I will tell you from experience that Sunrise make a very good slider.

The okna is head and shoulders above viwin tech.

That's reassuring! Thanks!

I assume that we are talking about sliding doors, not sliding windows?

Given that, I'd say that you won't go wrong either way, as they are both very nice. Test data actually says that the Okna is superior, but the Sunrise operates a little more smoothly. I prefer the welded frame on the Okna vs the KD (mechanically fastened) Sunrise frame for long term durability and performance, but again, the Sunrise is one of the better options on the market as well.

Okna: Better u factor and air infiltration, fully welded frame and sash

Sunrise: Smoother operation, particularly when brand new. Top hung screen is nice as well.

Yes, sliding doors.:) I thought it was odd they sold the Okna windows but not the doors, however it is good to know I'll still be happy with the Sunrise, thank you!

Home seal

The sunrise has a sloped sill on their patio slider, thats a very important feature.

In the case of a sliding door, a sloped sill is a misnomer. There are still rails with weeps that channel water through them. Furthermore, if I have to choose between a welded frame or a sloped sill, I'll take the welded frame.... All that said, I don't find either of these to be "make or break" features necessarily. As I stated previously, I'd consider these two doors to be two of the best engineered products on the market. Either will provide a long life excellent service.

The issue i have with a pocket sill is that they fill with water during heavy wind driven rain, a sloped sill will not do that. Further, a patio slider with a sloped sill will operate more smoothly. Why is it that a pocket sill on a window is so frowned upon but its ok on a door? A door is worse, its much more exposed to the elements creating much more of a potential for the weep holes to get clogged. As it is, a pocket sill fills up with water when its not clogged, imagine when it is !

There are really two reasons a manufacturer opts for a pocket sill. 1) its cheaper to make. 2) its an easy way for a company to cheat its way into getting a better air number: 3-4 points. Id rather have a sloped sill. Because a patio door is so large, the difference between a .1 and .07 will NOT be noticeable. Of course you NEVER want a high air number. On a patio door, the 2 main customer concerns are smoothness and no water. i believe the pocket sill fails there.

A welded frame on a door vs a mechanical is negligible on a door, its the sash on a door that needs to be welded, makes no difference.

Soft lite make a fully welded frame but again, i look at that as a negligible feature on the door as a whole.

A few thoughts:

1) That's my point foster, a sloped sill door still has pockets that can fill with water and debris. Granted, there are fewer, but there are still these pockets nonetheless. This is not the case on double hung windows for instance, which is why doors and windows are viewed differently.

2) I disagree on the mechanically fastened point. Just as those joints could open up over time and seals deteriorate on a sash panel or window, they can on a door frame as well. This is an inherent issue with vinyl as a material, and is why welded joints were introduced in the first place. A pocket sill on a door is NOT cheaper either. On a window, manufacturers save money by using the same extrusion lineals for all four sides. Perhaps some of the lower end models accomplish this one doors with snap in pieces, but the better models will still have an entirely separate extrusion for the sill. This eliminates any potential cost savings.

3) On performance vs operation, I'd agree with you in large part. A pocket sill will generally provide a better seal, while a sloped sill can operate a little more smoothly due to less friction, as there are fewer surfaces weatherstripped and sealing. Personally, I explain that there are pros and cons to each for my clients, although as I have stated above, neither offers a "night and day" difference over the other.

4) Softlite does not make a fully welded frame. The head and side jambs are, but the sill is not.

The pocket sill, in my vast experience, was much more problematic than a sloped sill, especially on a patio door. I have installed so many patio doors, i lost count and NEVER had one single issue with a mechanically fastened frame. I've had numerous issues with pocket sill doors. In fact, i will NEVER install a pocket sill patio door again. Far too many service issues; hard to operate and water flooding the sill. Spraying the weather stripping doesnt work either.

A mechanically fastened frame is much easier for an installer to transport than a large welded frame( nothing wrong with a welded frame).

In fact, some companies offer both. A mechanically fastened frame will fit in a van, whereas a welded frame will not.

"In fact, some companies offer both. A mechanically fastened frame will fit in a van, whereas a welded frame will not." -fosterg

Exactly. This is why a mechanically fastened frame is offered, to make it easier for installers to transport, not for any benefit to homeowners. I have never experienced a service call related to water intrusion on any patio door other than installation issues, or clogged/caulked weeps (present on both designs).

As I explained earlier, since a "sloped" door sill will still have resultant pockets/chambers for water and/or debris to accumulate, this is simply a non-issue. Just a talking point for salespeople. Ultimately there is really no such thing. Both designs are sloped, both have these channels, and both have weep holes. What you are referring to as a"pocket" design simply has one extra wall toward the exterior. There are some lift and slide models that eliminate this, but I dont believe that is what you are referring to.

I am referring to any patio door that has weep holes with those plastic flaps- covers that are supposed to open to allow water drainage.

Anytime a customer can see those flaps- covers on the exterior of a patio door on bottom right and bottom left, its a bad sign and move on.

Do you mean like this? I guess I'm confused. This is the Softlite door that you recommended (also note the non-welded sill), but you stated to "move on" if the door has little covers over the weep holes? ... Please accept my apologies for the image turned on edge. For the reference of others, the metal side is the sill.

Nothing else to say on this. A good door is a good door, neither of these items are deal breakers, and all of your other questions have already been answered above.

No, im talking about the flaps that are due to water draining through the frame itself, same as a window pocket sill design. Your picture is NOT a pocket sill. Water build up from heavy rains would not pose an issue with the design in your picture. That picture is indeed a sloped sill and as i said, NOT a pocket sill. Soft lite is a sloped sill, not a pocket sill. Either is sunrise. You know the design i am referring to.

This is the soft lite " kings Royal" patio door. This is a sloped sill, it's clearly not the dreaded pocket sill. Also a strong aluminum threshold with both a foam filled sill and frame along with reinforcement. This is what i call impressive. This is one of the smoothest operating doors i ever offered. No service calls due to water build up either.

Home Seal , i guarantee once you operate this door, you will drop your existing offering and jump on board with this, you seem like a technical guru type. this is designed for a guy such as yourself who seems to demand perfection. You would also appreciate the sunrise slider as well sir.

The pic that I posted is the Softlite KingsRoyal. I never said that it was a pocket sill, but that sloped sill doors still have a "pocket" that can accumulate water and debris. Again, I find it to simply be a non-issue either way.

Not sure what would leave you to believe that I have not sold or installed the Softlite door given that I posted a first hand picture of it, but I have. It's a fine door. Nothing more nothing less IMO. I'll leave it at that.

To get this back on subject, both are really good.

I agree that a KD frame is, in my opinion, a slight exposure risk as you are reliant on sealant for your water penetration barrier.

I have never seen a well designed pocket sill door leak, even in hurricane rains at my in-laws place in Daytona.

Pocket style doors can be more difficult to operate, but will, most times, have slightly better air numbers as a result of their full capture weatherstripping.