And remember, this is a door that’s getting a lot of use. You are opening and closing it, going in and out, especially now that it’s summer, you know, deck and patio season. So you are probably noticing things more—it’s not sliding as smoothly, the latch isn’t latching properly, a lot of other irritating things going on…

You’re much better off going with a combination door. Using a combination of wood and PermaShield® vinyl exterior you get a solid door that is attractive and won’t succumb to the weather extremes. The other thing that is important to evaluate when choosing a patio door is the track and roller system. You want a track that is solid and rollers that rock for the backward and forward motion of opening and closing a door.

And with any patio door, you also want to be think about security. You need a really solid door, that can’t be lifted up off the tracks. I write about the pitfalls of vinyl in the article: The Life Cycle of a Vinyl Sliding Door. Lots of reasons why vinyl is not the way to go for a sliding patio door. Check it out!

Mr. Rogers' replacement windows are certified sustainable and made from recycled materials.

“Going green” is the big thing in business these days. You probably see a lot of products with labels like ”all natural” or “green.” If you’re skeptical of those claims, you’re smart. A lot of all natural foods, for example, are still heavily processed and contain ingredients unhealthy for us.

That’s what makes Andersen Window’s recent move to have their environmental claims certified  by a leading, independent organization all the more amazing. Andersen’s products and manufacturing have been tested, and the recycling claims have been certified under internationally recognized standards.

Some of Andersen’s products, like the Renewal by Andersen Fibrex replacement windows we offer at Mr. Rogers Windows, are made with 22-24% recycled material! Even the Andersen French patio doors and Sliding patio doors we offer are certified for recycled content.

You can read the full story here.

Sustainable Replacement Windows in Hampton Roads, VA and Charlotte, NC

I made this quick video to answer some of the questions:

The energy-efficiency requirements for windows and doors are very specific, so make sure you understand how to claim your energy tax credit. And stay tuned, because I’ll be blogging more about this!

Myself and my wife just bought our first house. The living room has two sliding doors (patio doors). They’re pretty beat up and we want to replace them. We’re thinking about using French doors instead, but we’re not sure of the pros and cons. Stuff like energy efficiency, maintenance, security etc.

Thanks.

Answer:
Congratulations on the new house. I remember buying my first house; it was exciting…and scary all at once.

On to your question. When it comes to performance, maintenance, and security, there’s not a big difference between a French door and a sliding door. If you get a good patio door and solid installation, a French door will perform just as well as a sliding door. You can get quality locks for both types—auxiliary foot locks for sliding doors and multi-point locks for French doors.

Maintenance depends on what kind of material you get. Wood will need to be scraped and repainted to stop rot. Vinyl or vinyl-clad won’t. I would just stay away from aluminum—it will kill your energy bills.

Here are the three differences you and your wife should consider:

1)    Looks: French doors look more classic, while sliding doors are more modern.
2)    Space: Sliding doors are going to take up less space than French doors because the panels don’t swing out. I don’t know what your living room is like, but an inswing French door in a small living room could be a problem.
3)    Function: A big benefit of a French door is that you can open both panels. The extra wide opening is great when you need to haul in furniture. Sliding doors will always have one panel that stays put.

Most people make their decision based on number 1 alone. There’s nothing wrong with that. A lot of homeowners choose French doors purely for looks. Of course, now you can get a sliding door that looks like a French door! Check out the Frenchwood  sliding patio door on this page.  Just make sure you get a good door and a good installation.

Answer:

The best lock for a sliding glass patio door is a quality footlock. It’s like a deadbolt that you attach to the bottom of your door. To lock it, you just tap it with your foot and a metal rod extends into the track. Once set, your
patio door can’t slide open.

Typical patio door footlock

Most hardware stores sell different types of footlocks. They usually run about $12-20, and all you need to install one is a drill. I just looked on Google and found several:

Patio door footlocks

You’ll find more information about footlocks and patio door securityhere: Patio Doors Locks and Security.