UPVC patios are a good alternative to French doors as they do not take up internal or external space. The master door slides on aluminium runners instead of opening on hinges such as French doors. UPVC patio systems are roughly the same price as French door sets but can be cheaper over a width of around 1.8 meters.

However, patio doors only offer a maximum opening of 50% of the overall opening meaning; this can pose a problem if you wish to install or remove furniture in the future. Patio doors provide a cost effective solution in situations where the brick opening is too large for uPVC French Doors. An alternative to inline patio doors are uPVC Bi Fold Doors which allow for a larger opening width.

Larger patio doors are available up to 5.8 meters in width. In this situation the two opening doors slide into each other and lock via hook bolts.