All 6 patio door categories installed
Sliding, French, multi-slide, telescoping, bi-fold, and pivot — we install all six. The right configuration depends on architecture, opening size, and budget — not what's in the manufacturer rebate flyer.
Service · Patio Doors
Impact Patio Door Installation in South Florida
Patio doors are the openings that connect your home's interior to the lanai, pool deck, or backyard — the largest single weather-exposed openings in most South Florida homes. SafeGuard installs the full impact-rated patio door catalog (sliding, French, multi-slide, telescoping, bi-fold) under FL DBPR CGC1532033, with Miami-Dade NOA verified per opening and the full permit pathway handled in-house.
Last updated May 2026Reviewed by Aldo Dellamano, FL CGC1532033
Call (954) 408-4000or fill out the form for a free estimate
- 5+ configurationsPatio door typesSliding · French · multi-slide · telescoping · bi-fold
- Up to 175 mphWind ratingSame HVHZ standard as impact windows
- 32 ft+ wideMaximum openingMulti-slide configurations
- CGC1532033License of recordFL DBPR Certified General Contractor
Reviews
What South Florida Homeowners Say
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Lanai · pool deck · backyard
Why all 6 patio door categories matter
Permit pulled under our license
We file under FL DBPR CGC1532033 and stay the responsible party from sealed plans through final inspection. No owner-builder permits, no subcontracted permit-puller workarounds.
Architect + premium-tier brand access
ES Windows Multimax, CGI Sentinel, Marvin Coastline, La Cantina — premium architectural product lines available on architect-spec custom builds. We coordinate with the architect's spec from kick-off.
At a Glance
Impact patio door — key facts
- Door types
- Sliding · French · multi-slide · telescoping · bi-fold
- Best fit configurations
- Lanai · pool deck · backyard · open-plan living rooms
- Manufacturers
- PGT · CGI · ES Windows · CWS · Eco
- Frame materials
- Aluminum (primary) · vinyl (limited)
- Wind rating
- Up to 175 mph (configuration-dependent)
- Code approval
- Miami-Dade NOA + Florida Product Approval
- Standard sizes
- 6-32+ ft wide × 6-12+ ft tall
- Cost band
- $3,500-$25,000+ per opening
- Lead time
- 4-12 weeks (configuration-dependent)
TL;DR
Patio doors are the largest single weather-exposed openings in most South Florida homes — the connection between interior living space and the lanai, pool deck, or backyard. Impact-rated patio doors replace standard openings with hurricane-rated, laminated-glass assemblies that pass TAS 201/202/203 HVHZ tests and qualify for the wind-mitigation insurance discount.
Patio doors are a category, not a single product type. The 'patio door' label covers sliding glass doors (most common), French doors (hinged), multi-slide doors (3-6+ panels that stack open), telescoping doors (panels slide behind each other), and bi-fold doors (panels fold accordion-style). Each configuration delivers a different aesthetic, opening width, and price point — but all of them are available in HVHZ-rated impact configurations from PGT, CGI, ES Windows, CWS, and Eco.
The wind-mitigation case for impact patio doors is identical to sliding glass doors. These are the largest weather-exposed openings in your home; impact-rating them maxes out the wind-mitigation insurance discount opportunity. Miami-Dade NOA on the assembly is what unlocks the discount — typically 15-35% off the wind portion of your premium for the door's full lifespan.
The configuration choice is mostly aesthetic + opening-size driven. Sliding glass doors win on simplicity + cost (covered in detail on our sliding glass door page). French doors win on architectural traditional aesthetic — covered on our French door page. Multi-slide and telescoping doors are architectural-spec premium configurations for openings 20+ feet wide. Bi-fold is the wall-of-glass premium category — full-opening clear span when fully folded.
SafeGuard handles the full pathway under FL DBPR CGC1532033 — sealed engineered plans, NOA verification per opening, permit pulled under our license, Notice of Commencement filing, and both rough + final inspections.
Patio door types compared
| Configuration | Best fit + characteristics | |
|---|---|---|
| Sliding glass door | Most-installed patio door category | 2-/3-/4-/6-panel · standard residential · simplest |
| French doors (hinged double) | Traditional aesthetic | Smaller opening width · door-pair-with-sidelites available |
| Multi-slide door | Architectural premium | 3-6+ panels · stack open at one or both ends · 20-32+ ft wide |
| Telescoping door | Wall-of-glass aesthetic | Panels slide behind each other · maximum clear span |
| Bi-fold (accordion) | Full-clear-span premium | Panels fold like an accordion · whole opening clear when folded |
| Pivot patio door | Architectural-statement category | Single oversized hinged panel · up to 10' tall |
Patio door HVHZ certifications
- PassTAS 201Large-missile impact
- PassTAS 202Cyclic pressure cycles
- PassTAS 203Uniform static pressure
- Up to 175 mphDesign windConfiguration-dependent
Multi-slide vs telescoping vs bi-fold — choosing the wall-of-glass option
Answer
Multi-slide stacks panels at one or both ends of the opening (most-installed wall-of-glass category). Telescoping slides panels behind each other (maximum clear span — no stacked panels visible). Bi-fold folds panels accordion-style (entire opening clear when fully folded). All three carry HVHZ NOA on engineered configurations.
Multi-slide is the wall-of-glass category most South Florida architects spec by name. Configurations from 3-panel (one panel parks at one end) to 8-panel (panels park at both ends, full center clear span). Standard widths 16-32 feet; some manufacturers ship up to 40+ feet on engineered-custom NOAs. The visible 'stacked panels' aesthetic when fully open is the trade-off — panels overlap each other at the parking end.
Telescoping is the aesthetic specialty — panels slide behind each other rather than overlapping. The maximum visible clear span is the panel width × the number of panels minus one. Comes in fewer manufacturer configurations (premium product lines: ES Windows Multimax, CGI Sentinel) but delivers the cleanest 'no stacked panels' aesthetic when fully open.
Bi-fold (accordion) folds each panel against the next at fixed hinges, then the whole stack folds against the jamb. When fully folded, the entire opening is clear with no panels visible. Maximum clear span is the strongest of the three categories. The trade-off is operating mechanics — every panel hinges independently, more moving parts to maintain. Premium architectural product (CGI, ES Windows, Marvin Coastline, La Cantina). Usually the most expensive of the three.
From our project library
Patio door installations across South Florida
Real SafeGuard installs from the JobNimbus library — sliding, French, and multi-slide patio doors across the four counties we serve.
Project scope
Patio door types we install
Sliding glass patio doors
Most-installed patio door category — 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-panel + pocket + corner-meet configurations. The default for most South Florida lanai openings.
Learn moreFrench patio doors
Hinged double doors — traditional architectural aesthetic, smaller maximum opening than sliders. Often paired with sidelites + transoms.
Learn moreMulti-slide patio doors
Architectural premium — 3-6+ panels stack at one or both ends. Standard widths 16-32 feet. CGI Sentinel + ES Windows Multimax.
Learn moreTelescoping patio doors
Wall-of-glass aesthetic — panels slide behind each other for maximum clear span when open. ES Windows Multimax + CGI Sentinel premium configurations.
Learn moreBi-fold accordion patio doors
Full-clear-span premium — panels fold accordion-style. La Cantina + Marvin Coastline + CGI architectural specialty product.
Learn morePivot patio doors
Architectural-statement single-panel — pivots on a center pin rather than swinging on hinges. Up to 10' tall on premium product.
Learn more
Frequently asked
Impact patio doors — common questions
How much does an impact patio door cost?
Impact patio door installation in South Florida varies dramatically by configuration. Sliding glass doors: $4,000-$15,000 per opening. French doors: $5,000-$12,000 per pair. Multi-slide doors: $15,000-$40,000+ depending on opening size. Telescoping: $20,000-$50,000+. Bi-fold: $25,000-$60,000+. Pivot: $15,000-$40,000+. Pricing always includes the door + permit + sealed plans + NOA verification + both rough + final inspections.
What is the most popular patio door type?
Sliding glass doors are the most-installed patio door category in South Florida by a wide margin — they cover roughly 70% of new + replacement residential patio door installs. The 3- and 4-panel configurations are the workhorses. French doors are the second-largest category (~20%) for traditional architectural styles. Multi-slide, telescoping, and bi-fold are growing premium categories (~10% combined) on luxury custom builds and high-end remodels.
Are impact patio doors hurricane-rated?
Yes — impact-rated patio doors pass the same TAS 201/202/203 HVHZ test protocols as impact windows and impact entry doors, and they carry Miami-Dade NOA across the major brands (PGT, CGI, ES Windows, CWS, Eco). Wind ratings reach 175 mph design wind on engineered configurations. The NOA covers the door + frame + hardware + threshold as a complete sealed assembly.
What's the difference between a patio door and a French door?
A patio door is a category — any door category designed to connect interior living space to an exterior patio, lanai, or pool deck. The category includes sliding glass doors, French doors (hinged double doors), multi-slide doors, telescoping doors, and bi-fold doors. So a French door IS a patio door — but not all patio doors are French doors. The terminology is more aesthetic than technical.
Can I get a wall-of-glass patio door?
Yes — three categories deliver wall-of-glass: multi-slide doors (panels stack at the ends), telescoping doors (panels slide behind each other), and bi-fold doors (panels fold accordion-style). All three are available in HVHZ-rated configurations from CGI Sentinel, ES Windows Multimax, and (on bi-fold specifically) La Cantina + Marvin Coastline. Standard openings up to 32 feet; engineered-custom configurations push to 40+ feet.
How long does patio door installation take?
Permit review runs 21-50 business days. Once permitted: sliding glass doors install in 1 day; French doors in half a day; multi-slide / telescoping / bi-fold systems run 2-4 days because of the engineering-precision required at each panel hinge or roller. End-to-end timeline from contract signing to permit-closed is typically 6-14 weeks (longer for premium architectural configurations on engineering-custom NOA).
Ready for an impact patio door?
Free in-home estimate that includes the configuration comparison + brand options + permit pathway in writing — sealed plans, NOA verification per opening, Notice of Commencement, and both rough and final inspections.