BUYERS GUIDE

A brief look into the pros & cons and different design features of patio doors.

Traditional Sliding Patio Doors

HOWEVER… ALL SLIDING PATIO DOORS SHARE THE SAME DISADVANTAGE!

The Door Does Not Fully Open!

  • Because the sliding panels must remain on the track at all times, even when fully opened, much of the opening is blocked by both the stationary and moving panels.
  • You do not get full use of the opening.
  • The view is obstructed by layers of door panel frames and screens.

Key Features

  • Main Swing Door

    Every Panoramic folding patio door comes with a master swing door at one end. This door serves as the primary access in and out. As most of the time, you will be using your door with the rest of the panels in the secured position having the main swing door is both convenient and practical.

  • Bottom Track Supported

    Avoid major header construction with our bottom track supported system. Traditional bi-fold patio doors stress your top support beam with hundreds or thousands of pounds of weight. This added weight often requires a completely new header to be installed. Not so with a Panoramic Door.

  • Variable Panel Placement

    With independently operation panels, you can move them to the optimal position to suit your needs at the moment. You can move them all together, or space them out over the span of the opening to manage airflow.

  • Clean and Elegant

    It was important to us that our doors be modern in both design and look. By hiding all the locks and hinges inside the panels and frame, we can offer a clean and elegant door system. And, unlike hinged bifold doors, the Panoramic folding patio door does not require shoot bolts and pull handles.

  • Magnaline Hardware™

    The patented Magnaline™ Hardware utilizes permanent magnetic attraction to hold the sliding panels off the wheels to allow it to swing open. This unique design is the secret to the way the Panoramic folding patio operates and why we call it a “slide-and-fold” patio door.

  • Tongue & Groove Interlocking Panels

    A second patented feature of the Panoramic Door system is the tongue-and-groove interlock between the slide and fold panels. The tongue-and-groove superior security and weather rating.

  • Track Options

    Choose from a variety of track options according to your weather and design needs. Recess your track for a smooth transition from inside to outside.

  • Thermally Stable eeCore™

    eeCore™ is next-generation thermal technology. A combination of aluminum and PVC makes it possible to build a stronger, more thermally efficient door system that is suitable for all weather conditions.

The Best Solution? Not so fast…

Unlike the sliding patio door that is greatly limited on total open space, the bifold door offers a way to maximize the open area. It is for this reason they first became very popular with restaurants and stores. The bifold door offered a way to add an extra level of elegance or grandeur while helping to create an open atmosphere.

However, bifold patio doors loose many of the benefits of the sliding door and have added limitations.

  • Bifold patio doors hang from the header often requiring substantial retrofitting before installation.
  • Bifold patio doors require much more hardware to operate making the door more difficult to maintain.
  • More difficult to operate because you have of the many locks and pull handles that must be used.
  • Door panels leave the line of the track when folding. This prevents the positioning of furniture or other items near the door.
  • More space is needed on the inside and outside.
  • The operation often deteriorates over time as the panel-to-panel hinges age.
  • Expansion of the panels can cause binding.
  • Complete operation failure is a possibility.

An Innovative Approach to the Folding Patio Door

Unlike the sliding patio door that is greatly limited on total open space, the bifold door offers a way to maximize the open area. It is for this reason they first became very popular with restaurants and stores. The bifold door offered a way to add an extra level of elegance or grandeur while helping to create an open atmosphere.

  • All Panels Closed
  • All Panels Open
  • Main Swing Door Open
  • Panels Configured for Opening in Center
  • Panels configure for Opening On Both Ends
  • Panels Spaced for Dispersed Airflow

Simple and Easy to Operate

  • Open the main swing door
  • Slide adjacent panel to end and swing open
  • Continue with each panel until door system is completely open