Hinged Patio Doors

Many people think that a French door refers to the style of grilles on the door—typically Colonial or equal lite grilles, both of which can feature numerous “lites” (the squares or rectangles created by the grilles). 

In reality, what defines a French door is the operation of the doors—not the appearance. French doors have hinges on the side and swing open either to the home’s interior (inswing) or toward the exterior (outswing).

Conversely, a sliding (or gliding) patio door does not swing at all… it slides on a track and requires no additional floor space to operate. 

Another difference is in the locks: while both sliding and hinged patio doors can be equipped with a six-pin cylinder lock for external keyed entry, only the sliding version can take a footlock..

One final major difference between sliding patio doors and hinged is panel configuration. By necessity, a sliding glass patio door will always have a minimum of two panels. The hinged version can have just a single panel to operate, making it a good choice if you want the indoor-outdoor connection but don't have as much available wall space.

Check out our resource article "Four Things You Might Not Know About French Doors" to learn more about this classic patio door style.

One advantage to French doors, or hinged patio doors, is purely aesthetic. Of course, style is very personal, and there are myriad ways to configure your doors, but French doors are often considered to be a more traditional style; sliding more contemporary.

Another advantage is their flexibility. Hinged doors can be configured to open either inward or outward, depending on the homeowner’s needs. If you need to preserve interior floor space, or you have furniture nearby, then an outswing door allows for that. Similarly, if your door opens out on to a walkway or porch seating, you can elect to have an inswing door. Wall space is also a consideration. A sliding door, by necessity, is a minimum of two panels. If you'd like a patio door--and all of the big views and fresh air it can bring in, but can't fit two panels, a single panel inswing or outswing door is a great choice.

Finally, with double hinged patio doors (both panels are operable), opening both doors means there’s a markedly wider opening, which can have many benefits, including offering superior airflow.

Hinged patio doors are available in one, two, or three panel configurations. The two- and three-panel options can have one or two operable panels. All doors are available in left- or right-sided operation, each series has inswing and outswing options (availability of outswing doors depends on number of panels chosen), and all models are available in standard and custom sizes.

Just like when we talk about windows, when we talk about the energy efficiency of patio doors, we have to consider the whole picture—from the frame to the glass to the installation.

A properly installed replacement patio door can help you save money on your energy bills. We offer configurations for ENERGY STAR certified doors for most climate zones across the country—discuss which glass options fit the bill for your area with your design consultant. 

The Andersen^® patio doors we carry and install offer a wide variety of glass options to suit most every climate zone, including dual- and triple-pane options, and numerous coating types for cold climates, warm sunny climates, and everything in between. Learn more about the benefits of our available glass options here.

And of course, installation is paramount. The best windows and doors will do you a disservice if they are not installed correctly and professionally. Improperly installed product can lead to damage of your home and door, as well as gaps, air infiltration, and more. At Renewal by Andersen, we know the right way to install every product we sell, in every part of the country and within a wide variety of unique home construction styles—and of course we warrant our products AND our installation.

_{ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. See website for specific configuration details.}

All of our patio doors feature tempered glass, as well as the unique Andersen^® reachout locking system that pulls the door panel snugly into the jamb for weathertightness and enhanced security.

For additional peace of mind, consider adding a six-pin key cylinder lock (available in hardware-coordinating styles and finishes). This lock allows the gliding door to be locked and unlocked from the exterior.

Hinged A-series doors can also upgrade their locks to Yale® Assure Lock® Keyless Lock, which allows you to monitor, lock, and unlock from anywhere with Bluetooth® technology for key-free unlocking and is compatible with Z-Wave® for integration with a wide range of smart home platforms.

Finally, select models and configurations are available with Stormwatch®: a PG upgrade featuring heavy-duty rollers and reinforced frame and panel components to allow standard glass units to achieve higher performance ratings. Andersen® patio door products with Stormwatch^® protection are designed and tested to meet the tough building code requirements* in coastal areas. 

_{*Tested to AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101 I.S.2/A440-08. Performance values vary by product line. View Product Performance Data at Andersen Windows. See your local code official for building code requirements in your area.}

Yes! You can work with your Design Consultant to decide which type of high-performance glass option is right for your home and climate zone. Options include:

Our Andersen^® patio doors also offer enhanced triple pane options; ask your Design Consultant for more information on choosing triple pane. 

Visit the Glass Options page to learn more about each of the different types of glass available.

Can I get screens for these doors?

Absolutely. There are several options for insect screens, depending on the style of door you have. 

All insect screens have a long-lasting* fiberglass screen mesh and are color matched to the exterior of the door, unless otherwise specified. 

Screen configurations include:

Top-Hung Gliding/Gliding Insect Screens 

For: hinged inswing patio doors

Patented square corner joints add considerable strength to the frame members. Available in premium top-hung and conventional gliding designs. 

The premium top-hung insect screen has silicone-embedded glide hooks that hang from the top of the screen track, allowing it to glide smoothly and effortlessly without the interference of dust and debris. Alignment rollers on the bottom keep it in place on the track, while the perimeter bug seal helps ensure insects stay out. 

The conventional insect screen has bottom rollers with self-contained leveling adjusters.

Hinged Insect Screen

For: hinged inswing doors. Available for single panel doors. 

Double-Hinged Insect Screen

For: hinged inswing patio doors. Available for two panel jamb-hinged doors. 

Retractable Insect Screen  

For: hinged outswing patio doors

The retractable insect screen is installed on the interior of the door across the width of the opening. When the insect screen is not in use, it neatly retracts into a small canister mounted on each side of the door. 

Retractable insect screens for hinged outswing doors are available for single-panel and two-panel doors, and in white, gold dust, pine, maple and oak finishes and six stain options to match the interior of the door.

_{*See warranty for details.}

The time your job takes varies depending on the number of windows and doors, the size of your crew, and the complexity of your structure — and a large majority of our replacement jobs are completed in as little as one day!