Sliding Patio Doors

Generally, while frame construction and operating mechanisms are the same, you can choose between two panel styles: French and Patio (sometimes called contemporary).  The Patio style is shown in the adjacent picture.

French-style sliding doors sport wider rails (horizontal frame parts) and stiles (vertical frame parts) and therefore have a smaller overall glass area.  The bottom rail is taller than the top.  And to add some confusion, some manufacturers offer a mid-rail option which splits the glazing into upper and lower pieces.  Grilles or muntins which divide the glass into panes are not a requisite part of the French style, though they are often thought to be.  The style often shows-off these wider panel parts with pine or more exotic wood species, beautifully stained.

Patio doors have smaller, uniformly-sized rails and stiles; taller, wider glass areas; and prices lower than the French style. The interior frame can match the color of the exterior, be a factory-applied neutral color (white is typical), or be a wood surface, ready to stain and finish.