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Doors

Door types, explained honestly

Patio and entry doors are high-ticket openings with the same physics as windows (seals, frames, and glass packages) plus structural and code considerations of their own. Here's the honest map.

Sliding patio door diagram: one fixed panel, one panel gliding sideways on a track

Sliding patio door

Two or more large glass panels; at least one glides on a track.

  • Space-constrained openings onto decks and patios
  • Wide glass area per dollar

$1,680–$5,595 installed

Full guide →

French patio door diagram: two glass door panels hinged at the sides, swinging open from the center

Hinged / French patio door

One or two swinging door panels, often with divided lites.

  • Traditional aesthetics; wider clear openings when both panels open
  • Compression-sealed weathertightness

$2,240–$7,275 installed

Full guide →

Entry door diagram: a paneled door hinged at the side

Entry door

Front/side entry door systems — fiberglass, steel, or wood, often with sidelites and transoms.

  • Curb appeal and security upgrades
  • Fixing air leakage and rot at the sill/frame

$1,345–$6,715+ installed

For the full cost breakdown, including impact-rated requirements in hurricane regions and the slab-vs-system fork on entry doors, see the patio door cost guide.

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