Patio doors connect your outdoor living spaces to the rest of your home. Not only do you invite more natural light and air into your home, but you also add architectural interest to your outdoor spaces. For large patios and poolsides, combine three doors for an even grander entrance.
A double door that leads out to a patio or back yard isn’t necessarily a patio door. If both doors function, this is called a double door. An astragal is used between the doors and while one remains closed most of the time, it is possible to open it for a wider entryway. If only one door functions, this is called a true patio door. There are two types of true patio doors: the first is when one of the doors is stationary and the other is hinged either to the jamb or the center mullpost, and the second is when one of the doors glides in front of a stationary door.
Center-Hinged or Jamb Hinged
Patio doors where one of the doors is stationary can have the active door hinged to either the exterior jamb or to the center mullpost. A screen can slide in front of the active door for air flow, but can then slide in front of the stationary door for outside access. A track is built into the head jamb and sill for easy screen movement. Any center or jamb hinged units with a screen must be inswing, however if no screen is necessary then the unit can be outswing.
Jamb-Hinged
Center-Hinged
Sliding or Gliding
Gliding or sliding doors have one door that is stationary. The active door will glide along a track in the sill and the head jamb. Due to the stationary door, there can also be a screen applied for air flow and the screen will slide in front of the staionary door for easy access outdoors.
Double vs Patio Doors
There is a difference between a patio door and a double door. As mentioned above a patio door has one active door while the other is fixed or stationary. A double door is when both doors are hinged to the exterior frames. One of the doors will be the active door that is more commonly used, while the other is a passive door. The passive door will have an astragal attached and some sort of locking mechanism into the sill and head jamb. The lock can be unlocked as well to open both doors for extra air flow.
Patio door unit can be crafts with two or three door panels in a variety of species and sizes.
- Two Door Patio Units
- Primed Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ widths – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights
- FrameSaver Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ widths – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights
- OnGuard Primed Jambs – 4-9/16″ width – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights
- Ultra Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ withs – 6/8 height
- Pine Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ widths – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights
- Three Door Patio Units
- Primed Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ widths – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights
- FrameSaver Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ widths – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights
- Ultra Jambs – 4-9/16″ with – 6/8 height
- Pine Jambs – 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ widths – 6/8, 7/0, or 8/0 heights