August 2023
Aluminum lift and slide patio doors are premium products, the choice of which is often quite difficult. We know from experience that when you are looking for the best solutions, “on paper” everything looks perfect, but in practice it is sometimes different. That’s why today we say: “check”.
To help you make the best decision, we have created a ranking of aluminum lift-and-slide patio doors based on our experience and reliable research of solutions available on the market.
Some of the parameters included in our ranking differ from those you’ll find on system providers’ websites. Why? We were not guided solely by declarations from system catalogs. We evaluated the quality of lift and slide aluminum doors as a finished product to help you increase the profitability of your business.
Below you can find a list of European aluminum lift-and-slide patio doors that we have evaluated in our ranking. In alphabetical order:
In our ranking of aluminum lift and slide patio doors you will find 5 systems from European manufacturers. We have priced them according to the specifications below:
Importantly, we were not guided solely by information from catalogs, but compared finished, real-world manufactured doors. Like you, we know that things are different in theory and in practice. Meanwhile, our ranking is not meant to be a laurel for system catalogs, but first and foremost it is supposed to be useful to you, and we prepared our list with this thought in mind.
We rated aluminum lift and slide patio doors in 3 major categories:
To assess quality, we compared, among other things, their system capabilities, technical parameters and manufacturers (repeatability of quality, production deadlines and speed of quoting and after-sales support). Which exact criteria did we consider most important? Check below.
What do high-quality aluminum lift and slide patio doors mean to us? We have the specifics for you. Below you will find the most important criteria for evaluating quality:
Thermal capabilities – U-Factor – the lower the achievable U value, the greater the number of potential applications for the system. This will allow you to meet even the most stringent standards for thermal performance in a project, such as those required in the bidding process.
The minimum sash+frame height and width of the central mullion – have a significant impact on the amount of natural light that enters the room. This solution will meet the expectations of the investor, who expects aesthetically pleasing and modern window design.
Reliability of the supplier – a trusted supplier ensures the continuity of production with established quality, gives you confidence in the effective and timely fulfillment of orders, and effectively reduces the incidence of complaints. With a reliable supplier, you have control over the work on site and can expand the scope of your projects.
We awarded 0 to 3 points for meeting each of the above criteria, in addition, we gave the opportunity to score 1 additional point to systems that:
The maximum number of points to be scored was 15. Which system came closest to this benchmark? Let’s check!
In our ranking, we have included only those door systems that meet our strict standards – we have specified them in detail above in the ranking criteria. We give you our word that in this case, cheap does not mean poor quality.
While importing windows from the “lowest price” category, you can confidently compete for biddings that implement energy-efficient and economical construction projects with modern design.
The cheapest aluminum lift and slide patio door in our list is offered by the Aluprof MB-77HS system, which at the lowest price offers good, although not the best, performance.
Close on its heels is Aliplast Ultraglide – more expensive by 124 USD. However, it is a serious competitor to Aluprof, as at a price of 2,630 USD it offers a narrower center pillar, lower sash and frame height and better U-Factor.
The podium is rounded off by Reynaers Masterpatio – this system is not only 11% more expensive than the winner, but also stands apart from the competition since it offers no automatic drive.
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System
|
Price (USD)
|
|---|---|
|
2,506
|
|
|
2,630
|
|
|
2,789
|
|
|
2,966
|
|
|
3,111
|
Did you know that European windows are up to 40% cheaper than American windows, while significantly surpassing them in workmanship? However, would such windows work well in your project? Check out our comparison: prices, technology, construction.
Learn about differencesIf you need a lift-and-slide door of the highest quality, the winner of the “highest quality” category, Aliplast Ultraglide, will meet the exacting requirements of your investor.
Aliplast Ultraglide in practically every criterion required by the market today has reached the top score. And we’re talking about systems dedicated to large glazings, which are supposed to be as “frameless” as possible, which is why we appreciated these very aspects.
The lowest U-Factor 0.15, the second lowest profile height, the narrowest center mullion (only 1.77 in) and the possibility of a frame fix. And as icing on the cake – a reliable manufacturer offering production time for aluminum lift and slide patio door even in 4-5 weeks.
Second place with 12.5 points went to Ponzio SL 1600TT. We singled out this door for its available motorized and monorail options, as well as its minimalist design, which includes a narrow 2.01 in mullion and the lowest available sash and frame height – 4.96 in. Unfortunately, the disadvantages of this system are a slightly inferior U-Factor 0.17 (Uw 0.99) and a supplier that does not provide such reproducible production quality.
The podium is closed by Aluprof MB-77HS. This system, compared to the winners, has a slightly worse U Factor 0.17 (Uw 0.96), but at the same time its advantage is the narrow center mullion – 1.85 in, which allows it to fit right into the current trends of modern construction.
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System
|
Quality score
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|---|---|
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14
|
|
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12.5
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|
|
12
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|
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11.5
|
|
|
9
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In this category, the triumpher is also a representative of the Aliplast brand. Top quality at a very good price! The system crushed its rivals not only by its technical parameters, but also by its competitive price.
In the quality-to-price ratio, the second place went to Aluprof MB-77HS. This system is cheaper than Aliplast, however, it falls far behind when we consider the already mentioned width of the central mullion, sash and frame height or thermal parameters.
Third place in this category went to Reynaers Masterpatio. This aluminum lift and slide patio door offers good thermal performance, the width of the middle mullion or the efficient manufacturer, however, it does not possess the possibility to connect it to an automatic drive, and the sash and frame height of the sash and frame is the highest of all the compared doors – as much as 5.51 in.
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System
|
Quality/price
|
|---|---|
|
53
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
30
|
Check out in detail below what influenced our final assessment of the quality of the lift and slide patio aluminum doors checked in the ranking. You’ll learn what criteria were important to us and the number of points the windows received for each.
Aliplast Utraglide has the best thermal performance, achieving U-Factor 0.15 with a 3-pane construction.
Importantly, the price is slightly higher than the cheapest lift and slide patio doors (2,506 USD vs. 2,630 USD). So if you have a very high bar in thermal requirements for your project, Aliplast Ultraglide is a good choice.
What is the significance of U-Factor in practice?
Contrary to circulating opinions, in practice small differences in U-Factor do not translate into any significant savings in energy bills.
So when does it matter to you? When the technical requirements of a given project assume specific technical parameters for the window. To be honest, it’s all about the numbers. The difference between U-Factor 0.14 and 0.16 is imperceptible neither to the users of the building nor to the people paying the heating bills.
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System
|
Price (USD)
|
Uw (W/m2·K)
|
U-Factor (Btu/h·ft2·F)
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
2,630
|
0.86
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0.15
|
|
|
2,789
|
0.90
|
0.16
|
|
|
2,506
|
0.96
|
0.17
|
|
|
3,111
|
0.99
|
0.17
|
|
|
2,966
|
1.1
|
0.19
|
The most minimalist and narrow-frame lift-and-slide door in our list is the Ponzio SL1600TT.
The system earned a total of 5.5 points out of a possible 6 in the criteria of low height and center post width. It has the lowest height 4.96 in and a fourth score for a center pillar width of 2.01 in. However, they are the most expensive system of the entire list – 3,111 USD compared to the cheapest Aluprof’s 2,506 USD.
Right behind it was the narrow-frame Aliplast Ultraglide, which does have a higher sash and frame height (5.26 in vs 4.96 in), but makes up for it with a very narrow 1.77 in mullion. At the same time, the price is lower than Ponzio – so it’s a very good alternative to this system.
Why are the sash + frame height and center mullion important?
Minimalist windows are currently popular due to the worldwide trend in building design. This is especially true for large glazing, where maximum glazing area and aesthetic appearance play an important role.
A wide mullion in the middle of a beautiful sheet of glass is capable of spoiling the whole effect and the architect’s intention. The low sash and frame height makes the glass area in the window increase and more natural light enters the room
| System | Min. frame + sash height | Score |
| Ponzio SL1600TT | 4.96 in | 3 |
| Aliplast Ultraglide | 5.24 in | 2 |
| Deceuninck Decalu 163 Slide | 5.31 in | 2 |
| Aluprof MB-77HS | 5.47 in | 1 |
| Reynaers Masterpatio | 5.51 in | 1 |
| System | The width of central post | Score |
| Aliplast Ultraglide | 1.77 in | 3 |
| Aluprof MB-77HS | 1.85 in | 3 |
| Reynaers Masterpatio | 1.97 in | 2.5 |
| Ponzio SL1600TT | 2 in | 2.5 |
| Deceuninck Decalu 163 Slide | 2.87 in | 2 |
*Decalu’s catalog declares a narrower post – 2.09 in, but manufacturers do not make such designs.
Almost all the systems in our list have the possibility of a monorail construction, i.e. a fix in the frame.
We are talking about Aluprof MB-77HS, Reynaers Masterpatio, Ponzio SL1600TT, Aliplast Ultraglide doors – they gained an additional point in our ranking. Only Deceuninck Decalu 163 Slide does not.
Why is this important?
The monorail version allows you to increase the glazing area, because the glass is in the frame, not in the sash. At the same time, it is slightly cheaper and warmer.
Large aluminum structures with 3 panes of glass can really weigh a lot. Therefore, sometimes it is important for the comfort of users to be able to use an automatic drive.
Such an option is available in 3 systems: Aluprof MB-77HS, Ponzio SL1600TT, Aliplast Ultraglide, and they, too, gained an additional point. In this respect, Reynaers and Deceuninck stand apart from their competitors.
We are pleased that all lift and slide patio doors evaluated have system drainage gutters – they received an additional 1 point for this.
Linear drainage is a special gutter installed at the floor level, which drains outside the drops of water that flow into the terrace doors and those that form inside their elements.
As a window broker, we cooperate on a daily basis with dozens of suppliers who produce windows from European system providers in their assembly plants. The reliability of the supplier is extremely important so that you can smoothly carry out your window installation schedule during construction. Therefore, we evaluated:
The window suppliers in our list represent a very solid level (2 points and above). Only the supplier of the Ponzio system slightly stands out from its competitors, which lost a point due to a lower level of order processing and complaint handling.
The other systems enjoy the highest score due to the supplier’s high automation, repeatability of high-quality production and efficient way of handling infrequent complaints.
|
System
|
Price netto (USD)
|
Uw (W/m2·K)
|
U Factor (Btu/h·ft2·F)
|
Sash+frame height (mm)
|
Width of central post (mm)
|
Monorail
|
Auto drive
|
Linear drainage
|
Supplier`s reliability
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2,506
|
0.96
|
0.17
|
5.47 in
|
1.85 in
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
3 pt
|
|
|
2,630
|
0.86
|
0.15
|
5.24 in
|
1.77 in
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
3 pt
|
|
|
2,789
|
0.90
|
0.16
|
5.51 in
|
1.97 in
|
YES
|
NO
|
YES
|
3 pt
|
|
|
2,966
|
1.1
|
0.19
|
5.31 in
|
2.87 in
|
NO
|
NO
|
YES
|
3 pt
|
|
|
3,111
|
0.99
|
0.17
|
4.96 in
|
2 in
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
2 pt
|
We hope that with this ranking, you will be able to offer your investor the best option, and that you will be more effective in the field of daily activities with your customers.
As you can see, when evaluating aluminum lift and slide patio doors, we did not follow only the declarations from system catalogs, but compared ready-made windows – available from manufacturers.
You may be surprised by the lack of some solutions declared by system providers like the 2.09 in mullion width in the Deceuninck Decalu 163 Slide system. We verified the solutions available on the market and found that the 0.79 in narrower mullion in Decalu remains only in the catalog.
If our ranking is missing information that is relevant to you, let us know. You can also take advantage of a free consultation with our business consultant and technologist, who will help you choose the optimal solution for your project.
* We rely on data provided by the manufacturer. If, as a system provider, you see an error in the description of your products, remember that it is the manufacturers who prefabricate on your profiles who provided the data for this statement.
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