What exactly is a California room? A California room is an indoor/outdoor living room where you can relax and entertain. It is an extension of your indoor living space to the outside and it embodies a laid-back, calming atmosphere where you can enjoy the outdoors, spend time with family, dine, and entertain guests. The California room is a growing home design trend that is becoming increasingly popular each year—according to Zillow, more than 56% of new homebuyers desire an outdoor living space. If you are investing in home upgrades to improve your lifestyle, consider creating a California room which will be a timeless addition to your space and increase your quality of life.

Outdoor living spaces are growing in popularity, and deck and patio designs continue to evolve into luxurious and impressive living areas built for lounging and entertaining. If you are looking for ideas and inspiration for your deck or patio remodel, you might want to consider some of the biggest trends listed below.

Sunlight is important for your overall health and well-being. Bringing natural light into your home can make you feel happier, less stressed, and more energized. If you want to bring more sunlight into your home and brighten up your space, there are some different ways you can achieve this.

People want to make their house larger for many reasons— a growing family, more room for entertaining, or simply needing more living space in your home are all common goals of those looking to increase the size of their dwelling. There are different ways to increase the square footage of your home and create a larger living space. This guide will cover the obvious ways of expanding your home and the more creative ways you might not have thought of.

If you are investing in a large folding, sliding, or swinging patio door system, you might be wondering how you can screen such a large opening. The best solution for screening a large opening and protecting your home from bothersome insects and other unwanted debris is a retractable accordion screen system. These accordion screens are unlike any other and will be a valuable addition to your door system. Read below to have all your retractable accordion screen questions answered.

If you’re beginning your home remodel or new construction project and plan to use a bi-fold door system to open your home to the outside and create a seamless indoor-outdoor living space, there are some things you need to know about ordering a bi-fold door. The ordering process for a 100% custom, handcrafted bi-fold door can be daunting because there are so many design options to choose from. Here is a guide to help you buy the perfect bi-fold door that will complement your space and create the outdoor living room of your dreams.

If you are investing in a large folding glass door system, then you know what an expensive luxury these doors are. It is important that you hire a professional folding door installer to install your door systems because precision and accuracy are paramount during installation, and this is not an area of your project you want to cut corners on. The following benefits of hiring an expert folding door installer are well worth the cost.

A home in the illustrious Bridle Trails neighborhood of Bellevue, Washington underwent a full-home remodel. Gallagher Construction LLC worked with the homeowners to create a home that embraces the lush forest it resides in and that has a cohesive and felxible design for entertaining. The remodel modernized the space, created tremendous views of the surrounding nature, brought in more natural light, and created an indoor/outdoor lifestyle made for entertaining.

If you are investing in a large folding door, you know that these door systems have a very healthy price tag. When it comes time to install your folding door system, you want to be sure you hire a professional installer who is highly experienced in folding door installations. Sticking with an expert will ensure they follow the proper installation process and guarantee a precise and accurate installation. If your folding door installation is less than perfect, your door could be difficult or impossible to operate. Use this guide to find a trustworthy professional folding door installer near you!

1 | Contact the Manufacturer

The best and safest way to find a professional installer is by contacting the manufacturer of your folding door. Your manufacturer likely has a list of certified installers who can help you with your project. Call the customer service department and request a few recommendations for door installers in your area, that way you have more than one to choose from.

2 | Ask Your Contractor

Another good way to track down an experienced folding door installer is by asking your contractor for a referral. It’s possible that your contractor has colleagues in the industry who specialize in large folding door installation and can help you get into contact with this professional.

3 | Reach Out to Your Sash & Door Dealer

Where did you purchase your folding door system? Contact your place of purchase and ask for recommendations. Some of the bigger sash and door dealers might even provide their own installation services.

Whichever route you take to find a professional folding door installer, be sure to review the installer’s experience, certifications, and past work. Thorough research and review of their qualifications will allow you to feel confident in and comfortable with your choice of installer. Remember that folding door installation is a complicated and technical process different from other installations, so it is risky to hire an inexperienced installer or to let your general contractor attempt install.

If you’re not quite ready to find an installer, but want to learn more about folding door systems, please fill out this form to be contacted by a folding door expert or call 805-644-4494. To learn more about your large glass patio door options, check out this patio door comparison.

As you plan your home remodel and patio door replacement, you might be thinking about your design options. If you currently have a French door or sliding door but want a new, more modern design, there are other patio door styles to consider. You can choose a large patio door system to open your space to the outdoors and create an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. French door alternatives include Bi-Fold and Multi-Slide doors. Below is a breakdown of each patio door style which will help you pick the best door for your home.

Bi-Fold Patio Doors

Bi-Fold patio doors are a unique alternative to a standard French door system. They can create a wide-open space in your home and let in plenty of fresh air and natural light. Bi-Folds are easy to operate, and fold and slide smoothly to one or both sides of your opening. They are both secure and energy efficient, with excellent NFRC ratings to meet California energy requirements.

A standard 3-panel Bi-Fold is about 9-10 feet in width, so additional planning may be required to create the rough opening for your door system. Though a 3-panel system is most common, Bi-Folds are available as large as 16 panels. Bi-Folds are top hung to ensure smooth and easy operation, which means all the weight is placed on the header—for this reason, you may need to engineer and reinforce the header to meet building regulations.

Bi-Fold patio doors are 100% customizable. You choose your system size, number of panels, configuration, stile width, exterior clad color, wood species, interior paint or stain color, hardware style and finish, divided light configuration, and more! With unlimited design options, your bi-fold door will be unique to your home and match your design needs. To talk to a Bi-Fold door expert about your project, fill out this form or call 805-644-4494.

Multi-Slide Patio Doors

Multi-Slide patio doors are another great alternative to French doors. With a Multi-Slide, door panels slide open effortlessly and leave an open space behind. One advantage of choosing Multi-Slides over Bi-Folds is that Multi-Slide doors can be pocketed into the wall, making doors completely disappear. Multi-Slides are also energy efficient and California Title 24 compliant.

Like Bi-Folds, a standard 3-panel Multi-Slide needs about a 9 to 10-foot-wide opening. If you are planning to choose a pocketing Multi-Slide system, you will need to be sure your wall is wide enough to accommodate door panels inside. Multi-Slides offer a classic design element to your space and have narrower sightlines than Bi-Folds. Multi-Slides have bottom rollers, so they require less support from the header, which is why they might be a better option for your project. Whether you’re designing a traditional, contemporary, or farmhouse style space, the limitless design options will ensure your Multi-Slide complements your home. Talk to a Multi-Slide expert.

Whichever patio door system you choose to replace your French doors, they are guaranteed to enhance your space and fulfill your outdoor living dreams. You will expand your views and maximize your entertainment space, improving your quality of life. To find patio door inspiration, visit our photo gallery or case study pages.