Andersen calls its traditional sliding patio doors gliding patio doors. Instead of swinging into a room or onto a patio, one or more door panels move horizontally, making this style especially useful when homeowners want broad glass areas and convenient outdoor access without sacrificing nearby floor, deck or patio space.
For Hampton Roads homeowners, Andersen offers several gliding patio door choices with meaningful differences in materials, frame profiles, configurations and design flexibility. Better View Windows & More can help compare those options based on the opening, the home’s architecture and how the adjoining indoor and outdoor spaces are used.
What Is an Andersen Sliding Patio Door?
A sliding—or gliding—patio door opens horizontally along its frame. A typical two-panel configuration combines an operating panel with a stationary panel, although selected Andersen products can support additional panels and wider arrangements.
The operating style gives sliding patio doors three practical advantages: they do not require swing clearance, they can provide expansive glass area, and their clean horizontal operation works naturally with both contemporary and traditional homes depending on the series selected.
Andersen Sliding Patio Door Series
Andersen’s core gliding patio door lineup includes 100 Series, two distinct 200 Series products, 400 Series, A-Series and E-Series. Each occupies a different place in the lineup rather than simply offering the same door at a different price point.
For a detailed side-by-side comparison of these products, see our Andersen Sliding Patio Door Series & Product Options guide.
100 Series Gliding Patio Door
The 100 Series gliding patio door is made with Andersen’s Fibrex® composite material and is positioned as a low-maintenance, budget-friendly sliding option. Its contemporary styling and composite construction make it a natural fit for homeowners who want a straightforward sliding patio door without a natural-wood interior.
- Fibrex composite interior and exterior
- Contemporary appearance
- One operating panel and one stationary panel in standard configurations
- Standard heights include 6’8″, 6’11” and 8′
- Five exterior colors and four interior colors
200 Series Narroline® Gliding Patio Door
The 200 Series Narroline gliding patio door combines a natural-wood interior with a vinyl-protected exterior and a comparatively narrow frame profile designed to maximize the glass area and view. Andersen offers it in two- and four-panel configurations, making it useful when a homeowner wants a contemporary appearance with more configuration flexibility than a basic two-panel slider.
- Wood interior with vinyl-protected exterior
- Narrow-frame, contemporary design
- Two- and four-panel configurations
- Standard heights include 6’8″, 6’11” and 8′
- Six exterior colors and six interior options
200 Series Perma-Shield® Gliding Patio Door
The 200 Series Perma-Shield gliding patio door takes a different approach. Its wood core is protected by rigid vinyl on both the interior and exterior, creating a low-maintenance surface and a sleek contemporary profile. It is offered in two-panel configurations and is also available with blinds-between-the-glass.
- Wood protected by vinyl on the interior and exterior
- Contemporary profile
- Two-panel configurations
- Blinds-between-the-glass option
- Six interior and exterior color choices
400 Series Gliding Patio Door
The 400 Series Frenchwood® gliding patio door pairs the space-saving operation of a slider with a more traditional French-door-inspired appearance. It uses a natural-wood interior with a vinyl-protected exterior and is one of Andersen’s best-selling gliding patio door options.
Selected configurations can use additional stationary and operating panels, including wider four-panel arrangements. Homeowners can also choose from grille, hardware and insect-screen options, including Andersen retractable patio door screens.
- Natural-wood interior with vinyl-protected exterior
- Classic French-door-inspired styling
- Two- and four-panel possibilities depending on configuration
- Blinds-between-the-glass option
- Multiple grille, hardware and screen choices
A-Series Gliding Patio Door
A-Series gliding patio doors combine a wood interior with a fiberglass-protected exterior and are designed to complement classic architecture while also offering contemporary panel styles. The series supports broader configuration choices, including three- and four-panel arrangements and standard heights up to 10 feet.
For applicable coastal projects, A-Series patio doors can also be ordered with Andersen Stormwatch® impact-resistant protection.
- Wood interior with fiberglass-protected exterior
- Traditional and contemporary panel styles
- Two-, three- and four-panel configurations depending on size
- Blinds-between-the-glass option
- Stormwatch impact-resistant options on applicable products
E-Series Gliding Patio Door
E-Series is Andersen’s most customizable core gliding patio door family. It combines wood interiors with aluminum-protected exteriors and offers extensive choices for exterior color, interior wood species and stains. Andersen currently lists 50 standard exterior colors, nine interior wood species and 11 stain choices.
The series can support classic or contemporary designs and wider architectural compositions using operating doors, stationary panels and coordinated windows. Stormwatch impact-resistant protection is available on applicable E-Series patio doors.
- Wood interior with aluminum exterior
- Extensive exterior color selection
- Multiple interior wood species and stain choices
- Classic and contemporary design options
- Stormwatch impact-resistant options on applicable products
Why Choose a Sliding Patio Door?
Save Interior and Exterior Space
Because the operating panel moves along the frame, a gliding door does not need the clear floor area required by a hinged door. That can make it especially practical near dining areas, furniture, balconies, decks and smaller patios.
Create a Larger Glass Area
Sliding patio doors devote much of the opening to glass. That can increase daylight and maintain a stronger visual connection between the home and outdoor areas, even when the door is closed.
Support Contemporary or Traditional Design
Sliding operation does not limit a homeowner to one architectural look. The 100 and 200 Series lean toward cleaner contemporary profiles, while the 400 Series offers a more traditional French-door-inspired appearance. A-Series and E-Series broaden the design range further.
Sliding Patio Door Configurations
Configuration availability varies by series and size. A two-panel door is the familiar arrangement, but selected Andersen gliding doors can incorporate additional operating or stationary panels. Wider configurations can create a larger wall of glass or a centered, bi-parting opening.
Homeowners should compare configuration and rough-opening requirements before choosing a series. The best layout depends on available wall width, desired clear opening, traffic flow and whether the goal is a standard patio connection or a more expansive architectural feature.
Glass and Energy-Efficiency Options
Andersen offers multiple Low-E glass packages for gliding patio doors. Available glass varies by series and can include options designed for different solar-heat-gain, daylight and energy-performance priorities. Triple-pane glass is available on applicable 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series and E-Series gliding patio doors.
All Andersen patio-door glass options identified in the current comparison materials are tempered. The right glass package should be selected for the specific door, orientation and project requirements rather than treating every Low-E option as interchangeable.
Blinds-Between-the-Glass
Blinds-between-the-glass provide adjustable privacy and light control while keeping the blinds protected inside the glass assembly. Andersen offers this feature on applicable gliding patio doors, including the 200 Series Perma-Shield, 400 Series and A-Series.
Because the blinds are enclosed, they do not collect ordinary household dust and use a cordless design. They are also a permanent part of the glass assembly, so homeowners should decide whether they want this feature before ordering the door.
Hardware and Security Features
Hardware styles and finishes vary by product series, allowing the door to coordinate with interior finishes and the overall architectural style. Andersen also offers exterior keyed locks on its patio doors and an auxiliary foot lock for sliding doors. The foot lock provides an additional measure of security by helping hold the operating panel in position when the door is locked.
For a broader look at customization, see our guide to Andersen door colors, hardware and design options.
Insect Screen Options
A screen can preserve ventilation while limiting insects when the patio door is open. Screen availability varies by product and configuration. Andersen offers conventional gliding screens as well as retractable patio door screens on applicable products. A retractable screen remains out of sight when it is not being used, helping preserve the view through the door.
Our guide to Andersen screen doors and retractable screens explains the available patio-door screen options in more detail.
Sliding Patio Doors for Coastal Hampton Roads Homes
Some Hampton Roads homes may require or benefit from additional consideration for wind and wind-borne debris exposure. Andersen offers Stormwatch impact-resistant protection on applicable A-Series and E-Series patio doors. These configurations use laminated glass and additional product features intended for coastal applications.
Impact ratings and code requirements depend on the specific product, size, configuration and project location. Better View can help homeowners identify which available Andersen products should be considered for a particular opening.
Sliding vs. Hinged Patio Doors
The most important functional difference is how the door opens. A sliding patio door stays within the plane of the opening, preserving usable space on both sides. A hinged or French patio door swings inward or outward depending on the product and configuration.
Sliding doors are often the stronger choice when space is limited or when homeowners want broad uninterrupted glass. Hinged doors can be preferable when a traditional entry-door feel or French-door appearance is the priority. Neither style is universally better—the room layout and design goals should drive the decision.
Homeowners considering both operating styles can compare them in our broader Andersen Patio Doors: Styles, Series & Options guide. For more detail specifically on the alternative to sliding doors, explore Andersen French and hinged patio doors.
Standard Sliding Patio Doors vs. Andersen Big Doors
Andersen’s 100, 200, 400, A-Series and E-Series gliding patio doors cover a wide range of conventional residential patio-door applications. Andersen also offers Big Door systems for projects where the opening itself becomes a much larger architectural feature.
MultiGlide uses multiple sliding panels that can stack or pocket, while Liftslide supports exceptionally large panels and more customized configurations. Homeowners considering an expansive moving glass wall can explore these systems in our guide to Andersen Big Doors and moving glass walls.
How to Choose an Andersen Sliding Patio Door
- Start with the available opening and desired door configuration.
- Decide whether a composite appearance or natural-wood interior better fits the home.
- Compare contemporary versus traditional frame and panel styling.
- Consider glass, privacy, grille, hardware and screen preferences.
- Identify whether coastal or impact-resistant performance is relevant to the project.
- Compare the appropriate Andersen series rather than selecting on series name alone.
Better View Windows & More can help homeowners compare Andersen gliding patio doors in the context of the actual opening and installation. Visiting the Better View showroom in Virginia Beach can also make it easier to compare materials, operation and design choices before making a final selection.
Andersen Sliding Patio Door FAQs
What does Andersen call sliding patio doors?
Andersen commonly calls traditional sliding patio doors gliding patio doors. The panels move horizontally rather than swinging inward or outward.
Which Andersen series have sliding patio doors?
Andersen’s core gliding patio door lineup includes 100 Series, 200 Series Narroline, 200 Series Perma-Shield, 400 Series, A-Series and E-Series.
Which Andersen sliding patio door has the narrowest frame?
Andersen identifies the 200 Series Narroline gliding patio door as its thinnest-frame option.
Which Andersen sliding patio door is the most customizable?
Andersen identifies E-Series as its most customizable gliding patio door, with extensive exterior colors, interior wood species and stain choices.
Can Andersen sliding patio doors have triple-pane glass?
Yes. Triple-pane glass is available on applicable 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series and E-Series gliding patio doors.
Does Andersen offer impact-resistant sliding patio doors?
Yes. Stormwatch impact-resistant protection is available on applicable A-Series and E-Series patio doors.
Can Andersen sliding patio doors have blinds between the glass?
Yes. Blinds-between-the-glass are available on selected gliding patio doors, including applicable 200 Series Perma-Shield, 400 Series and A-Series products.
Are Andersen sliding patio doors good for tight spaces?
They can be. Because the door panels slide rather than swing, they do not require the same interior or exterior clearance as a hinged patio door.
Explore Andersen Sliding Patio Doors with Better View
Better View Windows & More helps homeowners throughout Hampton Roads compare Andersen sliding patio door styles, series, materials and design options. The goal is to select a door that fits the opening, complements the home and works naturally with the way the indoor and outdoor spaces are used.
Schedule a consultation or call Better View Windows & More at 757-689-6210.