Replies

1. 
   JTC1 | Jan 06, 2010 08:48am | #1

   I have an Andersen Frenchwood which has been in service for about 6 years. Works beautifully.

   Mine is vinyl clad on the exterior and stain / poly finished on the interior. Check catalog options with dealer.

   I did stain and poly before installation - doors + grilles + some other components that show when installed. Easier for me as I am a lousy / messy painter and I could easily visualize the pecan stain on the already-installed WW carpet.....

   Jim

1. 
   Sunburst1 | Jan 06, 2010 06:15pm | #3

   I know some of Andersons I've
   I know some of Andersons I've installed in the past were vinyl clad exterior with pine interior. Now the Frenchwood sliders aren't vinyl clad, they now have a urethane finish exterior that other contractors have told me ends up flaking off over time. I recommended an Anderson to the customer, but now I'm not sure. I priced a Pella which is aluminum clad exterior but it was around $3000. Ouch. Thanks for the replys.

1. 
   rexwoodman | Apr 23, 2011 04:55pm | #10

   I need to purchase a replacement 5' slider

   Did a search for my Q and came across this thread...

   It sure seems tough to tease out the best manufacturer for the buck for patio sliders.  I have a 5' slider I need to replace...in our bedroom overlooking a pond.  Great view, so I want to maximize the glass, minimize the frame width.  I looked at Andersen Frenchwood... lot's of wood (thick stiles and rails) and pricey ($1320) or so.  Hate to spend that much... we might move next year, might not.  I also got a price for their 200 series PermaShield line... for $1200- not much less.  I think that's vinyl clad int and ext.  I looked at Pella at Lowe's for $500...it's a custom order b/c it's a  5 footer. 

   Here's what I'd like to have in a slider:  Energy Star rated, low E glass, vinyl exterior clad (durability, low maintenance), screen. 

   The patio faces north and privacy with neighbors is a slight issue.  Was wondering if we should look into blinds in between glass, high reflective coating on outside glass, etc. 

   I hear it's better to buy a slider for new construction rather than "replacement".  Any suggestions regarding this?

    Any ideas out there? 

   Thanks.

1. 
   calvin | Apr 23, 2011 07:01pm | #11

   Bill

   My first consideration when called about replacing a slider is the size of opening I have to work with, exterior siding detail, interior if wall paper or they refuse to paint out the wall because of a size discrepancy.

   Sise of opening is usually the key.

   You'll find the unit sizes of all sliders are different.  You can limit your choices if you do not want/can't change the opening dimensions.

   Andersen has a few different options for stile and rail widths.  They are not all wide.

   Pella proline-cheaper than their other options.

   Companies like Therma-tru are another option.  So is Marvin.  Several others I have no experience with.

   Install a pan on the bottom of the opening-either a metal, plastic or formed with a peel and stick flashing.

2. 
   DanH | Jan 06, 2010 10:08am | #2

   Can't give you much advice,
   Can't give you much advice, since we've not yet needed to replace our 33-year-old Andersen.

1. 
   Mike_Mills | Jan 06, 2010 11:51pm | #4

   I have five Andersen 400 Series Frenchwood gliding patio doors in my back yard right now. I bought mine as a "kit" (disassembled jamb). I assembled the jambs and installed them in the rough openings just last weekend. They went together easily and installed beautifully. I am waiting for this weekend for the glass panels to go in.

   I bought mine at Home Depot. They came a few days earlier than planned (just short of six weeks) but I'm not complaining. IIRC, they were on sale for about $900 each but are normally about $1500.

   They were actually fun to install as there were ZERO problems with the doors or the openings.

   Here's a link to the Andersen web site.

   http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/AWProductCategory/awProductCategoryList/AWProductCategory/1136264482563/1102951372828

1. 
   Mike_Mills | Jan 08, 2010 01:38am | #5

   P.S. - The door jambs are, absolutely, vinyl clad.

   The interior of the door is unfinished, clear pine. I'm not sure what the exterior of the door, itself, is finished in. I thought it, too, was vinyl clad. Whatever it is, it's well done. They are still boxed. When I get hem out I can get a much better look.

1. 
   Mike_Mills | Jan 09, 2010 08:35pm | #6

   The exterior of the sliding doors are not vinyl clad. They have some sort of surface coating on them. Let's call it paint, however, it is fairly think, fairly hard and looks to be quite durable. If this stuff flakes off, I'd immediately call Andersen and file a warranty claim.

   As stated above, the jambs are vinyl clad wood.

   After all the hard work getting ready, the doors have been a dream. They came when scheduled. They are exactly right. They basically dropped right in. The jambs, doors and locks were just this side of perfect. I spent more time caulking the joints than I did installing the jambs.

   I am a happy camper now.

   I hope this helps in some way.

1. 
   Sunburst1 | Jan 10, 2010 04:24am | #7

   Thanks for the replys. I'm
   Thanks for the replys. I'm more comfortable recommending Anderson to the homeowner now.

3. 
   rnsykes | Jan 12, 2010 09:35am | #8

   I just installed an Anderson glider a few weeks ago. It was a frenchwood (400) series. It was ordered white exterior/white interior. The exterior is clad with phenolic, and I believe the interior was a urethane coating. You can still see the grain on the interior, so you can tell it's not clad, just coated. The jambs are wood clad with the phenolic. You assemble the jambs with the provided screws and seal them with silicone which is also provided. The sill is extremely rigid. They are very well made. I do believe that the 200 series or the narrow like are just coated on the exterior. Atleast thats how the windows are. I'm very happy with all of the Anderson's I've installed. They have all been 400 series gliders though. I've also heard good things about the Pella's. I think their operating panel slides on the exterior which supposedly seals better since any wind blowing on it will push it tighter into the weather stripping, but I've never had a reason to switch from the Andersons.

1. 
   Mike_Mills | Jan 12, 2010 11:54pm | #9

   The Pella's I saw at Lowe's
   The Pella's I saw at Lowe's were so piss poor quality I would not even consider buying them for myself. If I were a pro, I'd be embarrased to offer them. Perhaps you saw a higher quality unit than the one I saw.