Your lanai opening is your largest single piece of glass. Treat it that way.
Sliding glass doors and French patio doors rated for large openings — with the same documentation standard we apply to windows, and an honest read on HOA and aesthetic trade-offs.
Sliding glass vs. French patio
Sliding Glass Doors
One or more large panels slide on a track, typically giving the widest clear opening for the available wall space with a lower-profile frame and sill. Available impact-rated in multi-panel configurations for pool and lanai openings. The trade-off: only part of the total width opens at once unless you choose a stacking or pocket configuration, which adds cost.
French Patio Doors
A pair of hinged doors that swing open, giving a full unobstructed opening when both panels are open and a more traditional look many buyers associate with a formal dining or living space. Available impact-rated with tested multi-point locking hardware. The trade-off: swing clearance is needed on both the interior and exterior side, which can be tight on a small lanai.
HOA & aesthetic considerations
Frame color, grid pattern, and visible hardware on street-facing or pool-cage-visible openings are commonly restricted by HOA guidelines in Central Florida communities. We document product specs against your HOA's architectural review requirements before you order, rather than after installation when it's expensive to fix.
What installation looks like
1. Assess address & code status
We check your address against current wind-zone maps — see hurricane protection for the full breakdown.
2. Select configuration & glass
Sliding vs. French, panel count, and glass package matched to your opening, HOA rules, and budget.
3. Permit
We file with your local jurisdiction using the Florida Product Approval number for the exact assembly.
4. Install
The old unit comes out, the opening and sill are checked and prepped, the new door is set and fastened per the manufacturer's tested installation instructions.
5. Final inspection & documentation
Your jurisdiction signs off, and you get the full paperwork packet for your records, HOA file, and insurer.
Sliding & patio doors — common questions
It depends on your specific address relative to the Wind-Borne Debris Region and, rarely, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Most inland Orlando/Orange County addresses fall outside both today. See our hurricane protection page for the full explanation, or ask us to check your address directly.
Both are available impact-rated for large openings. Sliding doors typically give a wider clear opening for the same wall space with a lower-profile track, while French patio doors give a more traditional look and can open the full width when both panels swing out. We'll walk your specific opening with you and recommend a configuration.
Many HOAs do restrict exterior frame color, grid patterns, or visible hardware on patio and sliding doors, especially in pool-cage-visible or street-facing installations. We can help document your project for HOA approval as part of the process — see HOA & Commercial.
Financing is available in many cases, with terms that vary by lender and credit profile. See our financing page for general options.
Get a written quote on your patio opening.
Free assessment — configuration, HOA check, and itemized pricing.