Window shapes
Sliding patio doors: dress them without blocking them
The whole design of a sliding patio door is a wide, uninterrupted opening onto the garden. Any blind that hangs across it has to get out of the way completely when the door is used, or it becomes the thing everybody resents.
Stack allowance — how much space the blind occupies when fully open — is the number that matters most, and it is the one most often ignored.
Systems that stack clear
Each stacks differently, which suits different door layouts.
- Vertical blinds — draw to one side or split to both, the most economical wide-opening solution
- Panel track blinds — wide flat panels that slide behind one another, modern and clean
- Perfect-fit — one blind per glazed panel, travels with the sliding leaf
- Track-mounted shutters — bypass or bi-fold panels, the premium finish
Measuring the stack
We measure the wall return either side of the door at survey to see where the stack can live. Where there is no return, the blind has to stack over the glass, which loses some of the view — we will tell you that before you order rather than after.
South-facing doors
A patio door facing south or west is a solar gain problem as much as a privacy one. Solar-screen vertical louvres or a reflective panel track keep the room usable in summer while preserving the outlook.
Window shapes - your questions
Related reading
Discover more of our made-to-measure window dressing services across East Kent.