Nancy and Others: I have also been researching what to replace my great room sliding glass doors with (one 6 ft wide and two 9 ft wide). Here it is, already December and I haven't made a decision! We bought the house in 06 and these are the orig that came with the house. I spent last winter stuffing kitchen towels in between the sliders with a spatula. Not the most attractive thing for the room company walks into. Originally, I thought of going with french doors but the prices quoted were so outrageous and since we don't plan on staying here more than 3 or 4 more years (as it is, we'd take a bath if we sold now with home prices as low as they are now and we wouldn't be able to get what we paid for it), I don't know if it would be wise to invest that much money. I'd been thinking of going the sliding door route once more. Someone above said french doors are tighter than sliders and thoughts of all those kitchen towels between the sliders last winter have me shifting back to french doors. I also want the blinds for the same reason you do....five dogs (3 pugs and 2 shi tzus). One thing I've learned talking to people at Home Depot and Lowes....the town I live in won't sign off on french doors that swing out. In the south, like Florida, they are preferred because of hurricanes pushing open doors that swing in, however, they are not permitted here. I assume it has something to do with snow and ice on the outside preventing exit in case of an emergency. I guess your posting was a couple of years ago so it may be too late to say to check with your building dept first. I'm curious to hear what you installed and how happy you are with it. Daisy

you're right lilbit - they sure aren't 'mobile'. i sure couldn't hook it up to my car or even a big pu truck and haul it off! I don't drive around with it on the back of the car... most people have to make some adjustments to put in a door in a stick built home. they sure do on the home shows. I'll need to replace my back door this next yr myself. I do have those metal 'screen' doors on front and back tho - and they lock so i'll be ok for a bit. those'll be nice because I'll be able to leave the regular door open and lock those things (during the day). but eventually I do want a regular door on the back, not one of those chinzy ones (like is on it now). the front door is fine. I'm just going ahead with plans like to redo any other home. checking out HD and lowe's etc. I need to remember to take lots of pics as we go along myself. will do that before he starts digging the dirt up ... then after that...then when they haul it here etc.

French doors, or sliding doors? What what do you mean by the "inside white wood frame?" Maybe a picture would help :)

I have a patio door with a single sidelight the same width as one of the patio doors. It looks like a 3 panel setup but only two of the doors open. I think they are 36" wide but would have to double check. So a bit wider that your existing opening. Looks similar to the door in the picture but i have two doors that open.