Doors
Patio Doors
Patio doors can be found in any wall of a home, but typically introduce the user to a private area of the home’s exterior. Often comprised of panels with large glazing areas, they can be single in-swing or out-swing doors; double-active in-swing or out-swing doors; center- or side- hinged in-swing or out-swing doors mulled to stationary panels; or sliding or gliding doors. Their thresholds are higher, and their weather-stripping is highly engineered and much superior to entry door systems. Some patio doors today even slide into pockets in walls or use a bi-fold stacking system. Not all window manufacturers make all patio door styles.
Entry Doors
While entry doors and patio doors are exterior-grade appliances, and are found in the exterior walls, they differ in placement and construction. Entry doors are always found at the front entrance, garage entrance (where by building code a fire-rated assembly is required), and often at the rear of the building. They have low or flat thresholds to prevent tripping by users, compression weather-stripping to keep out the cold and wind, and until recently, only a latch-bolt with a deadbolt used in combination to secure the door into the strike jamb when closed.
French Doors
French-style panels 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 some manufacturers offer a mid-rail option which splits the glazing into upper and lower parts.
