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.

Because entry doors are the face of the house, homeowners and builders look for beauty, safety, budget, durability and weather-resistance as major criteria while choosing entry doors. Fiberglass entry doors are the answers to satisfy these criteria. The term “entry doors” does not only stand for the front entrance doors but back, side, and patio doors as well.

Leading door manufacturing companies have designed various innovative options and styles like contemporary, French doors, traditional, and architectural doors made of materials such as wood, steel, aluminum, vinyl and fiberglass. Glass panels, transoms, and sidelights can add an extravagant look to these doors and adding character to doorways, you can choose from dramatic architectural styles like rectangular and arched wooden doors incorporating various features and design options. These doors are also available with straight and curved glass panel embellishments.

Different Types of Doors

Wood entry doors are known for their quality and workmanship. They are stronger, hence, are trouble-free and minor damages like scratches can be fixed easily. However, wooden doors are highly expensive. Treatments like paint or varnish is needed to preserve the fresh look, and if the doors are often exposed to moisture, regular maintenance against fungus is required. In addition, wood doors are predisposed to high risk of warping, rotting, or bulging when exposed to extreme climatic conditions.

On the other hand, steel entry doors are the next ideal option to wooden doors. They are stronger and do not require maintenance unlike wood. A well-painted door can last for so many years; they are fireproof and chances of damage are less compared to wood. In terms of cost, they are a lot cheaper, too. The drawbacks are that the steel entry doors can be easily dented or scratched and, unfortunately, are difficult to fix. Scratches may result in rusting as well if not attended to immediately.

Aluminum is as good as steel and is rust- and corrosion-free. It is also used to manufacture exterior storm doors. Though strong, these doors are prone to physical damages compared to steel. Aluminum doors are poor insulators of heat and are not ideal for areas with high temperature.

Vinyl doors are the next better option for satisfying beauty, budget, insulation and security. They are much cheaper than fiberglass, are moisture proof, and weigh very light as well. However, these doors tend to damage or tarnish when the ambient temperature is high.

All the above types of doors are strong enough but have their own disadvantages. Fiberglass doors serve as a successful alternative to all the above options.

Features and Benefits of Fiberglass Doors

• Fiberglass doors satisfy all the conditions like aesthetics, safety, cost, and insulation that is why it is regarded as the best choice for exterior entry doors.
• They are popular for their energy-efficiency capabilities.
• High-end components and resources are used to give perfect wood like finishing.
• Initially, the wooden frames are installed to the building along with the hinges and the single piece door is affixed to the existing frame. Another plus point of fiberglass doors is it comes as a complete set with locks, insulation strips, frames, hinges and door. This helps in having proper insulation to the house.
• Unlike wooden doors, fiberglass doors do not swell, warp, peel, dent, or rot – thus, resulting in low maintenance.
• Installation of these doors is easy as they are lighter than other door materials.

Some Fiber Glass Models You Might Like

Kingston by Jeld-Wen

The Kingston model is a durable fiberglass door with an oval glass panel that can add pep to your house. The glass panel helps in letting light in while preserving your privacy. They are designed to be resilient and eye-catching and are easy on the pocket. They are energy star qualified as they shield heat and sunlight better than wood. The pre-hung unit comprises of frame, adjustable sill, and weather-stripping. Limited warranty is offered for the product and they are priced at $492 for a 36” x 80” door.

Craftsman FLS200

These are triple paned doors made of high quality fiberglass to give wooden finish and long-lasting life. For the panels, you may opt for the textured or plain glass that further gives your doors personality. These doors come with pre-hung weather stripping and can be purchased with either one sidelight or two sidelights. You may also add transoms if you like, but at an extra cost.

Barrington Sierra by Masonite

If you want to add an aesthetic and expensive look to your house, Barrington Sierra is an ideal option. A double-panel door, they are given a Spanish Cedar wood finish with the durability of fiberglass making them weather-resistant. They insulate better than regular wooden doors. The product offers five years warranty for the finishing and lifetime warranty for the door and is energy star-rated as well. The doors are available in 36” x 80”, 36” x 96” and 42” x 96” sizes, and are priced at $1754 each.

Flagstaff by Masonite

Flagstaff is another energy star-rated product with Spanish cedar look. They are weatherproof and durable. They are a bit pricey yet add a stunning and splendor look to your home. The product includes two sidelights, frames, sill and weather stripping. These doors have a lifetime warranty and come with a high price tag (around $3000). Though the product is very beautiful, for the amount charged, waterproof coat blending at the bottom of the door would have made this perfect.

Disadvantages

• Fiberglass entry doors tend to crack when constantly exposed to extreme weather conditions.
• They are very expensive than other entry doors.

Additional Information

• Even though the door is strong, it is required to install security hardware for safety. Check for high-end deadbolts and locks to avoid any mishaps.
• Check for replacement doors and windows options according to the requirements.
• Retain functioning hardware like locks, handles and hinges before updating your entry doors.
• Keep some repair kits handy to fix minor dents in your fiberglass doors.

Sliding patio doors are becoming increasingly popular choices for modern houses today. Gone are the traditional looks of old aluminum sliding doors well known for their poor design and inapt roller mechanism – where oftentimes, doors would jump off tracks.

If you’re looking for the perfect accent piece for your patio, then exterior sliding doors may be “it” for you. Today, sliding door models are not only stylish and durable; they are also energy efficient and provide additional security for your homes.

Door Frames and Tracks

Normally, exterior sliding doors have one fixed pane and an adjustable panel. Rollers are attached either at the top and bottom frame or at the bottom only and can be adjusted so doors glide more easily to the left or to the right. Likewise, tracks can be installed for door support and to ensure doors stay aligned on the tracks. They may ether be made of plastic or metal.

Types of Sliding Patio Doors

The most popular sliding doors are made from vinyl, wood, metal, or glass.

Although aluminum sliders were in style years ago, wooden sliding doors have fast become one of the fashionable choices when it comes to gliding doors. As wood suggests warmth and peace, some sliding doors are made of wood on the inside and vinyl on the outside to ensure durability of your sliding doors.

Since wood is susceptible to humidity, you have to ensure that your wooden sliding doors are hard-wearing and have a durable finish. There are pre-painted all-wood sliders available in your local hardware stores, or you can even ask to have your doors custom-painted according to your taste. This option, however, can put a strain in your budget if you’re looking for inexpensive sliders.

A good substitute for wood are doors made from combined fiberglass materials. Aside from being a cheaper alternative, these faux wood materials do not warp or crack. Still, there are other sliders faced on both sides with aluminum or vinyl covering.

Some sliding doors are made from glass. Thus, even if you have limited space, this type of sliding patio doors adds dimension to an otherwise cramped area by providing a transparent view of the outside. In effect, what you are really seeing is a continuous space starting from the inside and extending to the patio area.

Dimensions, Options, and Spaces

Sliding glass doors are generally between seven feet and eight feet high, although it can also run up to 10 feet high with width between 16 and 40 feet for commercial sliding doors. These large-sized sliders are ideal for bigger doorways, such as those in buildings. Due to its expansive size, up to eight functional door spaces can be installed to maximize its size.


Despite its sheer size, patio sliding doors do not take up much space. In fact, the area encasing these sliding doors can serve as additional spot for your home decorations or simply a gap to help a room appear bigger than it really is. You may place ornamental plants to give the room a wonderful ambiance.

To fully enjoy the benefits this door provides, you can install screens or shades to repel insects and deflect heat away from your patios. And because sliding patio doors allow natural light to come in, you not only have a relaxing time in your very home, you also save a lot on electricity costs.