A patio door can do much more than provide a way to the backyard. The right design can bring more natural light into a room, preserve a view, improve circulation between indoor and outdoor spaces, and reinforce the architectural style of the home. Andersen offers patio doors across several product series, giving Hampton Roads homeowners choices in operating style, materials, colors, glass, hardware and configuration.
Better View Windows & More helps homeowners compare those choices based on the opening, available space, desired appearance, ventilation, maintenance preferences and project goals. The first decision is usually whether a sliding — or, in Andersen terminology, gliding — patio door or a hinged patio door is the better fit.
Andersen Patio Door Styles
Andersen organizes its primary patio-door offerings into gliding patio doors and hinged patio doors. Both can provide large areas of glass and convenient outdoor access, but they operate differently and suit different spaces.
Gliding Patio Doors
Andersen gliding patio doors slide horizontally rather than swinging into or out of the home. Because the operating panel stays within the footprint of the door, a gliding design can be especially useful where furniture, a deck, balcony or other space constraints make a swinging door less practical.
The broad glass area and relatively simple operation also make gliding doors a natural fit for homeowners who want to emphasize outdoor views. Depending on the series, Andersen offers traditional and contemporary panel designs, multiple-panel configurations, different materials and a wide range of finish options.
French & Hinged Patio Doors
French doors are commonly associated with two glass door panels and traditional detailing, but Andersen uses the broader term hinged patio doors. Depending on the product, hinged doors can be configured with one, two or three panels, and applicable series offer inswing and/or outswing operation.
A hinged patio door can create a classic architectural look and, when multiple panels operate, a generous opening to a patio, porch or backyard. The swing path matters, however. Homeowners should consider interior furniture, exterior walking areas and the way the door will interact with the room before choosing between hinged and gliding operation.
For a closer look at this door style, explore our guide to Andersen French and hinged patio doors.
Sliding vs. Hinged Patio Doors: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Neither operating style is universally better. The right choice depends on the home and how the opening will be used.
- Available floor and patio space: Gliding doors do not require a swing area, while hinged doors need clear space in the direction they open.
- Architectural style: Hinged doors can reinforce traditional or French-inspired architecture, while gliding doors can work especially well where clean lines and expansive glass are priorities.
- Opening width and configuration: Both styles are available in multiple configurations, but the available panel arrangements vary by series.
- Ventilation and access: A hinged double-door configuration can create a wide opening, while gliding doors provide convenient access without projecting into the room or patio.
- Views and daylight: Both can provide substantial glass area. The frame and panel design of the selected series will influence the final sightlines.
Better View can help compare both operating styles in the context of the existing opening rather than choosing based on appearance alone.
Andersen Patio Door Series
Andersen patio doors are available across several established product series. The lineup is not identical for gliding and hinged doors, so it is helpful to compare the products by both series and operating style.
For a more detailed side-by-side breakdown of these product families, see our Andersen Patio Door Series & Product Options comparison.
100 Series Gliding Patio Doors
Andersen 100 Series offers a gliding patio door made with Fibrex® composite material. The series emphasizes low maintenance and a contemporary appearance, making it an option for homeowners who want a composite patio door rather than a wood-interior product. The 100 Series is currently a gliding-door offering; Andersen does not list a 100 Series hinged patio door in its primary hinged-door lineup.
200 Series Patio Doors
Andersen 200 Series provides both gliding and hinged patio-door choices, but the construction and design vary by product. Gliding options include the Perma-Shield® and Narroline® patio doors. Perma-Shield uses wood protected by vinyl on the interior and exterior, while Narroline combines a wood interior with a vinyl-protected exterior and a narrow-frame contemporary design.
The 200 Series hinged patio door provides traditional French styling with fiberglass door panels and low-maintenance exterior protection. It is designed to open into the room, which preserves exterior patio space but requires adequate interior swing clearance.
400 Series Patio Doors
The 400 Series includes both Frenchwood® gliding and Frenchwood hinged patio doors. These products combine natural wood interiors with vinyl-protected exteriors and are oriented toward homeowners who want classic styling with a broad range of design choices.
The 400 Series hinged door is available in one-, two- and three-panel configurations. Andersen also offers hardware, grille, insect-screen and glass options across applicable 400 Series patio-door configurations, allowing the door to coordinate with the home and surrounding Andersen windows.
A-Series Patio Doors
A-Series includes both gliding and hinged patio doors and is positioned around premium performance and architectural authenticity. These doors use wood interiors with protective fiberglass or Fibrex composite exterior components depending on the product.
A-Series gliding doors are available with traditional or contemporary panel styles, while A-Series hinged doors can be configured to swing in or out. The series also offers substantial flexibility in colors, hardware, grilles and sizing, making it well suited to projects where both performance and architectural detailing are priorities.
E-Series Patio Doors
E-Series offers both gliding and hinged patio doors with wood interiors protected by aluminum exteriors. This is Andersen’s most design-flexible mainstream patio-door series, with extensive exterior color choices, interior wood species and stains, hardware options and custom sizing possibilities.
For homeowners who want a patio door to function as a major architectural feature rather than simply an exterior opening, E-Series provides a high degree of customization. Traditional and contemporary design directions are available depending on the product and configuration.
A Note About Andersen Aluminum Patio Doors
Andersen also manufactures aluminum sliding and hinged doors, including products designed for larger openings. However, Andersen currently limits select Andersen Aluminum products to Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas. Because Better View serves Hampton Roads, Virginia, these products should not be treated as part of the standard local patio-door lineup unless current availability is specifically confirmed for a project.
Compare Andersen Patio Door Series
| Series | Patio Door Types | Primary Materials | General Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Series | Gliding | Fibrex composite | Low-maintenance, contemporary option |
| 200 Series | Gliding & hinged | Wood with protective vinyl; hinged construction also uses fiberglass/aluminum components | Value-oriented choices with traditional and contemporary options |
| 400 Series | Gliding & hinged | Wood interior with vinyl-protected exterior | Classic styling and broad residential appeal |
| A-Series | Gliding & hinged | Wood with protective fiberglass/Fibrex exterior components | Premium performance and architectural design |
| E-Series | Gliding & hinged | Wood interior with aluminum exterior | Highest degree of color and design customization |
Patio Door Materials
Andersen uses different materials across its patio-door series, and those differences affect appearance, maintenance and design flexibility.
Fibrex® Composite
Fibrex composite is Andersen’s proprietary composite material and is used prominently in the 100 Series. It provides a low-maintenance alternative to a traditional wood-interior patio door and supports contemporary frame profiles and dark exterior colors.
Wood
Wood remains central to many Andersen patio doors, particularly in the 200, 400, A-Series and E-Series families. Depending on the product, the interior wood can be painted, stained or left unfinished, while another material protects the exterior.
Vinyl Protection
Andersen commonly uses vinyl as protective exterior cladding over wood components rather than treating every vinyl-protected door as an all-vinyl product. This approach is used in several 200 and 400 Series patio doors.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is used as a durable, weather-resistant protective material in applicable Andersen patio doors, including A-Series products and components of the 200 Series hinged door.
Aluminum
E-Series patio doors use aluminum to protect the exterior while preserving wood on the interior. Aluminum also supports the extensive exterior color palette associated with E-Series.
Colors, Wood Finishes & Hardware
The available design choices expand as homeowners move through the Andersen series. Options can include interior and exterior colors, natural wood species, stains, painted interiors, hardware styles and finishes, and grille patterns. E-Series provides the broadest palette, while A-Series and 400 Series also offer significant opportunities to coordinate patio doors with surrounding windows and the home’s architecture.
Rather than selecting a series solely because it offers the most options, homeowners should focus on the choices that actually matter for the project. A simpler product can be the better fit when the desired color, material and operating style are already available. For more detail on these choices, see our guide to Andersen door colors, hardware and design options.
Glass & Energy-Efficiency Options
Patio doors contain a large amount of glass, so the selected glass package can meaningfully affect comfort and energy performance. Andersen offers energy-efficient glass options across its patio-door lineup, and triple-pane glass is available in applicable A-Series, E-Series, 400 Series and 200 Series products.
The best glass configuration depends on the specific door, its size, orientation and the performance goals for the home. Product-specific U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient and ENERGY STAR information should be reviewed for the exact configuration rather than assuming every door within a series performs identically.
Grilles, Screens & Other Patio Door Options
Andersen patio doors can be personalized with options that affect both appearance and everyday use. Depending on the product, choices may include grille patterns, conventional or retractable insect screens, blinds-between-the-glass, hardware finishes and additional locking options.
These details can be especially important when a patio door sits next to existing windows. Coordinating grille patterns, colors and hardware can make the new door feel intentional rather than added later.
How Do Andersen Big Doors Compare with Standard Patio Doors?
Andersen’s Big Doors address a different scale of opening than the primary 100, 200, 400, A-Series and E-Series patio-door lineup. Homeowners planning an expansive moving glass wall may want to consider systems such as MultiGlide, Liftslide or Folding Outswing in addition to conventional gliding and hinged patio doors.
Andersen MultiGlide uses multiple large sliding panels that can stack or pocket, while Andersen Liftslide supports even larger panels and highly customized configurations. Homeowners evaluating a large opening can compare the broader category in our Andersen Big Door Systems Compared guide.
Choosing an Andersen Patio Door for a Hampton Roads Home
For Hampton Roads homeowners, the best Andersen patio door is the one that fits the opening, the way the room is used and the desired balance of appearance, maintenance and performance. Better View can help compare options based on factors such as available swing space, outdoor access, views, architectural style, desired interior wood or composite materials, glass performance, colors and budget.
A homeowner replacing a straightforward sliding door may prioritize low maintenance and easy operation, while a renovation centered on indoor-outdoor living may place greater emphasis on a wider configuration, premium materials or custom design. The Andersen lineup provides options for both situations without requiring every homeowner to move into the highest-level series.
Andersen Patio Door FAQs
What is the difference between an Andersen sliding door and a gliding patio door?
They are the same general operating style. Andersen commonly uses the term “gliding patio door” for doors whose panels slide horizontally along the opening.
Does Andersen make French doors?
Yes. Andersen refers to French doors within its hinged patio-door category. Depending on the series, hinged doors are available in single-, double- and multi-panel configurations with traditional or contemporary panel styling.
Which Andersen series offer both sliding and hinged patio doors?
The current primary lineup includes both gliding and hinged patio-door options in the 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series and E-Series. The 100 Series currently offers a gliding patio door but not a primary hinged patio-door product.
Which Andersen patio door has the most customization options?
E-Series provides the broadest design flexibility among Andersen’s mainstream patio-door series, including extensive exterior colors, interior wood species, stains and custom sizing options.
Are Andersen patio doors available with triple-pane glass?
Triple-pane glass is available in applicable A-Series, E-Series, 400 Series and 200 Series patio-door products. Availability and performance depend on the specific product and configuration.
Should I choose a sliding or hinged patio door?
Choose based on the opening, available swing space, desired architectural style, ventilation and how you use the indoor and outdoor areas. Gliding doors conserve floor and patio space, while hinged doors can create a traditional look and potentially a wider clear opening in multi-panel configurations.
Can Andersen patio doors match Andersen windows?
In many cases, yes. Selecting compatible series, colors, wood finishes, grille patterns and hardware can help coordinate doors with surrounding Andersen windows. Exact options vary by series.
Can Better View help me compare Andersen patio doors?
Yes. Better View Windows & More can help Hampton Roads homeowners compare Andersen patio-door styles, series, materials, glass and design options based on the home and project requirements.
Explore Andersen Patio Door Options with Better View
A patio door is both an architectural feature and a heavily used part of the home. Better View Windows & More can help you compare Andersen gliding and hinged patio doors, understand the differences between series, and choose materials, glass and design options that fit your Hampton Roads home.
Schedule a consultation or visit the Better View showroom in Virginia Beach to discuss Andersen patio doors and the right configuration for your project.