Space is the biggest issue. Hinged doors need a decent area to swing all the way open, whether they swing in or out, center hinged or jamb hinged, is entirely up to you. Sliding doors don't require any additional space to function. many companies make attractive versions of both sliders and hinged doors, so look around. I do agree that cheap is to be avoided. Buy the best product you can. You'll be happier in the long run. Many companies today offer locks that can be re-keyed to match your other locks, if that's important to you. Be sure to read the care & maintenance information for any product you research. Many of them recommend periodic adjusting to insure proper operation, which will increase the life of the product as well. Good luck!!!

Hi Almega: Do you happen to have a price range for Provia Patio Door? I am thinking of installing a hinged patio door too and Provia came highly recommended...I'm just worried if it's too much beyond my price range of $3000. My size door is the normal 72 x 80. Thanks

I wish that my trash pullout had them (unfortunately not an option with ikea). If it did I would have clearance to fit a larger bin without careful maneuvering.

... I absolutely DETEST the swinging doors ... I'm not sure what you mean by "more that can go wrong in the tracks." I can't say I've ever had something "go wrong" with the tracks ... What I've done on my two patio doors is to put in DOUBLE sliders. Imagine two mirror image patio sliders that the moving panels meet in the middle. ... Yes, this. We had sliding glass doors in the house where I grew up -- no problems ever. I've had the cheapest of the cheap sliding glass doors in various apartments -- no problems ever. I had sliding glass doors in my first house -- no problems ever. In contrast, I have French doors in my current house. They're awful. The door swing is a problem: It gets in the way of the furniture, and we don't really get nice air into the house like we did with sliders. I'm also planning something like double sliders -- note that the newest ones are called "gliders" -- in our new house. Something like this: