Patio Door Cost

Looking to find out what the cost of patio doors with installation is in the UK?

In this guide, we cover everything that you need to know about how much patio door installation costs. This includes patio door prices in 2024, what patio door installers charge in the UK, and much more.

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What Is the Cost of Patio Door and Installation?

Patio doors are by far the most popular features in the UK when it comes to renovating the back of your home. They provide easy access and excellent security while also allowing natural light or garden views into the room.

The type of patio doors you could use is determined by the size of the potential opening, your design preferences, and, of course, your budget.

Each type of door has its own set of advantages, and a patio door can be any door that opens onto a patio or garden space, such as the popular sliding doors, bi-folding and French doors.

There is a lot to consider when installing patio doors, including the cost, but you also must think about choosing a tradesperson and dealing with potential planning permission and building regulations.

This section will go over everything you need to know about patio door costs.

So, what are the average patio door installation costs?

In the UK, sliding uPVC patio doors start at around £600 for supply only, or £850 for supply and installation. However, the French style in white uPVC patio doors starts at around £390 supply only and £750 when installed.

All of those are, of course, estimates based on patio door installation prices in a variety of sizes and styles. Prices will vary depending on the size, material, and other factors.

Patio Door Prices in the UK

How Much Are Patio Doors?

The average cost of materials for installing patio doors will eventually impact the quality of patio doors you want to install, how many you want to install, and whether it is double or triple glazed.

Extra material costs, such as plastering materials or paint, maybe incurred to tidy the outer edge of the new patio doors.

French Patio Door Cost

French doors are the most common option for patio doors, ranging from £500 to £1,500. They are best suited to smaller spaces and doorways because they open outwards, and they are ideal for single door access and double door opening on a warm day.

They are most used in conjunction with uPVC material, but aluminium can also be used for a higher price while using less material and more glass within the design.

Sliding Patio Door Cost

Sliding patio doors are ideal for small and restricted spaces such as courtyards or modest patio gardens, and their prices range from £500 to £1,500. They have several advantages, including the ability to fit through large openings and the inability to be closed by wind or breezes.

Aluminium is a popular material because it enables larger sizes with much more glass and far less material.

Bi-fold Patio Door Cost

Bifold patio doors cost between £1,000 – £4,000 and offer a fully opening operation, making them ideal for large buildings.

Bi-folding patio doors are a luxurious option with various design options and are suitable for door openings larger than 2500mm. Aluminium, uPVC, and natural wood can be used to create a visually appealing barrier between indoor and outdoor spaces.

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Additional Patio Door Costs

When installing patio doors, take advantage of the opportunity to inspect other areas that may require repair or updating. This section will go over the extra costs that you should consider when installing patio doors.

Triple Glazed Window Cost

Instead of the more traditional two panes, triple glazing uses three glass panels within a sealed frame. Small gaps between the three panes are full of air or gas like Argon.

Even though glass conducts heat reasonably well, double, and triple-glazed windows transfer heat by using layers of air/gas between the panes, making heat escape much more difficult.

Triple glazing window costs are higher, but it provides better heat insulation — so it is most common in Scandinavian countries or other cold-weather regions.

The cost of supplying and installing triple glazing in a typical two-bedroom flat with four windows ranges between £1,970 – £2,000.

The cost of supplying and installing triple glazing in a typical two-bedroom flat with four windows ranges between £4,000 – £4,200.

The cost of supplying and installing triple glazing in a typical two-bedroom flat with four windows ranges between £5,700 – £6,000. The supply and installation of triple glazing for a four-bedroom detached house with 15 windows will cost around £7,000.

Patio Laying Cost

The average cost of laying a patio in a 20m² area ranges between £900 – £2,500. This price includes excavating the area, laying the foundations, purchasing, and laying the patio slabs.

These prices will vary depending on the materials used; for example, budget options like concrete and brick patio slabs start at £15 per square metre, whereas premium patios are usually made of slate, which varies from £900 to £3,800 for installation, and a stone patio can cost up to £4,600.

House Painting Cost

The average cost of painting a house that has three bedrooms and is two storeys high in the UK is around £850.

However, keep in mind that this is only an estimate, and many cost-variable factors will affect the final cost of your project.

These elements include the size of your home, its design, the materials used, and the tradesperson's hourly and daily rates.

Outdoor Lighting Cost

The average cost of installing outdoor lighting varies according to the type of lighting you choose. Floodlights, for example, can be installed for around £80 - £180, and motion lights can be installed for around £90 - £500.

Some more expensive alternatives, such as landscape lighting, can cost more than £1,000.

The type of lights installed, the number of lights needed, the location of your asset, and the labour cost of installing outdoor lights are all factors that can affect the overall cost.

House Rendering Cost

Depending on the size, difficulty, and methods used, the cost of rendering a house can range between £2,000 – £8,000.

A small bungalow, for example, will cost significantly less than rendering a large, detached property. Another factor to consider is the type of rendering processes and equipment used, as these can significantly reduce or raise the total cost of the job.

The final process's quality is also an important consideration, whether you save money by doing it yourself or hire a qualified tradesman and pay a little more for a more skilled position. All of these are crucial elements that only you, as the homeowner, can make corrections to.

Patio Door Installers Cost & Timescales

The average patio door installers cost is between £150 – £200 per day.

Because some heavy lifting is required, patio door fitters typically work in pairs, and they may subcontract work if they cannot complete the job themselves due to structural or plastering issues.

If you are modifying or creating an opening for patio doors, a load-bearing lintel may be required. When comparing quotes from professional builders, make certain that this extra work is included. In some cases, a structural engineer could be required — expect an increased expense of around £100 if that's the case..

The time required to install patio doors in your home will vary depending on the type.

For example, sliding patio doors typically take 4 – 6 hours, French patio doors take 4 – 6 hours, and bi-folding patio doors typically take one day.

Several factors may influence patio door installation time, including the ease of access to your garden, the condition of your garden area, the difficulty of the particular patio door product chosen, and whether or not patio doors must be removed first.

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What Impacts the Cost of Patio Doors and Installation?

Fitting a patio door may appear to be a simple task, but there are many factors to consider when planning and implementing that can affect the price of patio doors, including what door to use, where and how to fit it, the type of material, and how to dispose of any waste.

All these factors can add up to high costs without your knowledge, so it's critical to consider all potential costs when estimating the cost of patio door installation.

Size of the Patio Door

The price of the door unit is determined by the size of the door you intend to install in the opening. However, it also raises the installation cost. Sliding and French doors require more panels to fill a larger opening.

This means that there will be additional tasks to complete that must be paid for. For example, modern house designs include standard-sized window and door openings, but older properties do not. If this is the case, you will have to cover the difference with additional fixed panels on both the side and top.

Patio Door Material

The unit's material has a significant impact on the price. Softwood doors are currently the cheapest, but they're also more prone to weathering issues. uPVC is less expensive than aluminium.

However, because aluminium has a longer life, you won't have to replace it as frequently as uPVC. In addition, both aluminium and uPVC can withstand inclement weather and do not absorb water, swelling, or rot like wooden doors.

Engineer In Structural Design

If you intend to replace the lintel with one with a longer span, have the dimensions calculated by an expert. Occasionally, a patio door business will handle this for you. In any case, you'll pay around £100 for their services.

Patio Door Features

This represents the patio door handles, latches, locks, and other attachments. Most manufacturers offer a selection of door decor based on your budget and the overall effect you want to achieve. All doors have handles, secure locks, and other features. Only the value of the material to make, the style, and the colour variations.

Waste Disposal

Waste removal can range from £100 - £200 depending on the amount required to fill a skip for skip hire. This will be included in the price if you hire a tradesperson.

Patio Door Finish

Standard uPVC units are made of plain white plastic. But the options don't stop there. Both uPVC and aluminium doors come in a variety of colours and finishes. Woodgrain finishes are among the most common. However, other finishes, including wood grain and different colours, are also available.

uPVC can be made from coloured vinyl that has been sprayed with a suited paint covering. Alternatively, use coloured or patterned foil (a type of laminate). At least 15 different coatings are available for uPVC units, such as wood grain foils.

In contrast, aluminium uses powdered plastic melted onto the plain metal surface using a heat bonding technique. This is virtually impervious to weathering. And there are probably hundreds of textures and colours to choose from when using this method.

Window Energy Efficiency (WER) Rating

All new patio doors (to calculate WER, they will be treated as windows) must meet the energy performance standards outlined in the UK Building Regulations. All glass companies manufacture glass that meets the standards required to manufacture an energy-efficient window.

On the other hand, the Window Energy Rating applies to the entire window or patio door. As a result, the frame's performance is also included. Windows with ratings such as A++ are more expensive than those with ratings such as C.

Location in the UK

The type of patio doors you select will be determined by the space available in the specified location. For instance, if you have a small patio or even want doors from a bedroom to a balcony, an open French door set will take too much space. In these cases, a sliding door is the best option.

You must also consider the location of the patio door in the house. Patio doors, such as French doors, are prone to be blown shut by strong winds. Furthermore, they typically open outwards, exposing the inside surface to brain damage if left open during a storm.

What's Involved in Installing Patio Doors?

If you are expanding or creating a new entrance for patio doors, a load-bearing lintel may be required as support. When gathering quotes, make sure this work is included because a structural engineer or interior designer may need to be consulted and will expect to be paid!

If you do not seek professional advice, you risk damaging the structure of your home, and when the time comes to sell, you will have to remove the doors and insert the proper support at a much higher cost. This section will go over the steps involved in installing patio doors.

Preparation

If the old patio door is still in place, your contractor will remove it first. They can begin installing the new patio door as soon as the old one is properly removed. The installation should ideally follow modern installation standards, such as the German RAL standard, which your tradesperson will be familiar with.

Several steps must be completed before the actual installation can begin to comply with RAL standards.

Frame Installation and Adjustment

The following step involves installing and adjusting the frame. Your tradesperson would need a bubble level and washers for this step to ensure a simpler adjustment. They will first mount the seals to the frame and then insert the frame into the wall reveal. The frame is then properly adjusted.

Putting the Frame Together

Your new door must be securely screwed into the wall to ensure structural strength and proper functionality. Next, the tradesperson will drill the required mounting holes into the masonry using an impact drill. The appropriate drill bit is chosen based on the condition of the masonry.

The screws are then used to secure the frame to the wall. For this step, they will use a cordless electric screwdriver, and then they will screw the patio door frame securely to the wall!

Foaming and Gap Sealing

After attaching the patio door to the masonry, the open gaps between both the two must be filled with suitable insulating material.

The foil will be used for interior sealing, and sealing tape will be used for exterior sealing; the tape must fully expand before the foaming procedure can begin.

Putting in and Adjusting the Leaf

The door frame is nearly finished, and the three different seals are either applied or attached. The procedure concludes with inserting and adjusting the leaf. The leaf will be attached to the hinges by your tradesperson.

After that, they should test the leaf's closed and open mechanism several times. If your patio door jams or squeaks, it must be re-adjusted; otherwise, your patio door will not be installed!

Can I Install Patio Doors Myself?

It's not too difficult if you're a seasoned do-it-yourself who's previously installed doors, including external ones. It's a little awkward, and you'll need assistance moving those heavy doors into place. However, it is not overly difficult.

The primary concern is that the door frame is levelled. Otherwise, your doors may never be completely flush.

Doing it yourself will definitely save you money. However, simply be honest regarding your skill level and ensure that you recognise what needs to be done before committing to doing the installation yourself. This section will go over everything you'll need to install patio doors.

Patio doors are not a do-it-yourself project; you should consult an architect or structural engineer to assess the need for a lintel. Failure to include the proper support could result in structural damage to your home.

If you have an existing opening, such as replacing existing doors, you can do it yourself; however, make sure you measure correctly because once the patio doors arrive made to your measurements, you cannot return them!

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Patio Door Installation

While installing a patio door appears to be one of the less complex home improvements, it is important to note that they must comply with certain UK building regulations.

Although you can install them without certification, if you later sell the property and the prospective buyer or agent requests proof of compliance, you may find yourself in a difficult situation if you cannot produce proof.

Set to meet Building Regulations for patio doors should never be confused with requiring planning permission, as fitting new items that look similar to the old ones does not necessitate planning permission.

The most important patio door regulations:

• "Controlled fittings" for exterior doors.
• Thermal efficiency (heat gain/loss) is a measure of how well a system performs in terms of heat gain.
• Glazed Areas' Safety.
• Appropriate ventilation is required.
• In the event of a fire.

Since building regulations in the UK categorise them as controlled fittings, certain standards must be met when replacing a door or window, and who does the installation work is crucial.

If you do it yourself or hire a "non-certified" tradesperson, you must apply to your local authority for an inspection of the work, and only if they are satisfied with the installation will they issue a certificate – this is done by initial consultation only and will incur a fee.

However, if you're using a corporation or contractor registered with a "Competent Person" Scheme, such as FENSA or CERTASS, they can do the work and issue a certificate without going through the local council and all the time and trouble that entails.

Types of Patio Doors

When it comes to patio doors, you have complete freedom for new construction, but if you are just having new patio doors installed, your options may be limited because you must match the rest of the exterior windows.

We will go over the various types of patio doors and their benefits and drawbacks.

Sliding Patio Doors

For many years, sliding patio doors have been a prominent choice of English homes. They provide unrivalled views of the garden through large glass panes, which are almost entirely unbroken by their frames.

While a large enough wall is required to adjust two large panels, the spatial requirements for sliding patio doors are modest. They don't require any space to open inwards or outwards, so they can be used in small patio areas or rooms with a lot of furniture.

Modern patio doors are made of uPVC plastic. This is a sturdy, lightweight material that comes in various colours and can be customised to meet the needs of individual customers. Sliding doors were once known for their lack of security due to poorly constructed locking mechanisms.

Pros

• ✔ Allow easy access to your patio and garden.
• ✔ Improve your energy efficiency.
• ✔ Provide a high level of protection.
• ✔ Sliding patio doors can be installed to make them accessible to everyone, including those in wheelchairs.

Cons

• ✖ Sliding doors are likely to be more costly than bi-fold doors.
• ✖ Dirt can pile up along the track of sliding track patio doors, causing problems.
• ✖ Accumulation of dirt in tracks can cause drain hole blockages.

French Doors

French doors will always be a fashionable addition to any home. They occupy a similar amount of wall space as patio doors. However, they can open outwards into the garden, offering them a different feel – they physically connect the interior and exterior spaces.

French doors are frequently paired with panelled windows on either side to enable even more light into the home, but they can also be used independently. With modern sealing, they're the ideal choice for a British homeowner, providing excellent insulation in the winter and allowing you to open the house to the sun in the summer.

Pros

• ✔ Lightweight and simple to open.
• ✔ French patio doors are less expensive than bi-fold or sliding patio doors.

Cons

• ✖ With time, hinges could become noisy and stiff.
• ✖ If you go to open one of the doors throughout windy weather, it may pull you forward if the wind also catches the door

Bi-Folding Doors

The bi-fold door is the final major type of patio door. This long, concertina-like installation allows you to strip away a whole wall (or part of one) to completely open your house to the garden.

Bi-fold doors are made of individual glass or uPVC panels with hinges throughout each panel and door frame. This means they can fold to one side concertina-style to fully open one wall more efficiently than any other type of patio door.

Sliding doors still require one panel's width to be closed, and French doors struggle to be bigger than two panels, so only a bi-fold door will do if you want a wide, completely unobstructed entryway among your home and garden.

Due to the number of configurations available, bi-folds can take longer to develop and organise than other types. However, if you have a large space that you want to open to the garden, a bi-fold door is probably a pretty good choice.

Pros

• ✔ Bifold patio doors use less energy.
• ✔ Versatile.
• ✔ Lightweight.
• ✔ They do not necessitate a lot of upkeep.

Cons

• ✖ The cost of bifold doors is exorbitant.
• ✖ Not as secure as other types of patio doors.
• ✖ Bifold patio doors do not provide the same level of accessibility as French and sliding patio doors.

Checklist: Hiring Contractors to Install Patio Doors

Deciding to replace the windows and doors in your home can be a thrilling experience.

It's an opportunity to modernise the appearance of your home or business while also providing additional advantages such as enhanced energy efficiency and security, resulting in the perfect blend of functionality and style.

Finding the right company to work with, on the other hand, can be more difficult, especially when many claim to provide the same services. To make things as simple as possible, use our checklist to determine who is best for you.

• A skilled team must ensure that your new patio doors are installed efficiently and quickly, with as little hassle and disruption possible. However, there's nothing worse than organising several businesses at once or depending on external tradespeople or fitters to distribute on time or install to the expected standard. The ideal solution is to find a 'one-stop-shop for all your products, where the manufacturing, supply, and installation are all done in-house. External manufacturers, if used, should be among the most dependable in the industry.
• Referrals are an excellent way to determine the calibre of a contractor fitter. If you have several friends and family members who have told you that a certain company is good, chances are they have been satisfied with the patio doors they have installed. This is also true on the internet. The number of positive reviews a contractor has may give you an idea of the quality of their work.
• Only a few local fitters near you may provide the specific service or product you're looking for. In that case, this may help to narrow your search. A few internet searches should reveal who can install your patio doors in your area.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/doors-and-windows/planning-permission
https://themilfordwindowcompany.co.uk/your-complete-guide-to-patio-doors-types-materials-installation/
https://thesefourwallsblog.com/top-tips-choosing-patio-doors/
https://www.sheerwaterglass.co.uk/blog/patio-doors-sheerwaterglass/
https://www.minimal-windows.co.uk/articles/aluminium-vs-upvc-sliding-glass-doors/