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Sliding glass doors

GW52 | Posted in Construction Techniques on December 8, 2008 10:15am

I have a question for all of you builders out there. The condo that my Mother is renting in CT, the owner, had a new sliding glass doors recently installed. When I visited her this past summer I saw that they had the sliding door was on the outside and the stationary door was on the inside. Seems to me that all of the doors that I saw, you could put a bar on the flood of the frame a block anyone trying to open the door from the outside.

She had one of the installers back in and he said that was the way they are installing them now. Seems to me that if they got a good ice storm she would not be able to open the slider because the ice would be in the track, on the other side of the heated space.

Anyone else heard of this way to install sliders?

Greg

 

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Replies

  1. cliffy | Dec 08, 2008 10:26pm | #1

    I think they were drunk

    Have a good day

    Cliffy

  2. calvin | Dec 08, 2008 10:36pm | #2

    Pella's are on the exterior.  They have an add-on lock that you can put on the bottom inside to keep it from opening.

    A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    http://www.quittintime.com/

     

    1. User avater
      Dinosaur | Dec 09, 2008 03:43am | #4

      Thanx; I'll remember not to spec Pellas for the house I'm designing this winter.

      Gawd, what a dumb idea.

      Dinosaur

      How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

    2. DaveRicheson | Dec 10, 2008 03:34pm | #5

      Is this the one you are talking about?

      http://web.pella.com/products/doors/PLslidingpatio/Pages/detailpage.aspx

      Other ones look like the are inside.

      I agree with Dinosaur, but wonder why they designed one like that.

      1. calvin | Dec 10, 2008 03:48pm | #6

        Yes, also the Designer and Architect series.  I see they have some other lines-of those not sure.

        In your picture and some here you can see the added lock on the bottom corner of the door (opposite the handle side).

        Pella door linesA Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

        Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

        http://www.quittintime.com/

         

      2. gfretwell | Dec 10, 2008 06:41pm | #7

        When I ordered my WinDoor (####-XXXP) sliders the "stack" was an option you specify. I spec'ed them with the first mover on the inside of the stack but they call that "reverse".

        1. DaveRicheson | Dec 11, 2008 12:11am | #8

          I haven't delt with Pella in over 25 years, so I was surprized when Calvin said they had one with the slider outside.

      3. user-253667 | Dec 11, 2008 12:33am | #9

        As explained to me the exterior slider gives greater energy efficiency and wind resistance ie. hurricane force.

        Stands to reason that the harder the wind blows the greater the force against the weatherstripping.

        I have installed several for fussy/nuisance clients and had not a peep out of them regarding the typical sliding door drafts.

        1. gfretwell | Dec 11, 2008 06:27am | #10

          Wind resistant doors actually hook into each other, it is not just weather strip. I am not sure about doors without a wind rating.

          1. user-253667 | Dec 12, 2008 02:16am | #11

            Vaguely seems to me that there is some sort of interlock. Would have to have a look.

            I will say that they are good quality and would certainly recommend them.

          2. AllTexBob | Dec 12, 2008 06:29am | #12

            I have never seen a slider configured that way. We do not sell Pella so maybe that is just unique to them? We sell and install Simonton and Don Young windows in Texas, including coastal wind zone (Hurricane). All of them are the way you would expect stationary on the outside, slider on the inside. I have owned 6 homes with sliders...all the same. AllTexBob http://www.alltexexteriors.com

  3. sledgehammer | Dec 09, 2008 01:47am | #3

    Wait till summer and Mom goes to shut the slider with an interior screen covered with bugs.

  4. Martha Bern | Sep 05, 2017 04:39am | #13

    Sliding glass doors

    It seems like the company installing the ysliding door at your mother's house overlooked something. It's impossible to have the doors installed that way, especially, in the location your mother lives in. Have you solved the problem already? Has it repeated or not? I've just contacted my friend, who is working in the reputable (spam link removed and this poster doesn't know what she's talking about) Having read your post, I was justed curious to find out how the glass sliding doors should be installed properly as I'm going to install the one at my house soon. She told that these doors are never installed the way you've descirbed. Hopefully, you've figured that out already, but I wish other users to know that as well. 

    1. florida | Sep 05, 2017 04:35pm | #14

      Ah martha! I knew you were going to be a spammer! 

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