Patio Door Hardware

Patio door hardware replacement is a non-trivial exercise because patio doors come in many different styles from so many manufacturers and there are many parts in these doors can be replaced.

Patio door hardware falls into 2 broad categories. These are door latches and patio door handles and patio door rollers. We shall look at each of these components in turn.

Patio Door Handles and Latches:

The type of door latch or patio door handle you need depends on the type of patio door that you have. For example if you have a sliding patio door you will need different hardware than if you have French patio doors. Handles come in 5 broad categories: hook style, mortise style, clamp style, internal style and flush style.

Hook style patio door handles are usually surface mounted. You should look for brands that have extruded aluminum inside and outside pulls. The better handles are reversible depending on whether the door is left or right handed. You can also go for extra patio door security by looking for brands that have anti-lift bars fitted.

Mortise style handles fit inside the frame of the door. They come in keyed and non-keyed designs and you should look for types that have inside and outside pulls. Diecast thumb turns and steel lock activators are better from a patio door security perspective than those that have plastic buttons.

Clamp style handles are typically surface mounted. One of things you need to double check is to make sure the hook profile will fit your door as many of these profiles are different for each manufacturer. The most common profile is quarter inch with 9/16 inch projection. For extra security you can select brands that have the ability to insert a keyed cylinder lock. Also check out our storm door hardware page as there is information there pertinent to patio door hardware such as patio door locks.

Internal Style handles are cousins to the mortice lock style and the latch mechanism engages with a keeper inserted into the opposite door. The key thing to look for when considering one of these mechanisms is it should have an automatic unlatching mechanism so that you can't be accidentally locked out.

Flush style come in both keyed and non-keyed models. The better models are reversible for different opening doors and should also come with keepers. The most expensive types will even come with different hook lengths supplied so they work on the greatest selection of door brands.

Patio Door Rollers:

Patio door rollers are what allow the patio door to open smoothly and they are one of the parts that will break down most often. They get jammed easily with dirt and things like leaves blowing in from the garden. Patio door rollers come in either steel or nylon construction and either single or tandem depending on the door they are intended to fit into. They also come as single rollers or as a tandem pair.

The other main difference between rollers that you need to be aware of is the diameter of the rollers themselves. These range in size from 7/8" up to 1 1/2" diameters.

Your door may also have top guides or top rollers installed. These help to keep the patio door centered in its running grooves and gives a nice smooth travel as the door opens and closes. These typically come in single or dual models, just be sure to check that the type you order is compatible with you patio door.

Hopefully this has given you some useful information on the various patio door hardware components that are on the market and things to look out for when buying.