Patio and sliding door replacement, Duncan to Qualicum Beach
The door that sticks, drips at the sill in a southeaster, or lets the cold in at the latch. We replace it with a Thermoproof door, built in Cobble Hill, that glides on one finger and seals when you close it.
Signs the door is done
- You lift or shoulder it to get it moving, or it jumps the track
- Water on the floor inside after wind-driven rain
- Daylight or a draft at the latch side or along the bottom
- Fog or water between the panes, which won't clear
- Condensation pooling on the bottom rail every winter morning
- The lock doesn't catch, or you've added a stick in the track to feel secure
Rollers and tracks can sometimes be serviced. A fogged unit, a warped sash or a sill that leaks means the door itself is finished, and a new roller won't change that.
Which door for which opening
Sliding patio doors
The standard replacement for a standard opening. No swing room needed, the biggest glass for the width, and the screen stays. Two, three and four panel configurations for wider openings. Modern sliders run on heavy-duty rollers and lock at multiple points, which is a different experience from a 1980s aluminum door.
French and swing doors
Two doors that both open, or one that opens with a fixed panel beside it. More traditional, a wider clear opening when both doors are open, and the better choice when the room needs a proper door rather than a wall of glass. Needs swing room inside or out.
Folding doors
Several panels that fold back to one side and open the whole wall to the deck. The showpiece option for a view or a big outdoor space, and the one that takes the most planning for sill height, drainage and the wall it folds against.
What we check at the measure
- The sill and the framing under it, with a moisture probe. Patio doors sit lower than windows and take more water, so this is where rot hides
- Whether the opening is square, and how far out it is
- Swing room, deck height and step-down, and where the screen will live
- Which way the active panel should slide for the way you use the room
- Glass: Low-E for the south and west walls, laminated if the door faces a road
Then every door on your quote gets its own line, with its energy rating and whether it qualifies for the Home Renovation Rebate. Doors and windows go in the same visit when you want the whole house done at once.
Made 40 minutes down the highway
Thermoproof has built windows and doors in Cobble Hill since 1977, with patio and folding door systems in the same frame materials as its windows: uPVC, uPVC-aluminum hybrid and thermally broken aluminum. Short lead times, and if a roller or a lock ever needs attention, the factory is a local call. More on the Thermoproof page.
FAQ
Common questions
How much does patio door replacement cost?
It depends on the size of the opening, the door type, the glass, and whether the old frame comes out. A sliding door in a standard opening is the lower end; a folding door across a wide opening is the top. We price it line by line after the free measure. For a rough idea first, measure the opening and send it through the online estimate; a person replies with a ballpark within one business day.
How long does it take to replace a patio door?
Most patio doors are out and in within a day, and the opening is never left open overnight. If the sill or framing under the old door has rotted, the repair adds time, and you'll know that from the measure, before anything is ordered.
Can you replace a sliding door with French doors?
Often, yes. A sliding door opening usually suits a pair of French doors or a swing door with a fixed side panel. The question is swing room inside and out, and we look at that at the measure.
Do patio doors qualify for the BC rebate?
Program-qualified doors count toward the Home Renovation Rebate at the same rate as windows, up to the program's limit on openings. We confirm which doors on your quote qualify before you order; you submit the claim.
Why does my sliding door stick?
Worn rollers, a bent or dirty track, a frame that has shifted, or a sash that has dropped. Rollers and tracks can sometimes be fixed. A warped sash, fogged glass or a frame that leaks at the sill usually means the door has reached the end of its life.