The indoor-outdoor living trend that hit a tipping point in 2025

Remember when a disappearing glass wall was a “wow” moment?
In 2025, homeowners stopped being impressed. They started expecting it.

The indoor-outdoor living trend hit a tipping point in 2025.

And most Indianapolis builders didn't see it coming.

Not the trend itself. Everyone knew homebuyers wanted disappearing glass walls, multi-slide systems, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing lakefront views.

What they didn't see: the moment when "occasional wow factor" became "baseline expectation."

Here's what that looks like in real numbers:

55% year-over-year increase in patio project demand (2024 Remodeling Impact Report). Bi-fold and multi-slide systems now standard in $2M+ homes. Floor-to-ceiling glass dominating luxury specifications across Hamilton County, Carmel, and Geist.

But here's the part nobody talks about:

The failure rate didn't go up on the products. Marvin, Andersen Corporation, and Pella Corporation are engineering better systems than ever.

The failure rate went up on installation.

Because when something shifts from "occasional" to "standard," the installation approach has to shift too.

A $45,000 lift-and-slide system isn't a bigger patio door. It's a precision-engineered system that weighs hundreds of pounds, has dozens of adjustment points, and integrates with 6+ other trades.

One millimeter off in rough opening prep. One degree off in leveling. One gap in weather barrier integration.

And you're looking at performance failures that no amount of troubleshooting fixes.

That's the gap.

Architects spec these systems beautifully. Manufacturers engineer them to operate flawlessly. But if installation doesn't match that precision, the whole thing falls apart.

And here's what makes it harder: Indianapolis climate doesn't forgive mistakes.

90-degree summers. Sub-zero winters. 40-degree swings in 24 hours during shoulder seasons. Multi-panel systems expand in heat, contract in cold. Seals that work in July fail in January if they weren't installed accounting for thermal movement.

This is why builders like Wedgwood partner with Elite Andersen Premium Certified installers for these projects.

Not because they're more expensive. Because when you're installing systems that cost more than most cars, precision isn't optional.

The indoor-outdoor trend is accelerating in 2026. Installation expertise needs to keep pace.

Because homeowners aren't comparing their $45K door to other doors anymore.

They're comparing it to the resort they stayed at. The luxury hotel they toured. The friend's house where the glass wall actually disappeared.

That's the new standard.

And it all comes down to installation.

Blue Theory Construction | Elite Andersen Premium Certified | Specialized Window and Door Installation for Indiana Luxury Builders | Serving complex projects statewide.