage and modern
designs in a sleek handle that is both sturdy
and attractive.
This type of lock is also
frequently compatible with mortise lock
applications. It also goes well with a range of
different patio door frames from fibreglass,
steel through to aluminum.
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Without getting
into too much further detail, it’s probably forthcoming
that there is (as with many patio accessories) a wide
range to choose from. It is normally wise not to choose a
patio door handle that is outrageous in its design, but
rather something that blends in seamlessly with your
sliding patio door frame and rest of your outdoor area.
Rather focus your decorating efforts on areas that really
matter such as your furniture, lights, etc. The focus
here should really be on installing a cost effective,
strong handle that will last for years and years to
come.
Patio door window treatments
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