Interesting History About Patio Doors
Thank you for joining us for another article. We can’t wait to cover some interesting history about patio doors you may have never known before. Let’s jump right in!
Sliding doors were found in Roman houses as early as the first century CE, according to archeological sites in ancient Pompeii.
Development
The Sliding Glass or Patio Doors we know today came during the pre-war era during the start of the 20th century, and were developed heavily at the start of World War II. It was speculated by historians these doors were fashioned after Japanese doors called Shoji–a sliding translucent door hung by a wood frame.
In 1954, Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt invented the first sliding automatic door. The automatic door used a mat actuator. In 1960, they co-founded Horton Automatics Inc and placed the first commercial automatic sliding door on the market.
French Doors
French doors, or two adjoining doors with glass panes from top to bottom, are a popular feature in today’s homes, but the design actually did originate in france. The first set of French Doors was designed in the 17th century during the French Renaissance period.
Though originally made with aesthetics in mind, French patio doors are about more than just good looks. The large glass area allows ample light and exterior views. At the time, it was atypical for doors to have large glass areas and this is what made this door unique. French patio doors also excel in ventilation as they swing very widely and have the unique ability to catch side breezes.
Modern Doors
Modern sliding doors aren’t just easy to operate, they’re also extremely secure. Many are fitted with multi-locking points, and can only be locked from the inside. This gives an extremely secure entry point to your home. This is a huge improvement from the past where doors used to be able to be lifted off their frames.
Specialty Coatings
A Pilkington and German firm Flachglas Group created the first commercially viable low-E coatings using thin layers of gold. But the coatings produced a green hue, leading German glass manufacturer Interpane to develop the first colorless low-E coating using silver layers in 1981. This method was widely spread and made it way to the United States. Today, patio doors don’t come without these protective coatings to ensure protection against UV rays. These coatings help prevent bleaching of flooring and furniture, as well as keep your home a more stable room temperature all year long.
It took a long time to develop energy efficient patio doors. Advancements in technology along with supreme engineering have made modern patio doors, like the kind we sell at Conservation Construction, more energy efficient than older doors with low-quality frames or single panes. Heat transfer rates are described using a figure known as U-value, with higher U-values meaning poorer energy efficiency. Our U-Values are so low on our Patio Doors that you can expect to see a reduction in energy costs by up to 40%.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve learned a little bit of history about how the modern patio door came to be. Through many years of development and engineering, new patio doors are able to protect your home better, insulate, and give you clear views for the life of the door. If you are in need of new patio door replacement you can visit our website here for your free quote. Thank you for reading today’s article. We’re always eager to hear from our audience so please comment below with what your favorite fact in this article was.