Patio Door replacement

[2122]

Crappy patio doors suck. So if anyone still makes a really good, solid one, I'd pay up for it. And then hire an installer who has installed many a door.

We have old metal Rusco doors and windows on our 1950's porch. The things are still going strong. Great quality, made to last. But I don't think they are around anymore. The Larson doors made here around Albert Lea suck. They'll lose their squareness, start sagging and not closing properly

 

[Srohen]

I replaced a similar door last year with a basic sliding unit from Pella, and the install ran about the same as the door cost. Local companies sometimes beat the big brands if you’re not picky about bells and whistles. Curious if you ended up going French door again or switched to a slider.

 

[Srohen]

I ran into a similar situation on a renovation project and switching to hardware built for long-term stability made a big difference. I ended up using pieces I found through www.jit-homes.com because their glass fittings and sliding systems felt sturdy and blended in nicely without messing with the look of the space. If you need something that won’t warp or loosen over time, their range is worth a look.

 

[Pope]

Just got an estimate to replace our sliding door to our deck. The estimate was $4800. It included a Pella 150 door (which is a very average vinyl clad door and which I can buy at Home Depot for $538) plus replacing all the interior and exterior trim. So the labor ends up being around $4000.

I've decided I'm going to try to save the $4k and do the replacement myself. I've picked out a Masterpiece composite sliding door that Home Depot sells for $798. It has a lifetime warranty, stainless steel rollers, and won't ever rot.

My challenge is the sucker weighs 240 pounds and we live in a split foyer so the deck is 7 or 8 feet off the ground. The deck stairs have a very tight turn, so it's impossible to carry the door up those stairs, and the route through the stairs in our house also includes tight turns.

I'm thinking about removing the railing on the short side of my deck (just requires taking several screws out), making a crude ramp, and then sliding the door up onto the deck. If anyone has a better suggestion, please let me know!