Patio Doors Replacement in Regina: A Complete 2024 Guide

Patio doors are a natural choice for most homeowners renovating their houses. But while they are considered a sliding door, most patio doors are actually built very similarly to the vinyl windows you are getting. This is also why most window companies in Regina sell and install patio doors.

But what should you know about them before signing your door replacement contract? How efficient are modern patio doors? How well do they protect your home? What are standard patio door sizes?

In this ultimate guide, our expert team answers all these questions and provides valuable insights for you to feel well-informed when buying and installing new sliding doors for your house in Regina.

Patio Doors Case Studies

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What Are Patio Doors?

In simple words, patio doors are any entry units that provide access to your garden or patio from your home. A sliding glass door usually consists of two sections, one being fixed and one being operable. There are also configurations for three and four-panel patio doors on the market today.

Usually, they can accommodate any standard or custom-sized openings up to 12 feet in width. Moreover, every patio door from a reliable exterior doors company in Regina, should come with a sliding screen door.

Sliding Patio Doors: Types & Styles

Patio doors generally come in 2 main types: sliding glass doors and French doors. While the French series are just traditional garden patio doors that are hinged on the sides and open like a standard door, sliding glass doors are further divided into several styles based on the number of panels they have:

• 2-panel sliding patio doors. The most basic patio doors have 1 fixed unit and 1 operable. A classic choice for most homeowners because of their affordability, style, high energy efficiency and versatility.
• A 3-panel patio door is designed with three panels instead of the standard two. This kind of patio door has two fixed panels on either side, with the middle panel able to glide open to either the left side or the right side, but not both at once.
• For a 4-panel patio door, there are four panels in the whole unit. This design makes it possible for either the outer panels to slide towards the fixed centre panels in a way that would create two entrances on either side of the patio door or for the two centre panels to slide separately towards the fixed panels on either side. 
• Bi-fold patio doors. These unique sliding door solutions usually occupy the entire house wall and provide maximum natural light and the best views outside.

Patio doors can also be customised with 5 or 6 panels, but this is usually not the client’s ultimate choice. 

sliding patio doors

3-panel sliding patio doors

4-panel sliding patio doors

folding patio doors

french garden patio doors

Sliding Patio Doors vs. Garden Doors – What’s Better?

A big debate when it comes to replacing the door at the back of your house is whether you should get patio doors and or garden french doors.

The argument for garden doors is that they are more efficient and secure compared to sliding doors. While the materials they are made out of definitely give them an edge, that doesn’t mean pocket doors don’t meet efficiency requirements for coldest zones in our country. As we always mention, security is also something that sliding doors have caught up on. A modern patio door is nearly impossible to open without breaking the glass.

A big advantage these doors have over garden doors is that they can be left fully or partially open. Because garden doors function like a regular door, there is no screen preventing the insects from entering when the door is open. Much like a safety latch in a slider window, a kick lock in the sliding doors allows you to naturally ventilate the room while keeping the door locked in a partially opened position.

Patio Doors Replacement in Regina: Energy Efficiency

Unlike entry doors that are made of steel, fibreglass, wood and glass, modern patio doors are made from the same materials as your windows: glass and vinyl. The insulated glass unit in both a window and a patio door is the part that accounts for most of the efficiency and prevents warm air from escaping your home.

Because sliding doors have a greater glass surface area, they offer comparable efficiency levels. Modern windows and patio doors are actually designed to capture and trap warmth from the sun, in the winter time the energy loss is offset by additional heat gains your patio doors generate for the room you’re in.

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Just like the windows you buy, sliding doors should also adhere to an Energy Star rating. In North America, Energy Star outlines performance criteria for fenestration products based on climate requirements in different zones.

In order to be considered efficient in Regina, all windows must have a minimum ER rating of 34. Getting ENERGY STAR rated products ensures your windows and patio doors will keep your home warm and comfortable during the cold Saskatchewan climate.

For a full list of Energy Star rated windows and doors check out this Natural Resources Canada website.

Sliding Door Sizes in Canada

Patio doors generally come in several standard sizes, based on the width of the opening.

• If you are replacing an old door with a new one your opening is probably ready to accommodate a standard 5 or 6-foot wide door.
• If you are looking to create or enlarge an opening from an existing window, the job often requires walls to be cut, which can add significantly to the cost of your replacement.

To match your budget and complete the work efficiently, most sliding door companies in Regina recommend that the patio door you get is the same size as your existing ones. Take a look at the table below to find the most common standards for patio door replacement:

Sliding Glass Doors and Home Safety

Traditionally, patio doors had one big disadvantage: they didn’t offer much in terms of security. Of course, with a glass door you not only run the risk of a quick break-in, but a potential crook can also see whether anyone is at home or even the room they’re going to target. Old rolling doors were also easy to pop off the track, rendering them useless.

As the window industry in North America began adapting and advancing the vinyl technology, a lot of smart features got invented and put in place into patio doors as well.

Today, any sliding door can come with one or several of these additional security features:

• Key Lock
• Kick Lock
• Security Bar
• Patio Door Handle with Lock
• Double Mortise Lock
• Nightlock
• Bolt Lock

Although a key lock is one of the more popular choices for sliding door security, it isn’t always offered as a standard feature. If you are getting a patio door with your window order, be sure to clarify exactly what features it comes with.

Cost of Sliding Glass Doors in Regina

Sliding glass doors prices can range between 1500-3500$ for a standard patio door based on the features and additional upgrades you might want to consider.

Expanding the opening to accommodate a bigger size door can add significantly to the cost of your replacement. It is also possible to manufacture custom sized patio door, but again the price becomes much higher than with the standard option.

Even if you are considering a cut-out or expanding a window, in the interest of saving some money, consider getting a standard size patio door.

You can also use our patio door replacement calculator online to check the approximate price ranges for the model you choose in Regina, based on the specific features and options you want to equip your new sliding glass doors with. Please note that give price ranges are not precise.

Check out these window and door replacement articles:
Learn about our selection of patio doors
Find out how to price your replacement project
Check out some of our past projects