St. Louis Sliding Glass Doors

Popular Local Trends & Styles

• Sliding Screen Door In a city with a seasonal mosquito problem, screens¹ are an important addition to your sliding glass door. Patio screen doors allow you to open up your home on a sunny St. Louis day without bringing in a host of insects along with the fresh air. Retractable screens, in particular, are popular in the area. A retractable screen door protects your entrance from bugs when you open up your home to a breeze and then rolls away into a self-storage system when not in use so you get clear, untinted, and undivided sunlight.
• Sliding French Doors

  French patio doors offer a traditional elegance that appeals to owners of older homes. But many people still prefer a sliding door operation over a swinging door in that space. Wooden sliding glass doors look like French doors, especially if you add a traditional patio door handle or square grilles. Sliding French patio doors fit many classic home styles like Victorians or Tudors as well as more modern American Craftsman houses and bungalows.

• Large Sliding Patio Doors

  The connection between indoor and outdoor spaces is a critical component of summertime entertaining. Homeowners in St. Louis prefer oversized sliding patio doors that create wider entrances for this high traffic area. When not in use, wide sliding glass doors create the appearance of a large glass wall that brings in more sunlight and makes the outside environment feel like a part of your interior decor. With minimalist, contemporary styles, sliding patio doors can appear nearly frameless and maximize the benefits of glass.

• Sliding Glass Doors With Built-In-Blinds

  Covering sliding doors with blinds or curtains can take away from the space-saving advantages. Between-the-glass blinds offer the privacy and sunlight control homeowners need without getting in the way. Built-in blinds are installed between two glass panels and operated without a long, dangling cord that could endanger pets and children. Since they’re permanently sealed inside the sliding glass door, they’re protected from dust and damage.

¹Warning: Use caution when children or pets are around open windows and doors. Screens are not designed to retain children or pets.

Product Lines

• Architect Series® Traditional
• Architect Series® Contemporary
• Pella® Reserve™ - Traditional
• Pella® Reserve™ - Contemporary
• Pella® Lifestyles Series
• Pella® Impervia®

Recommended Customizations^*

Whether you live in a charming Queen Anne-style home or a cool craftsman, you can customize your sliding door with trim, finish, and hardware options that suit the style of you and your home.

Even screen and grille choices can vary widely by home style. A traditional grille pattern might complement a Tudor revival home, while prairie-style grilles might be more at home in a bungalow.

¹Not all customizations are available in all Pella product lines.

St. Louis Climate Recommendations

Both winter chills and summer humidity are a regular occurrence in St. Louis. The swinging seasonal temps bring rain, snow, and everything in between. In a diverse climate, additional protection is important for the long-term performance and beauty of sliding patio doors.

Why Choose Pella?

Find a Pella Showroom

Frequently Asked Questions

•   What factory-prefinished stain and paint colors are available on Pella products?

  • Wood Windows and Patio Doors – Wood interiors offer more design flexibility — windows and patio doors can be stained or painted to match your decor.  Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's wood products.

    As part of Pella Corporation’s commitment to environmentally-friendly practices, we use Water-Based Green Chemistry. Our factory-applied stain is water-based, which significantly decreases the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted into the air.

    Fiberglass Windows and Patio Doors – Available in colors offering the quality look of painted wood — including a dual-color option. Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's fiberglass products.

    Vinyl Windows and Patio Doors – Pella's unique vinyl formula is performance-tested for excellent weathering, durability, and color retention. Solid- and Dual-Color frames are available. Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's vinyl products.

    Fiberglass and Steel Entry Doors – You'll save time and finishing costs when your entry door arrives prefinished in your choice of paint or stain color that will look beautiful for years. Explore interior and exterior finish options for Pella's fiberglass and steel entry doors.

•   What general maintenance is required for my Pella windows and patio doors?

  • Pella recommends you inspect your windows and patio doors at least annually as part of a home checkup. Maintenance can prolong the life of your Pella windows and doors and will help ensure maximum warranty coverage.
    
    As needed, clean, repaint or restain your windows and patio doors, and recaulk around them to help maintain optimal performance. Also, be sure to regularly check for leaks and improper drainage above or around vents and sprinkler systems that may subject your windows and patio doors to prolonged water exposure.
    
    Review the Maintenance section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about how to properly maintain the interior and exterior of your Pella windows and patio doors.

•   How do I choose the right paint or stain for my wood windows?

  • Stained Wood Interior Finish – Pella strongly recommends the use of a good-quality pre-stain wood conditioner before staining Pella windows and patio doors to reduce the possibility of a blotchy-looking, uneven finish. Ask your paint or finishing professional to recommend a pre-stain wood conditioner, a stain and a finishing coat that are compatible.
    
    Painted Wood Interior Finish – The most important consideration to make when choosing your paint is good blocking resistance — the ability of a paint to resist sticking. Failure to use a high-quality paint with good blocking resistance may result in a window or door that sticks shut, even after the paint has dried. Ask your qualified paint professional to recommend a paint with good blocking resistance. Don't simply rely on a paint's price or brand name in making your selection. Expensive paint may not necessarily offer good blocking resistance. Also, ask your paint professional to recommend a wood primer and paint that are compatible and whether sanding is required between coats of paint.

    Explore the factory pre-finish options available for Pella's wood products.

•   Which Pella doors are available with SmartKey® Technology?

  • SmartKey Technology is available, and comes standard, on Pella's fiberglass and steel entry doors.  Architect Series® sliding, French and hinged patio doors with hardware from the Rustic, Classic or Modern Collection will have SmartKey Technology.

    Learn more about Pella's hardware collections and how to use SmartKey Technology.

•   Where can I get paint or stain to match the interior and exterior of my Pella products?

  • Paints and stains for Pella products are available in quarts and gallons via special order through Lowe's stores or your local Pella Window and Door Showroom. You will need to provide the color of the paint or stain that you need to place an order.

    Or you may take the color or stain desired along with the substrate you are trying to match to your local Sherwin-Williams® or home improvement store and have them custom match the color.

    If you don't have a Pella paint chip or just need a small bottle of touch up paint or stain for dings and scratches, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877) 473-5527 for further assistance.

    Be sure to consult with your local paint or finish store representative or professional to help address your specific finishing needs and review the finishing section of your Pella Owner's Manual for details about how to properly finish your Pella products.

•   How do I clean my Pella windows and patio doors? What can I use to clean them?

  • Clean the interior and exterior frame surfaces with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Stubborn stains and deposits may be removed with mineral spirits. Or Pine-Sol® can be applied with a clean, dry cloth or towel. Do not use abrasives. Do not scrape or use tools that might damage the surface. Should you need it, touch-up paint is available at the Pella Window and Door Showroom nearest you.

    Clean the window sill using the brush attachment on a vacuum and vacuum off any debris.

    It is normal for water to accumulate in the sill and track. On products with weep holes, the water is intended to drain to the outside via the drainage or "weep" holes.

    • To clean the weep (drainage) system, check to make sure that the weep holes are clear of obstruction (dirt, sand, or building materials).
    • To clean the weep holes, use a small, soft brush to clear the opening. Weep holes may be located both inside and outside the window in the bottom of the frame. If the window is "stacked," there may be weep holes between the units.

    WARNINGS:

    • Do not use abrasive or caustic solvents as they may damage your windows or patio doors.
    • Do not scrape or use tools that might damage the surface. 
    • Do not power-wash.

    Review the Cleaning section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about how to properly clean your Pella windows and patio doors.

•   How do I clean and restore shine to the handles and hardware on my windows and doors?

  • A soft cloth and mild cleaner may be used on most Pella hardware finishes. 

    Living finish Oil-Rubbed Bronze hardware will develop its own unique patina with use, care and handling. Simply wipe the hardware with a soft cloth so as not to damage the finish. The changing of color on the hardware is not a warranty issue.

    The solid brass hardware used on some previous vintages of Pella wood hinged (French) patio doors has a clear protective coating to prevent tarnishing. Download instructions to care for solid brass hardware.

    For additional information about how to properly care for your Pella windows and doors, refer to the Cleaning section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual.  

    For further assistance, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877)-473-5527.

•   How do I lock and unlock my sliding patio door?

  • The thumbturn lock is located behind or above the door handle. To lock the door, turn the thumbturn lock to a vertical locked position. The locking system will engage when the door is closed. To unlock the door, turn the thumbturn lock in the opposite direction to a horizontal position.

    If your sliding patio door is equipped with a footbolt lock, it has two positions. One allows the door to be latched when it's about 3 inches open; the other provides extra security when the door is fully closed.

    To engage the lock, move the lock handle toward the side of the door. To disengage the lock, move the lock handle toward the center of the door.

    Review the Sliding Patio Door Screen section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about the operation and care of your sliding patio door. If you continue to have difficulty, request a service visit consultation from your local showroom or call (800) 242-1008 to find a Pella service location nearest you.

•   How do I remove the screen from my sliding patio door?

  • Download instructions for the material and vintage of your sliding patio door.

    Wood Sliding Patio Doors

    • Architect Series® (12/2004 – current) or Designer Series® (3/2005 – current) sliding patio doors (includes instructions for self-closing screens)
    • Architect Series (3/2002–12/2004), Designer Series (3/1997–12/2004), Pella® 450 Series (1991–8/1997) sliding patio doors
    • Pella 450 Series (9/1997 – current) sliding patio doors
    • Pella 450 Series (1991 – current) sliding patio doors

    Fiberglass Sliding Patio Doors

    • Pella Impervia® (2005 – current) sliding patio doors

    Vinyl Sliding Patio Doors

    • Encompass (Thermastar) by Pella (2003 – current) sliding patio doors
    • Pella® 350 Series (2010 – current) sliding patio doors

    We try to include information for a large portion of our various products and vintages; however, we do not have every older set of instructions available online. If you have questions regarding a non-current product not found on our site, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877)-473-5527 for further assistance.
    
    If you have difficulty removing the screen, request a service visit or call (800) 242-1008 to find a Pella service location nearest you.

    WARNING: Screen will not stop child or pet from falling out the window. Keep child or pet away from open door.

    Refer to the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for more information on operation, recommended care, and maintenance for your Pella sliding patio doors.