One of the biggest thieves when it comes to swiping heat out of my house is
my 30 year old Pella patio doors. Top of the line in their time, even the
cheesy vinyl doors at the local Home Depot have better insulating qualities
than these do. With natural gas goin' for $8.50+/MCF this winter, I'm
looking for some replacements (Oh yeah, and add to that Pella's goofy door
arrangement, where the sliding door is on the *outside*, and I'm REALLY
looking to get rid of 'em).

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare features on
these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all I'm really
interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to stain as I choose
(oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE this time...sorry
Pella).

Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that I'm
looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range here in the
Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price for this type of
door?

Seems most doors these days are dual-pane with some inert gas in between for
insulation...most of the differences seem to be in the framing material. Are
there any specific specs or features I should be looking for?

Any help, tips or personal experiences are appreciated.

Pete D

"Pete D" wrote in message

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare features
on
these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all I'm really
interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to stain as I
choose
(oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE this time...sorry
Pella).

There is sound reasoning to have the door on the outside. Wind puts
pressure on the door and helps it seal better, unlike the opposite that
would make it seal less. I've gotten used to it and it doesn't bother me.
My old door had the screen on the outside and it was damaged a few time
where the Pella has been safe.


Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that I'm
looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range here in
the
Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price for this type
of
door?

Prices seem to be OK, but it depends on hat type of door and brand. You can
spent more than $1400 just for the door. Check out Peachtree and Marvin
brands also. You already know to avoid the metal frames. You do want the
outside to be clad with vinyl or aluminum. The larger the glass thickness,
the better the nsulating quality.

My old door had the double pane glass. Good for a few years, but once the
seal breaks, it will fog and get ugly. The unsealed double glass has been
better. Insulates well and can be cleaned.

"Pete D" wrote in
:

One of the biggest thieves when it comes to swiping heat out of my
house is my 30 year old Pella patio doors. Top of the line in their
time, even the cheesy vinyl doors at the local Home Depot have better
insulating qualities than these do. With natural gas goin' for
$8.50+/MCF this winter, I'm looking for some replacements (Oh yeah,
and add to that Pella's goofy door arrangement, where the sliding door
is on the *outside*, and I'm REALLY looking to get rid of 'em).

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare
features on these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all
I'm really interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to
stain as I choose (oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE
this time...sorry Pella).

Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that
I'm looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range
here in the Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price
for this type of door?

Seems most doors these days are dual-pane with some inert gas in
between for insulation...most of the differences seem to be in the
framing material. Are there any specific specs or features I should be
looking for?

Any help, tips or personal experiences are appreciated.

Pete D

I despise sliding patio doors, regardless of who makes them. We had ours
ripped out and interlocking French doors installed.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

unmunge as w-e-b

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

Wayne wrote:

"Pete D" wrote in
:



One of the biggest thieves when it comes to swiping heat out of my
house is my 30 year old Pella patio doors. Top of the line in their
time, even the cheesy vinyl doors at the local Home Depot have better
insulating qualities than these do. With natural gas goin' for
$8.50+/MCF this winter, I'm looking for some replacements (Oh yeah,
and add to that Pella's goofy door arrangement, where the sliding door
is on the *outside*, and I'm REALLY looking to get rid of 'em).

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare
features on these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all
I'm really interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to
stain as I choose (oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE
this time...sorry Pella).

Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that
I'm looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range
here in the Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price
for this type of door?

Seems most doors these days are dual-pane with some inert gas in
between for insulation...most of the differences seem to be in the
framing material. Are there any specific specs or features I should be
looking for?

Any help, tips or personal experiences are appreciated.

Pete D



I despise sliding patio doors, regardless of who makes them. We had ours
ripped out and interlocking French doors installed.

Same here. It is much easier to pass large furniture through them than
trying to squeeze furniture through a ~32" opening.
Yes, I know that half of 6' is 36", but there is the overlap of the
doors and the extra room needed for the handle so you don't crush your
hand between the handle and the stationery door.

From: Bill Schnakenberg


Wayne wrote:

"Pete D" wrote in
:



One of the biggest thieves when it comes to swiping heat out of my
house is my 30 year old Pella patio doors. Top of the line in their
time, even the cheesy vinyl doors at the local Home Depot have better
insulating qualities than these do. With natural gas goin' for
$8.50+/MCF this winter, I'm looking for some replacements (Oh yeah,
and add to that Pella's goofy door arrangement, where the sliding door
is on the *outside*, and I'm REALLY looking to get rid of 'em).

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare
features on these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all
I'm really interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to
stain as I choose (oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE
this time...sorry Pella).

Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that
I'm looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range
here in the Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price
for this type of door?

Seems most doors these days are dual-pane with some inert gas in
between for insulation...most of the differences seem to be in the
framing material. Are there any specific specs or features I should be
looking for?

Any help, tips or personal experiences are appreciated.

Pete D



I despise sliding patio doors, regardless of who makes them. We had ours
ripped out and interlocking French doors installed.

Same here. It is much easier to pass large furniture through them than
trying to squeeze furniture through a ~32" opening.
Yes, I know that half of 6' is 36", but there is the overlap of the
doors and the extra room needed for the handle so you don't crush your
hand between the handle and the stationery door.

Put me on the French Door list as well. Add to the good points:

Ability to install a standard or decorative lockset and deadbolt. Or go with
Anderson French patio doors and it will deadbolt top, bottom and center.

I installed 1 single all-glass French patio door flanked by 2 large double hung
Anderson windows, and in the dead of winter I can stand right in front, on an
oak floor, barefoot -and feel no draft.

I don't think there is any slider made that can seal the drafts like a standard
glass door.

"Pete D" wrote in message
...
One of the biggest thieves when it comes to swiping heat out of my house
is
my 30 year old Pella patio doors. Top of the line in their time, even the
cheesy vinyl doors at the local Home Depot have better insulating
qualities
than these do. With natural gas goin' for $8.50+/MCF this winter, I'm
looking for some replacements (Oh yeah, and add to that Pella's goofy door
arrangement, where the sliding door is on the *outside*, and I'm REALLY
looking to get rid of 'em).

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare features
on
these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all I'm really
interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to stain as I
choose
(oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE this time...sorry
Pella).

Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that I'm
looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range here in
the
Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price for this type
of
door?

Seems most doors these days are dual-pane with some inert gas in between
for
insulation...most of the differences seem to be in the framing material.
Are
there any specific specs or features I should be looking for?

Any help, tips or personal experiences are appreciated.

Pete D

I dumped the patio doors for French doors. Steel and double insulated, with
side lights, that opened. My doors were larger than 6 feet.
The amount of light difference was not noticeable. The difference in glass
area was about 2/3. Really made an difference in the room.

They also have French type doors with blinds inside the glass. If I was to
change now, new home back to patio doors again. I would consider these.


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Most French and sliders top out at 3.4r . I have several Anderson wood
sliders Low E Argon, they seal good , Im on a lake with high wind. My
door cost 1200 instal was 750. There are air infiltration ratings from
all companies . Call Anderson.

"Pete D" wrote in message
...
One of the biggest thieves when it comes to swiping heat out of my house
is
my 30 year old Pella patio doors. Top of the line in their time, even the
cheesy vinyl doors at the local Home Depot have better insulating
qualities
than these do. With natural gas goin' for $8.50+/MCF this winter, I'm
looking for some replacements (Oh yeah, and add to that Pella's goofy door
arrangement, where the sliding door is on the *outside*, and I'm REALLY
looking to get rid of 'em).

Trouble is, I have no idea where to start or how to even compare features
on
these doors. Aside from superior insulating qualities, all I'm really
interested in is having a wooden frame that'll allow me to stain as I
choose
(oh yeah, and I want the sliding door on the INSIDE this time...sorry
Pella).

Anyway, I'm leaning toward Andersen, for no other reason than name
recognition, good warranty and having the type of door (wooden) that I'm
looking for. I'm getting installed prices in the $12-1400 range here in
the
Cleveland OH area for a standard 6 ft. width. Decent price for this type
of
door?

Seems most doors these days are dual-pane with some inert gas in between
for
insulation...most of the differences seem to be in the framing material.
Are
there any specific specs or features I should be looking for?

Any help, tips or personal experiences are appreciated.

Pete D

Anderson makes a good door. There are 2 levels of their wood slider. The
top level (french wood) complete with screen and lockset and taxs is about
1100 just for the door. A standard install is about 300. There will probubly
be additional work since the old Pellas used brick mold outside and the new
doors use nail fins.
I agree about the operable part being outside. You can't open it in the
winter cause the track ices over and closing it in the summer is a joy cuase
you need to open the screen full of nights bugs to close the outside door.
If you "buy into" the wind thing, wind blows all directions so one day it
may help seal the next it may be sucking the other way.
I also agree that if you have the swing space a swinging patio door is much
better. Anderson also make a great swinger. Check out the way the lock
system works.