Understanding threshold options for your new aluminium doors

It may not be the first thing you think about when buying a new door for your home, but with various options for thresholds on offer, it’s an important part of the decision-making process to understand the differences and how to choose the right one for you. Thresholds affect the finished look of your door, but also how you use it, and how well it protects you from the weather. Different threshold options are usually available on any door, so it’s useful to be aware of the pros and cons of each.  

What is a threshold?

The definition of a threshold is a strip of material that forms the bottom of a doorway and is crossed when entering or leaving a room, or house. With exterior doors the term is slightly more all-encompassing than this and also refers to the part of the door below this piece of material. It is this section of your door that ensures your home is protected from the elements at ground level.

You may have heard the terms low threshold, which means it is flush to the ground or just has a minimal step in the entranceway, and high threshold, which means there is a section of frame to step over. But Reynaers at Home also offers a zero threshold for example, and in reality, the height of ‘high’ and ‘low’ thresholds can vary.

aluminium sliding door

Which threshold is right for my new aluminium door?

There is no right or wrong answer here, as both lower and higher thresholds have their advantages and disadvantages.

Low threshold aluminium bi-fold and patio doors

Low or zero thresholds are a modern trend as more homeowners try to achieve the seamless integration of indoors with outdoors. The Independent published an article that gives advice on how to successfully marry the two areas of our homes, including giving mention to the use of glazing to fully achieve the seamless look. In addition, many of the aspirational lifestyle photos that accompany the piece show doors with low thresholds.   

So, we know low thresholds are ideal for connecting indoor space with outdoors, but they have fantastic practical benefits too. For anyone regularly using a pushchair, wheelchair, or even someone that struggles with higher steps, low thresholds offer easy access.

sliding doors with extra weatherproofing

One thing that should be considered with low threshold doors, however, is how exposed the entranceway is to the elements. If you know you often get wind and rain battering that side of the house and there is not much natural cover provided by the property itself, you might be asking a lot from a low threshold door to hold all of that out. However, if your new doors are installed in a sheltered, sunny spot that is more protected, a low threshold option will not be an issue. It’s worth asking a trusted installer to come out and visit your home to talk about the best options for you.

High threshold aluminium bi-fold and patio doors

If low threshold doors are more of a concern when it comes to providing full weatherproofing to homes exposed to the elements, it makes sense then that a raised threshold comes into its own in these properties. The difference won’t be huge but depending on which products you compare side by side higher threshold doors may offer a slightly better energy rating because the raised frame gives better protection against potential draughts and leaks.

As for the downsides of high threshold doors, one concern in today’s market is that it doesn’t offer the smooth integration between inside and outside the home that has become so popular. However, while this is a matter of personal taste, the biggest concern for most people is the issue of access. If you or any visitors to your home struggle with high steps, a high threshold could be more problematic.

Get advice you can trust

Hopefully this guide has given some food for thought about which type of threshold might be best for your home, and your new aluminium sliding doors or bi-fold doors,  but it is worth talking to a trustworthy installer for more information. They will be able to talk to you about whether or not a low threshold will be practical for the space and give honest advice about the products best suited to your property and to your needs.

Our Reynaers at Home partners operate to a stringent code of conduct and so can be trusted to offer genuinely helpful advice. Contact one of our friendly installers today to find out more.

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