Patio Doors
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A patio door is usually the widest opening in the house: a wall of glass joining the kitchen or living room to the deck, balcony or yard. That makes it one of the best features of a home in summer and one of its weak spots in winter, since a large glass area and a long threshold both have to stand up to cold, snow and meltwater.
Patio doors come in three families. Sliding patio doors glide one panel past a fixed one, hinged garden and French doors swing open like an entry door, and folding or multi-panel doors stack to the side to open most of the wall. Door installers replace complete units, fix sills that let water in, renew weatherstripping and hardware, add screens and security bars, and repair the tracks and rollers of sliders.
This page compares the three styles, explains what the glass does to winter heat loss and summer heat gain, shows how the threshold should meet the deck, and covers security, child safety and screens.
Sliding patio doors vs garden doors, French doors and folding doors
Natural Resources Canada sorts patio doors into two operating styles, swinging and sliding, and folding systems add a third. The right one depends on the free space in front of the opening, inside and out, and on how you use it: a door you open all summer long to let the dog out is not the same as one you throw open for a party.
- Sliding patio door: needs no swing space, so furniture can sit close; only part of the width opens, and comfort depends on the rollers and the seals between the panels.
- Garden door: one hinged glass door beside a fixed glass panel, usually opening inward and closing against a compression seal, much like an entry door.
- French doors: two hinged glass doors that both open, the widest passage of the hinged styles, but they need clear floor space for both leaves and a well-sealed meeting edge.
- Outswing garden or French doors: they free up room inside, but snow on the deck can keep them from opening, and their hinges must be secured against removal from outside.
- Folding and multi-panel doors: several panels that fold or slide and stack at one or both ends, opening much of the wall; they have many joints to seal and need a perfectly level, well-supported opening.
Patio door glass: winter heat loss and summer solar gain
Even a good sealed glass unit lets through far more heat than the insulated wall it replaces, so a large patio door has a real effect on how warm the room feels near it. Low-emissivity coatings, gas fills, warm-edge spacers and triple glazing all reduce that loss. Natural Resources Canada recommends replacing sliding patio doors in poor condition with ENERGY STAR certified units, and comparing the certified ratings of complete doors is the fairest way to weigh one model against another.
In summer the problem reverses. A patio door facing south or west can flood a kitchen with afternoon sun that is welcome in January and punishing in July. Glass with lower solar heat gain on those sides, an overhang or awning above the door, or blinds sealed between the panes keep the room comfortable, so ask for the solar heat gain value of the glass when you compare quotes.
- Low-e coatings: a very thin metallic layer on the glass that reflects heat back into the room, available in versions that let in more or less of the sun's heat.
- Triple glazing: cuts heat loss further, but the heavier panels put more load on rollers and hinges, so the hardware must be sized for them.
- Warm-edge spacers: less conductive edges keep the bottom of the glass warmer, which reduces condensation and frost along the frame.
- An old slider you don't use in winter: NRCan notes it can be sealed with removable sealant or covered with heat-shrink film until it is replaced.
Patio door thresholds and drainage: how the sill should meet the deck
Water is the main enemy of a patio door. The sill is long, sits close to the deck and catches rain driven against the glass, meltwater from snow piled outside and everything that runs down the panels. Leaks often go unnoticed until the flooring inside the door is stained or soft, or the rim joist below has started to rot.
- Sill pan: a sloped, sealed pan or membrane under the sill collects any water that gets past the door and sends it outside instead of into the subfloor.
- Weep holes: openings on the outer face of the sill let water in the track escape; they must stay clear and never be caulked shut or covered by deck boards.
- Step down to the deck: the deck surface should sit below the sill and slope away from the house, so water and snow don't rest against the threshold.
- Ledger flashing: where the deck is fastened to the house under the door, the ledger needs proper flashing, since a leak there rots both the deck and the house framing.
- Low or accessible thresholds: a flatter sill is easier to cross with a walker or wheelchair, but it needs an overhang, careful sealing and good drainage to stay dry.
Patio door security: locks, security bars and anti-lift devices
A sliding door is attacked differently from a hinged one. Rather than kick it in, an intruder tries to lift the moving panel off its track or pry the latch sideways. Garden and French doors behave more like entry doors, with the lock edge and, on outswing models, the hinges as the weak points.
- Security bar: a bar that swings down across the panels, or one laid in the bottom track, stops the moving panel even if the latch is forced.
- Anti-lift blocks or screws: set in the top track so the panel can't be raised off its rollers from outside.
- Keyed or multipoint locks: a lock that grips the frame at several points is much harder to pry than the simple hook latch on many older sliders.
- Flush bolts and a deadbolt: on French doors, bolts at the top and bottom of the fixed leaf and a proper lock on the active one keep the pair from being pushed apart.
- Laminated glass: it stays in one piece when struck, so breaking the pane doesn't easily open a way in.
Patio door safety: safety glass, guards and keeping children safe
Large panes at floor level are easy to walk into. Part 9 of the National Building Code, as reproduced in provincial codes such as British Columbia's, requires glass in sliding doors within or at the entrance to a dwelling unit to be safety glass, either tempered or laminated, or wired glass meeting the CAN/CGSB standards it names. A replacement panel has to meet the same requirement, so make sure the quote specifies it.
- Decals or etched markings at a child's and an adult's eye level make a closed slider visible, so no one walks into it.
- A screen is not a barrier: a child can push straight through, so don't count on it where the door opens onto a pool area or a raised deck, and check the pool safety rules that apply where you live.
- A patio door on an upper floor with no deck outside, or one opening onto a raised deck, needs a guard; the building code sets when one is required and how it must be built.
- An auxiliary lock mounted high on the frame keeps toddlers from opening a slider on their own.
Patio door screens and seasonal care
- Sliding screen: it runs on its own small rollers in the outer track, and a screen that keeps jumping the track usually needs a roller adjustment rather than replacing.
- Retractable screen: it rolls into a side housing when not in use, a good fit for garden and French doors that have no track for a sliding screen.
- Pet-resistant mesh: a heavier screen fabric stands up to claws and paws where a dog or cat uses the door.
- Weatherstripping and hardware: NRCan advises replacing them on sliding patio doors when worn, so look for flattened pile strips or torn gaskets before the cold arrives.
- Before winter: remove the screen or park it fully open so ice can't bond it to the track, and keep snow shovelled away from the sill and glass.
Patio Doors: frequently asked questions
Which lets in less cold: a sliding patio door or a garden door?
A hinged garden or French door closes against a compression seal, which generally makes it tighter than a slider, whose panels move past brush-type seals. A good slider with adjusted rollers and fresh weatherstripping can still do well, so compare the certified ratings of the exact models rather than judging by style alone.
Can I replace a sliding patio door with French doors?
Usually, if there is room for the leaves to swing. French doors may need a slightly different rough opening and a sill that matches both the floor and the deck, so the installer may have to adjust the framing, the trim and sometimes the deck boards at the door.
Can a patio door go where there is a window now?
Yes, but it is structural work. The wall below the window comes out, the header may need to be enlarged, and the floor, the deck and the siding all have to meet the new sill. Check with your municipality about a permit before you start, and plan the deck or landing at the same time.
Are folding patio doors practical in a Canadian climate?
They can be, when the system is designed for cold climates, installed dead level and sheltered from driving rain. With many more panel joints than a two-panel slider, there is more to seal and adjust, so ask to see the ratings of the exact configuration and how its sill drains.
Why does my patio door frost up along the bottom in winter?
The bottom of the glass and the sill are the coldest parts of the door, so indoor moisture condenses and freezes there first. Keeping indoor humidity in check, leaving blinds open so warm air can reach the glass and choosing warm-edge glass all help. Fog trapped between the panes is different: it means the seal has failed.
Sources
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Last reviewed September 10, 2026.
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What affects the cost of patio door
Prices depend on the details of your project. We only publish price ranges when they’re backed by real LokalMatch quote data or reliable sources. Until then, here’s what usually changes the price:
- Number, size and style of windows or doors
- Frame material and glass options
- Full-frame replacement or insert
- Repairs to rotted framing or sills
- Interior and exterior trim and capping
- Access, including upper floors
How to compare door installers before you hire
- Look for an installer who measures on site and explains how the new window or door will be sealed and flashed.
- Ask whether the quote is for a full-frame replacement or an insert, and why they recommend it.
- Compare quotes on the same product type, glass options, installation method and interior and exterior trim.
- Ask who handles warranty issues: the installer, the manufacturer or both.
- For garage doors, choose a technician trained on springs and openers, since that work can be dangerous.
Questions to ask door installers before you hire
- Will you replace the full frame or install an insert, and what's the difference for my home?
- How will you insulate and seal around the new units?
- Is interior and exterior trim included in the price?
- What does the manufacturer's warranty cover, and what does your installation warranty cover?
- How long will it take for the products to arrive once I order?
- Will your own crew do the installation?
When to call a pro for patio door
- Drafts, condensation or fog between the panes
- Windows or doors that stick, won't lock or let water in
- A garage door that's off track or has a broken spring: don't try to force it, and call a garage door technician.
Patio door permits and local rules
Some patio door work needs a permit or has to meet local bylaws. Rules vary by municipality, so ask your pro whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it — and check with your city or town if you’re unsure.
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