We are adding on a dining room about 10x12. The two 12' walls will have windows on one side overlooking the yard and doors on the opposite side opening to the patio.

I originally thought sliding glass doors, 3 or 4 panel, about 8 to 9 foot. Dh doesn't like sliders, both for safety, stability, and keeping out drafts.

I'd also like to have a lifetime warranty just because I figure fogging between panes of glass that big are inevitable. But I don't know if there are any with lifetime or even long warranties.

I called a local dealer and the woman didn't even want to talk about sliders, said no one puts them in anymore. Her suggestion was French doors that open outward. Dh thinks those are too easy to break into. But it seems to me that any glass door will be easy to break into, so then it's just a matter of keeping out drafts and ease of use.

I don't really want one opening inward because of size of room doors hitting furniture.

I don't know how often this door will even be used, so all this may not be important at all. But I would like the room to be balanced, so if there are three 3 foot windows on one side, I'd like the same size windows/door on the other.

Any ideas or comments? WWYD?

If you'll even consider a slider, look at Anderson Frenchwood series. The styles and rails on those doors are big and beefy, and that's what makes for a rock solid door.

Do you have the Andersen Frenchwood? We haven't looked at any yet, just picked up a brochure for Jeld-wen at the local shop. Haven't looked at the big box stores either.

What size are yours?

You might consider the sliding doors that look like French doors.

dlm2000, that is such a pretty slider! Thanks for posting it!

Have you thought about window treatments before deciding on slider vs. inward opening French doors?

If you are planning three 36" windows why not have a door in the center flanked by full length windows. Do you really need more than a 36" opening to the deck? That way the door won't impinge on furniture arrangements as much. I would definitely have the door opening inward.

As for warranty, they have a 10 yr warranty (labor costs included for only first 2 yrs). I've only had to call Pella twice for fogging in windows and they came out and made all the repairs.
You'll have a better selection if you buy from a store specializing in windows and doors, not a big box store.

dlmw2000, your door looks great. Did it come primed? I appreciate your dh's professional opinion on that too. I always wonder what builders put in their own homes.

I haven't planned on putting any window coverings on that wall. It opens onto a patio that will be enclosed. If it bothers me though, I'll probably put curtains over it. I've seen some with blinds or shades inside but wonder how long they will work.

I just asked the contractor the other day why we didn't get one that swings out for the basement -- he told me they only make them with doors that swing in. (?)

So far, we are happy with them. We replaced our sliders with these doors -- I've never had good luck with sliders (but maybe I've never had good ones).

Here's a pic showing family room doors:

Sea

We looked at some doors today, one Andersen and some cheaper vinyl ones. I liked the way the Andersen rolled best, but didn't like the way it latched. It didn't lock tight and could still move a bit. It didn't look like dlm2000's door handle at all, and we were wondering if it was the cheaper series or if they have changed the way they made the lock.

We have 2 sets of aluminum clad, low e, argon filled sliders and a set of the same outward opening french doors, all by Eagle (now owned by Andersen, but independent when we purchased them 8 years ago). They all operate easily, close securely and have no air infiltration, we are in NNY and have wind, cold and snow and have never had a problem. While I like the look of french doors better, we chose sliders in two our of three locations because we wanted screens on the doors, we don't have or want A/C, so screens are on the doors are a must for us. The one french door we have will someday open onto a small sunroom/conservatory (hopefully), that's why we chose a set of french doors in that area.

Eagle, as well as the other well known manufacturers, have lots of options on the interior; primed, painted, stained, different wood species, hardware options, etc. We rented a house with vinyl sliders when we were building and I would not recommend them at all, they didn't work well, ice built up in the channels and the cold air poured in seemingly from the entire opening. I strongly prefer the wood interior and aluminum clad exterior, but overall I would get the best ones you can afford, good doors and windows pay for themselves in the form of lower energy costs.

Good luck-

sandyponder

hopmom - lovely doors and trim - the light in that room must be fantastic.

marti8a - almost every major window/door company has different quality lines. They sell the lower end stuff to big box stores and those likely have fewer options than what you would order through a contractor. There are hardware options, grill options, cladding options...... Hopefully you can find a quality, independent dealer in your area who handles more than one line so you can compare. Whatever style you choose, as many of us are saying, this isn't the place to bargain hunt. That doesn't mean you have to go with a huge national brand as there are sometimes smaller, local companies that make a great product - I just don't know what is available to you.

I think we're going with a six foot door and two three foot windows opposite. That should be plenty of light for a 10x12 room.

While I went to the quilt show today, dh went to 2nds & Surplus to kill time. Why he didn't want to look at quilts with a mob of women, I have no idea.

Anyway while there, he saw a door that he thought might work well. He said it looked to be 6' wide, with two side panels that were about 18" each and French doors in the center 3' area. So they could open inward and not be in the way.

The one they had was green, and behind other doors so he couldn't open the doors, so next we'd like to see one in a showroom. They were Atrium brand.