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Patio Door Glossary

Below is a glossary of patio door terms to help answer any questions you may have about our patio doors.

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Adjustable Hinge: allows you to move the door side to side to obtain the correct margins around the door.

Astragal: a vertical member used on a French patio door to seal one door to the other. Applied to inactive panel, and can be unlatched at top and bottom, allowing both panels to open.

Brickmould: decorative moulding surrounding the exterior of the door frame.

Frame: the outside edge of the door unit surrounding the door panel. Composed of the jambs, head and sill. The frame creates the boundary of the door and works with the door panel to ensure a tight, weatherproofed home.

French Door: a patio door unit consisting of 2 door panels that hinge off both jambs, creating a large area for passage.

Glazing: the glass system used in the door.

Grilles/Muntins: decorative window dividers installed on the exterior or interior of the window or sandwiched between the glass (see GBG). Offered in variable widths.

Grilles-Between-The-Glass (GBG): grilles inserted between two pieces of glass, making the window pane easier to clean.

Handing: describes direction door opens and placement of the handle. When standing outside, look at the closed door.

If door swings in:
Handle on right = left hand door
Handle on left = right hand door

If door swings out:
Handle on right = right hand door
Handle on left = left hand door

Head: horizontal piece forming the top of the door frame.

Hinges: metal plates and pins that allow the door to swing out or in.

Jamb: an upright piece forming the side of the door frame. As an integral part of the frame, the jamb works to ensure a tight fit for the door in your home.

Mull Post: structural post between the sidelite and the door. Provides structural integrity to the door unit.

Multi-Point Locking System: locks in more than one location on the door and frame. Provides increased security and a weathertight seal.

Muntin Bars: the bars in the true divided light or grille style of patio doors.

Rails: two horizontal areas on the door panel above and below the glass or embossing.

Reinforcement Plate: steel plates (or sheets) behind the locking system designed to increase the security factor of the door. The further the lockset is from the deadbolt, the greater the resistance to forced entry.

Sill: the bottom composite member of the door frame. Composed of two pieces: the threshold and the subsill. Works to keep weather (air and water) infiltration to a minimum.

Simulated True Divided Lites (STDL): grilles attached to the interior and exterior of a window, with a bar between the window panes, to give the appearance of true divided lites.

"Slider" Door: a patio door unit consisting of 2 doors, where at least one door panel slides on a track to open.

Stiles: two vertical members of the door panel outside of the glass or embossing.

Strikeplate: Protects the jamb from the hardware latch. Covers the latch and deadbolt.

Subsill: area beneath the sill. Sometimes includes a weep system to drain water away from the home.

"Swinger" Door: a patio door unit where a single door hinges off an interior mull post or fixed panel.

Swing-in: describes a door system which opens inward, toward the home, when in operation.

Swing-out: describes a door system which opens outward, away from the home, when in operation.

Threshold: the bottom part of the door frame, i.e. the area you step on when entering or exiting through the doorway.

Transom: decorative glass piece placed above the door to accent the style and appearance of the door.

Weatherstripping: flexible material surrounding door panel to protect your home from air infiltration. Should be tight enough to create a seal when the door is closed.

Weep System: located in the sill, it channels water away from your home.