Patio Sliding Door

Sliding doors are used in doorways and porches, pools, gardens or the patios. Unlike the hinged doors, sliding doors take less space, and yet these glass patio doors boost up the elegant look of your interiors.

Famous brands like Anderson, Marvin and Pella have revolutionalized the look of these doors by making exquisite designs of doors and windows. A wide range of energy efficient, stylish, safe and durable sliding glass patio doors are available to decorate every home. These patio door prices range between $750 – $2000 depending upon the quality and the brand.

Manufacturers and Costs

400 Series Frenchwood Gliding Patio Doors by Andersons

New series of doors built with Stormwatch protection and customizable EcoExcel energy package are released by Andersons. You can customize the size of the doors along with grilles, hardware accessories, transoms, stationary panels and insect screens. Andersons use high quality Low E4 glass, which evades the penetration of sound and UV rays. This glass dries faster and leaves less water spots avoiding dirt buildup compared to normal glass. This glass comes with 20 years warranty.
A door of 6ft x 7ft is priced at around $1700.

Encompass by Pella

These vinyl sliding doors are maintenance free and are designed artistically. They come in different colors with grill patterns in the glass to cater to your home needs. These doors are energy star rated with low E glass installed making it suitable for all seasons. They come with lifetime warranty. Price range is from $800 – $1300.

OXXO by Marvin

Marvin has introduced a 4-panel sliding window to virtually extend your living area onto your porch. Thin stiles, railing, architectural hardware accessories, tough windowsill with top hung screen add functionality and exquisiteness to the doors. Likewise, security hardware devices are installed for additional safety. Designed to be energy efficient, these doors come at a reasonable price range from $1300 – $2000.

Tips to Consider Before Installation

- Choose the correct size and location before installing the patio doors.
- Research and get help from a professional before purchasing the sliding doors. Discuss your needs with them and choose the right product. Try to know the entire features of the product.
- Check the replacement and repair policies before purchasing the door.
- If you are choosing a pet patio door, check the right dimension to fit the pet. Vinyl or glass panels are attached to the fixed panel making it convenient for the pets to move in and out.
- Use multiple-paned glass and high-quality security door hardware as single paned glass doors are vulnerable to housebreakers.
- Make sure you use thick blinds or long curtains to cover the doors when not in use. This can serve as a good privacy option.
- Use a screen door to keep your house pest-free.
- Extend the view of your garden and keep your interiors bright using French sliding glass patio doors with broader fixed panels.

Sliding Glass Patio Doors – Simple Repair Tips

- Check the rollers and tracks frequently to avoid doors getting jammed.
- Flushing the tracks will help remove dirt and sand particles in the path.
- Rollers can be lubricated with grease to avoid problems due to friction.
- Adjust the door if the roller is not properly placed on the tracks. Keep some spare door hardware handy to avoid delay in repairing.
- Check for any damage in the glass. Use polymer-based adhesive for minor cracks. Replace the whole glass pane or the door for larger cracks.
- Weather stripping extends the life of the door frames to withstand extreme weather conditions.
- Always keep the spare parts ready to fix any door repairs.

New or a replacement, sliding glass patio doors change the appearance of the entire house. Choose the right product and enjoy the makeover to your interiors.

Sliding patio doors add beauty to your interiors. Because of its transparent nature, these sliding glass patio doors help in getting the clear view of the outdoor from inside the house, take less patio space, and add elegance to any home compared to hinged doors. Likewise, these sliding doors help avoid accidents that could otherwise occur while accessing the hinged doors.

Brands

Leading brands like Marvin, Anderson’s, NewPro and Therma Tru have released an array of contemporary exterior patio doors with different designs and styles. The prices vary between $800-$2300 depending upon the brand name and quality.

LLC F85396 Aluminum Reversible Sliding Glass Patio Door by Croft

Priced at $460, these doors are 2-paneled with tempered glass glazing. Frames, accessories, and screens are shipped with the unit. To ensure ultimate safety, the doors are installed with Series 3000 latches.

Infinity by Marvin

Infinity brings together conventional and fashionable designs to match your home. Superior fiberglass, frames, and hardware devices make it durable and suitable for all seasons, hence, it is maintenance-free and energy-efficient. Features like colors, grilles and hardware accessories can be customized according to your the needs. According to customer feedback, Infinity was given a 4.8/5 rating based on the quality, safety hardware, and balance systems. The price ranges from $1300-$2400.

400 Series Frenchwood 4-Panel Sliding Patio Doors by Andersons

These sliding French patio doors are customizable according to your housing requirements. Tempered Low E4 glass lessens the wet spots and helps the glass to stay clean. This is a great choice for sliding doors considering its solid construction, thus, it helps lower door maintenance costs. It is also energy-efficient as it aids in deflecting heat and light from outside your home.

Optional insect screens can also be installed. Price starts from $3000 and above depending upon the customization.

Benefits

• Accessing the sliding door is easier than a hinged door. It is easy for elderly persons and children to open and close without much strain.
• The door can be wider than the regular doors making passage for wheelchairs and strollers more convenient.
• They neither open or close nor crash by itself due to heavy wind.
• You can keep the patio door open during summer for fresh air, thus, reducing the air conditioning charges.
• A fiberglass or metal screen door can be installed outside the patio door. It prevents dust, bugs, insects, animals, and sand particles from entering inside.
• The glass or the fiberglass panels are treated to act as insulators and are weatherproof.
• The glazing technology has significant impact in making the glass or fiberglass energy-efficient, thus, reducing the costs. Polymer foam is inserted to avoid air leakage further aiding in saving energy.
• The metal frames are eco-friendly as most of them are made of recycled metals.
• Installation of sliding patio doors can be done easily with the do-it-yourself kits available.

Disadvantages

• Proper glazing has to be used on the doors as the glass let in light and heat during summer and reduce heat during winter inside the house.
• Wood patio doors are expensive compared to the available alternatives and need extra care. Vinyl or polyurethane primer and paint coating has to be used to protect from extreme weather conditions.
• Since glass door is very delicate, you need to install a metal screen door as shield outside the glass door to avoid breaking.

As with any other door, French patio doors add a certain level of elegance to your patio area and the room to which it connects. It allows you some room for visual appreciation of an immaculately maintained lawn and garden and if used as an internal door, French doors provide a cheery and roomy ambiance amid two adjoined living areas. At times, this door type is also a good alternative for interior walls, further adding dimension to your living room.

Often associated with class and elegance, French doors are relatively more expensive than other door types. However, having them installed in your home is a wise investment since, in time, if you choose to sell your house, it can help up your home’s value. Although these doors add beauty and sophistication in your home, the downside of having them installed is the hazards it presents especially if you live in hurricane-prone areas. To minimize these risks, ensure to install hurricane shutters that help stop wind and flying rubbles from shattering your glass doors.

How to Choose French Patio Doors

When choosing your exterior patio doors, ensure to consider the harsh weather conditions your doors will be subjected to. Following are different types of patio French doors.

Glass – Ensure that patio doors are double-paned and are Low-E glass-classified. This means that when there is a heat source coming from the house or even outside the house, the glass bounces the heat away from itself. Thus, during the cold months, any heat coming from within the house (from your fireplace, for instance), stays inside the house instead of dissipating away. The same thing is true when the heat source is coming from the outside during warmer months. Instead of heat going inside the house, your Low-E glass panes bounce the heat off the glass, thus, heat stays outside the house.

Vinyl – This French door-type is very easy to clean and is very durable, although typically predisposed to scrapes and indentations

Wood – As an exterior patio door, wooden doors are assembled to withstand any weather condition, thus, are not predisposed to morphing or cracking. However, to ensure that your wood doors are in pristine condition, you need to apply new colouring as maintenance after every couple of years.

Costs and Manufacturers

Steel French Patio Door by JELD-WEN
Model # 939693, size 72 in. x 80 in.

Features:

- Installed with a Brick mould that is resistant to mildew, rotting, and moisture
- Comes with a wooden door frame and a steel door
- Has swinging doors with double-pane glasses
- Is energy-efficient since it comes with its own mini blinds glass selections
- Weighs around 175 lbs, is 5.5 inches thick, and is 72 inches in width size
- Affordable at $419.00 each

Simonton French Door by Simonton

Features:

- Comes as double operating doors
- Has in-swing and out-swing feature
- Has a multi-point locking system that secures two or more sides of a door
- Made of insulated tempered glass and vinyl door frame
- Actual size is around 72” width and 80” height
- A bit expensive at around $2000

Steel French Door by ReliaBilt
Model # 290246, size 80 in. x 60 in.

Features:

- Made of galvanized steel that is rust- and corrosion-resistant
- Comes with well-insulated and energy-efficient glass doors
- Follows the Clean 1-lite model
- Offers limited lifetime guarantee
- Very affordable at $428 only


Advantages and Customer Comments

One of the best things that French patio doors offer is the natural light that they usher into the house from outside. In addition, because of the glass material, you get to enjoy the ambiance from inside the home and outside as well. In terms of security, these patio doors are built with safety measures in mind as they come with several indoor latches and cannot be unbolted from the outside when locked.

However, if you live with small children or pets, the only downside is that you will always have to deal with fingerprints and paw prints.

Despite the varying patio door prices for each French door model, this door type has often received positive reviews from customers:

- Very easy to maintain and clean. Aside from aesthetics, external French doors are durable and hard-wearing because they are usually made from uPVC
- Can be designed as a stand-alone door or paired doors
- Are available in materials such as aluminum, uPVC or vinyl, and wood

Thus, before you make a final decision as to the type of door model you want, ensure to check out French patio door models to add beauty and function to your home.

The Patio Sliding Door has, over the years, proven its versatility by providing you maximum space in an otherwise small area, protecting you from damaging ultraviolet rays, offering better insulation to your homes regardless of season, and serving as great light filtering option to your living quarters.

Through the years, exterior sliding doors’ popularity never waned and instead, gained more recognition due to its ever-developing architectural evolution from aluminum sliders to wooden gliders, vinyl doors to curved glazed sliding doors.

What makes them a truly marvelous addition to your backyard necessities is the flexibility it brings to your homes. Unlike conventional doors that you have to push and pull to open, your sliding patio doors eliminate the likelihood of hitting someone when opening and closing your door. In addition, with your sliding doors, you have the option to leave the screen door open, let natural air in, and have a comfortable and relaxing view of your well-manicured gardens while still maintaining your privacy in your living quarters.

Because patio sliding doors glide unlike regular hinged doors, they do not take up too much space, thus, you are able to maximize the area surrounding your sliding doors. What’s more, you can also install patio pet doors for your beloved canine and feline friends. No more door scratches, no more barking and meowing… just freedom to go in and out and around the house for the doggies and kitties.

With the many designs, colors, materials, styles, and shades available for your patio sliding door requirements, no wonder you will be clouded with confusion when selecting the best option for your home. This site aims to help you make informed decisions, give tips on how to care for your exterior doors, help you choose the window covering for your sliding patio doors, and a lot more. This will be your one-stop information guide on anything that relates to your patio sliding doors. And if you still don’t have it in your home, this may even convince you to get one.

An aluminum patio door is a versatile choice for your exterior patio doors if you are considering updating your back entrance. Patio doors of this type make an attractive alternative to the more expensive doors such as wood and steel. Unlike wood that warps and breaks when exposed to harsh weather conditions, aluminum patio doors are strong and can withstand any season. Another sell-out feature is these doors are rust-free, making them ideal for your balconies or overhangs.


Though they are rust-free, a downside of aluminum doors is its predisposition to oxidation. Too much contact with air and water causes the outer layer to develop a glaze-like white deposit. To counter this, you may opt to apply sealants or clear-coating solutions on your aluminum doors so they stay shiny and smudge-free all the time.

In the past, wooden frames were the preference for sliding patio doors. As wood exudes elegance and warmth, it became the fad of the times — until builders found out about the lowly aluminum. If you have budget concerns, then the low-cost but heavy-duty aluminum is your perfect choice for your sliding patio doors.

In terms of resistance to stress, aluminum has proven its worth as a tough substitute to the more expensive wood material. It does not rot nor corrode easily. However, when exposed to severe temperatures, aluminum might not help in reducing the cool or heat effects within your living area as aluminum is known to adjust to its surroundings. Depending on how you care for your sliding patio doors, they can last a lifetime with very minimal maintenance involved. And what’s more, an aluminum patio sliding door is very affordable.

Aluminum patio doors also come in different sizes. Generally, these doors reach up to about 80” which is actually the normal size of a door. Hinged and sliding doors are the two main types of this exterior door. And in reality, these doors are very much the same as your main doors except that standard entry or exit doors are glazed and hung in pairs. To determine the appropriate patio door for your home, first consider your reasons for getting one. If space is not a problem, then a hinged door is suitable for your needs. Otherwise, invest on aluminum sliding patio doors to free up space and let some natural light come in through the sliders.


Unlike glass or wooden doors, aluminum sliding doors would look out of place with classic Victorian furniture. Most often, these sliding doors look great in houses or buildings that use steel and other metals to decorate the space. Likewise, if you want a vibrant–looking exit, then you’d be better off with other types of patio doors like plastic and vinyl, which will allow you to experiment on different color combination.

Since an aluminum patio door is easily accessible, this makes it a low maintenance sliding patio door option because in cases when you need to replace some parts, you can easily buy them in your local hardware store or have them repaired.

This patio door makes a nice balance between functional and affordability. And no matter how many times patio doors evolve, aluminum patio doors are here to stay for long.