Patio Door Styles

Double Units

• Double panel units have a stationary panel and a sliding panel that can slide from left to right or right to left. The part of the door that slides open will have a screen on the outside track to keep the outdoor inhabitants out of the house and pets and kids indoors. The screen slides open to the side of the stationary panel. Double patio doors come in vinyl or wood, or they come with vinyl on the outside and wood inside.

Triple Units

• Triple panel patio doors have two stationary panels and one sliding panel. Typically, the sliding panel is the middle panel of glass, which can slide to the right or left. The outdoor screen can open to the left or right, and, when closed, will protect the inside of the house from the outdoor environment. Triple panel patio doors can be made of wood, vinyl or a combination of wood inside and vinyl outside.

Hinge Units

• The typical hinge door is known as the French door that opens inwards or outwards. The door is constructed of fiberglass or wood, or wood on the inside and fiberglass on the outside. Typically, hinge patio doors have one long pane of glass or smaller sections of glass that make up a pattern. French doors open in the middle and typically do not have screen doors to protect the indoor environment from the outdoor weather, insects and wildlife. Another hinged door is the single-panel patio door that swings inwards and outwards.