Putting a Patio Door in a Historical Cincinnati Home

We have talked about making changes to historical homes in the past, but it is usually about windows and not patio doors.

Why is this?

Because at the time that most historical homes were built, the patio door had not been created yet.  Instead, they had simple backdoors that were of solid wood (sometimes split so you could open just the top half) and usually matched the front door. These doors were installed more out of the necessity and the convenience of being able to exit out of the back of the house than for looks.

Can You Put a Patio Door in a Historic Cincinnati Home?

Yes, you can put a patio door in a historic Cincinnati home, depending on where you live. If you live in a neighborhood that has been deemed as historical, there may be a committee that you have to present your plans to for approval before you can make any changes to your home, though.

If you have a home that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, no, you cannot add a patio door. All changes made to your home have to preserve the original look of the structure, and since patio doors are a relatively modern addition to homes it would not be something you could have installed.

If you live in an old home that is not in an officially listed historical neighborhood and is not on the National Register of Historic places, you can install any patio door you like.

What Style of Patio Door Works Best for a Historic Cincinnati Home?

It is best to stick with the style of patio door that matches the house. For example, a large, sliding glass, patio door with vinyl trim just doesn’t look right on a home that was building in 1910s. On the other hand, a double French door that leads out to the patio or deck of that house would be beautiful.

But with each different architectural style that is seen on the homes in Cincinnati that are considered historical, a different patio door is needed.

If you need help choosing what patio door would work best for your home, one of our representatives will be more than happy to go over with you what we have available. We can also help you with what we have found to work well with other historic Cincinnati homes.