Posted on 08/30/2010 6:28:54 AM PDT by SMARTY
I wonder if any one has some input about security for patio doors.
I plan to put two in the kitchen. I am NOT putting sliding doors and I am favoring French doors.
One door is needed for access to the existing patio. The other door will be on another wall leading out…and where planned improvements will require access to the yard.
I would like to know what the most secure selection would be …. or else what kinds of modifications I can make in order to further secure the doors I do select. (For example: the Pella French door has a triple lock built-in.)
Also, the existing shallow bay window, which will be removed for access to the patio area, is 92” wide.
I know the standard height dimension is 82” and I think that is not a problem… but I don’t know what the standard French door width dimension is. Will I have a problem installing a patio door in this 92” opening?
Does any one know about this stuff?
Door and window frames shouldn’t expand/contract if they are sealed with a good varnish. Ditto inside doors. Make sure all surfaces are covered, including the bottom and top edges.
Since most Andersen door products are made of pine, my recommendation would be paint. Almost all manufacturers also make clad doors (I prefer aluminum or steel since vinyl degrades in UV light) for greater durability and lower maintenance. With a 92” opening, you might want to consider a 3-panel system since 2 four-foot doors are ungainly and put too much weight on hardware. Check the Andersen website for available dimensions. Good luck!
About 20 years ago, I visited the Andersen factory in Minnesota. A great operation. Marvin (also Minnesota), which makes doors and windows, also has a great factory.
We got a new sliding door to the deck last year. It is a large, 3 panel unit, with the middle panel being the slider. We had several estimates and people came to measure. Only the one from Lowe’s accurately assessed that the rough opening available from when the house was built in 1992 was not as high as some of the doors available, which limited us to choices without rebuilding the whole opening. So be careful with that. I guess some were 81.5” and some 82”. We ended up with a jeld-wen (?) model, and have been happy with it. The Lowe’s contractor did the installation. Would not try to do by ourselves.
As for security, I think any choice you make is a risk for breaking glass and breaking in, no matter how many locks of what type it has.
Vetter was never the kind of operation that Andersen and Marvin have been. As an architect, I never specified them. Pella made the mistake a number of years ago of cheapening their product and it cost them some of their stellar reputation. Hurd makes a pretty good product but I am unsure if they are as well-capitalized as Andersen and Marvin. Even Velux skylights (European brand) had trouble in the beginning with flashing issues. However, I specified them for a custom house in the late Nineties and they’re still working fine according to the homeowner.
I seem to recall one of our neighbors got new windows because of a seal failure...
Yes, the Kynar finish (not really cladding but more like a paint) applied to windows peeled off and allowed moisture in, causing rotting. Not too sure about the seals but the company stepped up and made vast improvements and they also have a good dealer and contractor network.
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