Terrace door: Maximum functional width?

Hello everyone,

we are building and the floor plan only has floor-to-ceiling windows, so basically only patio doors. So all rooms, both on the ground floor, the upper floor, and also those in the living room.

They are plastic doors, triple-glazed, and specified in the shell construction (drawing) with 112.5 cm width x 252 cm height. If you now deduct the floor structure, the doors are still 112.5 x 251 cm in size.

So these are really big doors that are constantly used. Standing open for a long time, standing in tilted position, ...

Here are our concerns:

Such big doors are really heavy. Do they withstand constant continuous use over decades? Or should one rather go back to 100 cm width here?

Does anyone of you have experience with such doors and continuous usage?

The manufacturers even offer up to 120 cm width, but they are usually too optimistic with their quality specifications – right?

We would really appreciate help and your experiences

Thanks Christian

The wall opening is 112.5 cm wide. Then there is the frame, etc., so the terrace door leaf should be about 100 to 104 cm wide.

Hello Christian NW,

I see it the same way as kbt09.... however, I find the height specification enormous and the floor structure extremely low (if screed is meant here - we get 16 cm floor structure).

Best regards

Thank you very much for your answers.

On the ground floor, the floor construction is 16 cm and on the upper floor 11. We like bright rooms filled with daylight, hence the large French doors.

Can anyone share experiences regarding the load?

Do these large windows withstand the stresses in the long term (over decades)?

Depends solely on the windows and the operators!

Up to 120 cm is certainly not a maximum size, but already quite ample for a single sash. Practical sizes are 87.5 / 100 / 112.5 cm - and 112.5 is highly recommended. That is still manageable, and you can pass through with a tray without fear of bumping your elbows.

The height in the raw construction measurement suggests that not only the lower overlap of the floor structure but also the roller shutter box are included. Without the latter, more than 240 cm height would already be a special size with considerable extra effort for many manufacturers. Therefore, I assume a sash height of 220 cm or less.

By the way, windows are windows by profession. They are made for it, have learned it, and can handle it - being opened and closed is part of it. The fittings and hinges take into account that window-door sizes can also be built. The scissors for tilting absolutely do not open further than with windows starting at sill height, relatively in degrees seen in relation to the height even less. Keep cool.

However,

wir bauen und der Grundriss hat nur bodentiefe Fenster, also quasi nur Terrassentüren. Also alle Zimmer, sowohl im EG, im OG und auch die im Wohnzimmer.

makes me wave the flagpole, that entire house designs can also be discussed here. An excessive use of terrace doors, whether they belong there or not, suggests optimization potential.