Andersen sliding patio doors

Renewal by Andersen Glass Performance Options

Each glass option offers four unique benefits for heating, cooling, visible light transfer and ultra violet (UV) protection. The glass solution for you depends on the climate you live in, the architectural design of your home, and the orientation of your windows to the sun.

High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass 

• 45% more energy-efficient in winter*
• 56% more efficient in summer*
• Blocks 84% of UV rays that can damage your drapes, artwork and furniture

High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass

SmartSun™ is our most energy efficient glass option. It has our highest efficiency rating in cool weather and is exceptional in hot climates where solar heat gain can lead to excessive air conditioning expense. SmartSun™ glass lets in almost as much natural daylight as clear glass.

• 45% more energy-efficient in winter*
• 70% more efficient in summer*
• Blocks 95% of harmful UV rays 

High-Performance™ Low-E4® Sun glass

Sun glass has our highest rating against solar heat gain coming through your window to help keep your home cooler in warm weather. A tint coating reduces the amount of visible light and sunshine streaming in from the outside.

• Highest rating against solar heat gain
• Keeps your home cooler in warm weather
• Includes a tint coating to reduce visible light

Our High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass is also available in four pattern options: Obscure Pattern, Reed Pattern, Cascade Pattern and Fern Pattern. We also offer tempered glass options, heat-treated to be at least four times stronger than regular glass.

Price

E-Series

$$$$$

A-Series

$$$$

Series

$$$

Series Narroline®

$$

Series Perma-Shield®

$$

Series

$

Material

E-Series

Wood Interior
Aluminum Exterior

A-Series

Wood Interior
Fiberglass Exterior

Series

Series Narroline®

Wood Interior
Vinyl Exterior

Series Perma-Shield®

Wood & Vinyl Interior
Vinyl Exterior

Series

Fibrex® Composite
Interior & Exterior

Standard Heights

E-Series

6'8", 6'10" and 8'

A-Series

6'8", 6'11", 8' and 10'

Series

6'8", 6'11" and 8'

Series Narroline®

6'8", 6'11", and 8'

Series Perma-Shield®

6'8", 6'11", and 8'

Series

6'8", 6'11" and 8'

Standard Widths

E-Series

A-Series

Single panel: 2'9", 3'3", 3'9"and 4'3"
2-panel: 5', 6', 7' and 8' 
3- or 4-panel: 9'10", 11'10" and 15'10"

Series

Single panel: 2'8 3/4", 3'2 3/4"
and 4'2 3/4"  
2-panel: 5', 6' and 8' 
4-panel: 9'9 3/4", 11'9 3/4"
and 15'9 3/4"

Series Narroline®

Single panel: 2'9", 3'3" and 4'3"
2-panel: 5', 6' and 8' 
4-panel: 9'10", 11'10" and 15'10"

Series Perma-Shield®

Single panel: 3'3 1/8" and 4'3 1/8"
2-panel: 5', 5'11 1/4", 6'0 3/4" and 8'0 3/4"

Series

5', 6' and 8'

Custom Sizes

E-Series

Available in 1/8" increments

A-Series

Available in 1/8" increments

Series

Available in 1/8" increments

Series Narroline®

Available in 1/8" increments

Series Perma-Shield®

Available in 1/8" increments

Series

Available in 1/8" increments

Interior Colors

E-Series

A-Series

Series

Series Narroline®

Series Perma-Shield®

Series

Interior Wood Species

E-Series

A-Series

Series

Series Narroline®

Series Perma-Shield®

Not Available

Series

Not Available

Interior Wood Finishes

E-Series

 

A-Series

Series

Not Available

Series Narroline®

Not Available

Series Perma-Shield®

Not Available

Series

Not Available

Exterior Colors

E-Series

A-Series

Series

Series Narroline®

Series Perma-Shield®

Series

Glass Options

E-Series

A-Series

Low-E4®
Low-E4® Sun 
Low-E4® SmartSun™
Low-E4® PassiveSun®
Triple-Pane
Dual-Pane

Series

Series Narroline®

Low-E4®
Low-E4® Sun 
Low-E4® SmartSun™ 
Low-E4® PassiveSun®
Dual-Pane

Series Perma-Shield®

Low-E4®
Low-E4® Sun
Low-E4® SmartSun™ 
Dual-Pane

Series

Low-E4®
Low-E4® SmartSun™
Low-E4® Sun
Dual-Pane

Additional Options

E-Series

Blinds-Between-the-Glass

A-Series

Blinds-Between-the-Glass

Series

Blinds-Between-the-Glass

Series Narroline®

Series Perma-Shield®

Blinds-Between-the-Glass

Series

Customize Your Own

E-Series

Design This Door

A-Series

Design This Door

Series

Design This Door

Series Narroline®

Design This Door

Series Perma-Shield®

Design This Door

Series

Design This Door

Renewal by Andersen Glass Performance Options

Each glass option offers four unique benefits for heating, cooling, visible light transfer and ultra violet (UV) protection. The glass solution for you depends on the climate you live in, the architectural design of your home, and the orientation of your windows to the sun.

High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass 

• 45% more energy-efficient in winter*
• 56% more efficient in summer*
• Blocks 84% of UV rays that can damage your drapes, artwork and furniture

High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass

SmartSun™ is our most energy efficient glass option. It has our highest efficiency rating in cool weather and is exceptional in hot climates where solar heat gain can lead to excessive air conditioning expense. SmartSun™ glass lets in almost as much natural daylight as clear glass.

• 45% more energy-efficient in winter*
• 70% more efficient in summer*
• Blocks 95% of harmful UV rays 

High-Performance™ Low-E4® Sun glass

Sun glass has our highest rating against solar heat gain coming through your window to help keep your home cooler in warm weather. A tint coating reduces the amount of visible light and sunshine streaming in from the outside.

• Highest rating against solar heat gain
• Keeps your home cooler in warm weather
• Includes a tint coating to reduce visible light

Our High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass is also available in four pattern options: Obscure Pattern, Reed Pattern, Cascade Pattern and Fern Pattern. We also offer tempered glass options, heat-treated to be at least four times stronger than regular glass.

Andersen is one of the biggest manufacturers of windows and doors in North America, and one of the most recognized & trusted brands among homeowners and builders. They offer multiple window and door series for use in residential and commercial projects. In this post, we’re going to dive deep into the differences between the and series, including: 

The Series offers two sliding door options and the Series offers one. To view the product details of each of these products, use the links below.

Andersen Series Patio Doors

Series Perma-Shield® Gliding Patio Door

Series Narroline® Gliding Patio Door

Andersen Series

Series Frenchwood Gliding Patio Doors

Sliding Patio Doors: Andersen Series vs Series

Andersen calls their sliding glass doors ‘gliding doors’ and they offer six options, we’ll describe three of them below.

Andersen Patio Door Materials & Finishes

The frames for the patio doors in each of these series are composed of wood and vinyl materials. Both materials are great for homeowners who value energy efficiency.

Andersen Series Perma-Shield® door frames have a wood core and a vinyl surface. The vinyl surface protects the wood core from exterior elements and creates a low-maintenance door. Wood doors (and windows and siding) require more maintenance to prevent wood rot and swelling.

^{Series Perma-Shield Interior and Exterior Finishes}

Andersen Series Narroline®and Series Frenchwooddoor frames are made with wood interiors and vinyl exteriors. The vinyl cladding protects the wood interior from outside elements like water and insects. This door option is great for homeowners that like the look of wood building products. The interior for both series is available in unfinished wood veneers or pre-finished with white paint.

The Series Narroline gliding door offers more exterior color options but the Series Frenchwood offers more wood interior options.

^{Series Narroline Interior and Exterior Finishes}

^{Series Frenchwood Gliding Interior and Exterior Finishes}

Andersen Patio Door Hardware

Each of these three series featured offers the same options for hardware colors, styles, and additional security options such as an exterior keyed lock and auxiliary foot lock.

^{Andersen & Series Hardware Colors and Styles}

^{Andersen & Series Hardware Additional Options}

Andersen Patio Door Grilles

For homeowners who like the look of grilles or who have grilles on their windows and want the glass on new patio doors to match, Andersen has lots of pattern options.

The difference between options for Series and Series is that you can have custom patterns designed for the grilles on your Series patio door but not the Series. For homeowners who want Full Divided Light grilles, this option is only available on the Series.

Grilles are an optional aesthetic element on glass and windows with them are just as energy-efficient as those without.

Note: Grilles are sometimes referred to as grids.

Andersen Patio Door Operation

These three Andersen sliding doors operate on horizontal tracks with ball-bearing rollers. The panels also have self-contained leveling adjusters.

Andersen offers two-panel and four-panel configurations as well as individual stationary panels.

The two-panel configuration is available for all three doors while the 4-panel configuration is only available to the Series Narrolineand Series Frenchwood Gliding doors.

Andersen Patio Door Aesthetic Differences

In addition to having different color and finish options, these doors also vary by frame design and two are available with blinds between the glass.

Let’s look at the differences.

The Series Narroline Gliding Door (above) is true to its name, it has a slim frame design that maximizes glass surface.

The Series Perma-Shield (above) has a similar slim frame design but this option is wrapped entirely in vinyl cladding and offers blinds between-the-glass as an option.

The Series Frenchwood door (above) has wider stiles and a taller bottom rail giving it a french door look. This door also has optional blinds between-the-glass.

Andersen Patio Door Costs

Sliding doors are typically your most affordable patio door option but there are differences in how they are manufactured included parts, materials, construction, and customization options. When you get bids, remember to ask if the quote you receive includes the cost of installation, some contractors and remodeling companies provide all-inclusive cost but that’s not always the case.

As far as cost difference goes between the Series Narroline, Series Perma-Shield, and Series Frenchwood you’ll likely find them priced higher than a standard vinyl or composite sliding door.

For the cost of the door without installation Andersen prices both Series doors about the same while the Series sliding door is slightly more expensive. All three are priced lower than Andersen E-Series and A-Series gliding doors and higher than Andersen’s Series door.

What do we recommend?

We don’t like taking sides but we will say that Andersen’s Series Frenchwood gliding door is their most popular gliding door product. We enjoy working with Andersen products so whichever one you choose we’re sure you’ll be happy with the quality as long as it is installed properly.

Choosing a door ultimately depends on your personal preferences, especially for color or material. You’ll also want to consider whether the product you’re choosing meets the energy code in your area, an Andersen dealer can help you determine which glass package will help you meet the requirements. Each of these Andersen products will meet or exceed even ENERGY STAR® requirements in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Pricing for products like windows and doors isn’t usually readily available, especially when it comes to products that are ordered in sizes for your specific home so shop around for a few bids to get an idea of what you feel comfortable spending. Don’t feel pressured to go with the first bid you get, good companies don’t mind competition and you should feel comfortable with who you choose from start to finish.

Good luck with your project!

If you are interested in one of these doors and live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we’d love to earn your business. Give us a call or submit a contact form and we’ll give you a call to schedule a free in-home consultation for a patio door replacement.