A Look Through Patio Doors
Sliding or hinged, big panes or multilite, these glass doors should be built to withstand the elements as well as years of abuse.
Synopsis: This detailed article looks at the features distinguishing different types of patio doors. The author covers a variety of materials, including vinyl and aluminum cladding, extruded vinyl, fiberglass composite, and solid-wood veneer. The article also covers other features, from sill designs and locks to adjustable hinges and glass options, that should be weighed before buying a door.
It’s always a trade-off, isn’t it? You want light in the house, so you cut a hole in the wall: Now the floor gets wet when it rains, so you cover the hole with glass. A little cross ventilation might be nice, so you figure out a way to open and close the glass. Now the glass leaks again. Just wait until you try to make the window into a big door.
Forty years ago, when oil was cheap and we didn’t know better, patio doors were novelties, just big…
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