Knowing sills from stiles can be very helpful when planning for a patio door replacement. Today’s exterior doors are more than just pieces of frame and glass attached to hinges or tracks. Understanding how the parts work together will let you make informed decisions when going through door options. Here’s a list of the parts of an exterior door.
-
Frame – The door frame is the outer structure that holds the door panels and is the part that attaches to the wall opening. The term “frame” is sometimes used interchangeably with door panels, especially when discussing materials. Traditionally made of wood, our own replacement patio doors ensure better energy efficiency and long-term performance.
-
Stiles and rails – These are the continuous vertical and horizontal supports, respectively, that serve as the skeleton of the door panel.
-
Sill – This is the bottom part of the door frame where the unit rests on when closed. It also acts as part of the door weatherstripping. It’s important that the sill is insulated; otherwise, it will contribute to thermal loss.
-
Bottom sweep – The bottom sweep is the barrier at the lower part of the door panel. It is made of flexible material like rubber or brush. It protects against air leakage, drafts, and dust. Some sliding door designs have a similar mechanism incorporated into the rails.
-
Weatherstripping – This is a flexible gasket-like seal around the door frame that helps prevent water intrusion when the door is closed.
-
Panels and glazing – Panels comprise the middle section of a solid door, held in place by stiles and rails. French doors and gliding patio doors more often than not have glazing on this part. Our patio doors feature High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass options as glazing.
-
Core – Solid entry doors have the area under the panel filled with a foam core or other kind of insulation.
-
Side lites and transom – Side lights or lites are vertical windows installed along the sides of the door frame for illumination or security. Transoms span the top side of an interior door. You can use them for ventilation as well as natural lighting.
If you’re looking for high-quality sliding and hinged patio doors that will last long, you can turn to options from Renewal by Andersen® of Seattle. Our options ensure energy savings, curb appeal, and indoor comfort all year long. We’ll be happy to install them in Seattle homes.
Call us today at (206) 777-0954 to learn more about patio doors. You can also fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.