Vinyl, while having its own benefits, will look like vinyl. If you really want that wood look, you need to get vinyl or get a hybrid product.

Windows on Washington - Can you recommend a hybrid product brand that you think is best for a sliding glass door? I am ignorant about that.

On certain brands, it depends where you are located. Marvin makes a nice fiberglass and wood product and Provia Aeris is a hybrid option as well.

I've done some more research since my OP - my reason for changing out the old wood-clad for vinyl (instead of wood-clad) was to save money. The wood-clad sliding patio doors that I like are Marvins, and they are very expensive. The hybrids do not seem to be much of money savings over the wood-clad. If you are saying that vinyl, which will save me money, won't look nice, then I may as well go back to wood-clad, and try to find the budget for a good wood-clad sliding glass door.

What is the next rung down in price from Marvin wood-clad sliding patio doors, but still good quality? I know I do not want Pella. I am hoping the kind people on this forum will suggest a good bang-for-the-buck brand in a wood-clad sliding patio door. Thank you.

I think you should probably get some quotes. There absolutely will be savings over a full wood/clad product as compared to hybrid so I wouldn't base any decision on that assessment for points moving forward.

Looks are VERY subjective. A good vinyl door can look very nice, but of course that is in the eye of the beholder. You are going to get much better performance, warranty, and price on a vinyl door or window in most cases, so you really have to hate the looks to disqualify that option. Okna and Sunrise make very nice, attractive vinyl doors. The Starmark door is the same as the Okna and Himark door btw. I'd take a look and see what you think. These are about as good as vinyl gets in terms of appearance. Where are you located more precisely? Some markets offer products that others do not

Fridge2020 - thank you for your thoughtful response. I am in southern Wisconsin.

There is a contractor in my area that gets high grades on Angie's List. He carries vinyl sliding patio doors by Hi-Mark by Okna, Starmark by Okna, and Soft-Lite. I am going a bit crazy trying to figure what to do. Vinyl interests me not only for the better price, but I keep reading its performance is so good.

i haven't eliminated wood-clad yet. I am hoping someone can tell me what is the next rung down from Marvin wood-clad sliding patio doors. I want to go look at the various brands, but need to narrow them down first.

The Marvin Wood Ultrex is not terrible........

If you are okay with vinyl, the Okna door is solidly built and probably will give you the best efficiency of any of the doors you are talking about.

Thanks, I will look at both of the Okna and Marvin wood Ultrex.

I am also thinking about Kolbe wood clad, but I don't think that it would save significantly over Marvin wood clad. I've been really shocked by prices. I didn't realize they'd be like that. The issue is that I have a vinyl budget and wood-clad tastes.

Marvin's Wood Ultrex is actually the Integrity (Wood Ultrex) line so that is what you should ask for.

Clad wood doors are really and extremely durable but vinyl ones are way budget friendly. I had my doors from Landmark Home Solutions back in Ontario.Why not search for a wooden fashioned Vinyl doors which will look almost like wooden doors but when taking a closer look only makes it a vinyl one.