Patio Sliding Door

Over the years, woods are the most common choice for making doors. They are considered durable, simple to work with, and act as natural insulator. These are the exact reasons why I decided to go for wooden doors all throughout our home. In fact, most other homeowners prefer wood over any other materials because they do complement the exterior as well as the interior design of the house. With different patterns and styles of wood patio doors, they simply beautify and provide classiness to your home. Most lavish and decorative patio doors are made from solid woods.


Wooden patio doors are considered to be durable and last for many years if properly maintained. While some may say that woods are easily destroyed by termites, manufacturers treat their woods with specialized anti-termite solution making them termite-free. And although woods are very vulnerable to moisture, it is proper to have regular inspection of the door and apply some oil-based water repellent. Repairs and maintenance are not complicated and you can actually repaint and refinish the doors yourself.

Wood garden doors are considered affordable among other doors made from different materials because of their availability. Woods can be easily painted so that multiple color selections are available, or you can even ask a local manufacturer to provide you with a specific color. You can also paint your own patio door and save money from hiring a specialist.

Various designs can be carved onto the wood according to your taste and preference. Likewise, other materials can be added to wood patio doors such as glass panes, fiberglass, and metals. They are adjustable and can easily be reduced for correct fitting during installation.

Manufacturers say woods are the best natural insulators because they are poor conductors of heat and cold making them less prone to condensation. They act as heat shield during hot summer months as well as cold protector during winter. Additionally, woods are the most environmental-friendly door materials because no toxic chemicals are used to produce them and in case of disposal, wood can easily be discarded without imposing any danger to the environment.


Woods are not fire-resistant. They can easily burn when in contact with fire. However, many take this as an advantage especially during emergency situations. In case of house fire, rescuers have easy access through a wooden door by breaking them easily than a metal one that needs special equipment to break it.

Wood patio door prices vary from the kind of wood used in making them. Additional materials, such as metals and glasses (used in making garden doors) add to the cost of the door. Various manufacturers provide a range of price selections, so it is better to compare prices before buying one. You can do this by simply visiting your home improvement stores or by searching through the internet.

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.

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.