Andersen 200 vs 400 Patio Doors Review

What’s the Difference Between Andersen 200 Series and Andersen 400 Series Sliding Patio Doors?

Andersen is one of the biggest manufacturers of windows and doors in North America, and one of the most recognized & trusted brands among homeowners and builders. They offer multiple window and door series for use in residential and commercial projects. In this post, we’re going to dive deep into the differences between the 200 and 400 series, including:

What are Andersen patio doors made of?
Andersen patio door hardware options
Andersen patio door grid options
How much are Andersen patio doors?
Most popular Andersen patio door

The 200 Series offers two sliding door options and the 400 Series offers one. To view the product details of each of these products, use the links below.

Andersen 200 Series Patio Doors

200 Series Perma-Shield® Gliding Patio Door

200 Series Narroline® Gliding Patio Door

Andersen 400 Series

400 Series Frenchwood Gliding Patio Doors

Sliding Patio Doors: Andersen 200 Series vs 400 Series

Andersen calls their sliding glass doors ‘gliding doors’ and they offer six options, we’ll describe three of them below.

Andersen Patio Door Materials & Finishes

The frames for the patio doors in each of these series are composed of wood and vinyl materials. Both materials are great for homeowners who value energy efficiency.

Andersen 200 Series Perma-Shield® door frames have a wood core and a vinyl surface. The vinyl surface protects the wood core from exterior elements and creates a low-maintenance door. Wood doors (and windows and siding) require more maintenance to prevent wood rot and swelling.

^{200 Series Perma-Shield Interior and Exterior Finishes}

Andersen 200 Series Narroline® and 400 Series Frenchwood door frames are made with wood interiors and vinyl exteriors. The vinyl cladding protects the wood interior from outside elements like water and insects. This door option is great for homeowners that like the look of wood building products. The interior for both series is available in unfinished wood veneers or pre-finished with white paint.

The 200 Series Narroline gliding door offers more exterior color options but the 400 Series Frenchwood offers more wood interior options.

^{200 Series Narroline Interior and Exterior Finishes}

^{400 Series Frenchwood Gliding Interior and Exterior Finishes}

Andersen Patio Door Hardware

Each of these three series featured offers the same options for hardware colors, styles, and additional security options such as an exterior keyed lock and auxiliary foot lock.

^{Andersen 200 & 400 Series Hardware Colors and Styles}

^{Andersen 200 & 400 Series Hardware Additional Options}

Andersen Patio Door Grilles

For homeowners who like the look of grilles or who have grilles on their windows and want the glass on new patio doors to match, Andersen has lots of pattern options.

The difference between options for 400 Series and 200 Series is that you can have custom patterns designed for the grilles on your 400 Series patio door but not the 200 Series. For homeowners who want Full Divided Light grilles, this option is only available on the 400 Series.

Grilles are an optional aesthetic element on glass and windows with them are just as energy-efficient as those without.

Note: Grilles are sometimes referred to as grids.

grille types for andersen windows and doors

Andersen Patio Door Operation

These three Andersen sliding doors operate on horizontal tracks with ball-bearing rollers. The panels also have self-contained leveling adjusters.

Andersen offers two-panel and four-panel configurations as well as individual stationary panels.

single panel, two-panel, and four-panel sliding door configurations

The two-panel configuration is available for all three doors while the 4-panel configuration is only available to the 200 Series Narroline and 400 Series Frenchwood Gliding doors.

Andersen Patio Door Aesthetic Differences

In addition to having different color and finish options, these doors also vary by frame design and two are available with blinds between the glass.

Let’s look at the differences.

Pine door frame with slim design

The 200 Series Narroline Gliding Door (above) is true to its name, it has a slim frame design that maximizes glass surface.

photo of dark sliding door frame with slim panels

The 200 Series Perma-Shield (above) has a similar slim frame design but this option is wrapped entirely in vinyl cladding and offers blinds between-the-glass as an option.

sliding glass door with french door style rails

The 400 Series Frenchwood door (above) has wider stiles and a taller bottom rail giving it a french door look. This door also has optional blinds between-the-glass.

Andersen Patio Door Costs

Sliding doors are typically your most affordable patio door option but there are differences in how they are manufactured included parts, materials, construction, and customization options. When you get bids, remember to ask if the quote you receive includes the cost of installation, some contractors and remodeling companies provide all-inclusive cost but that’s not always the case.

As far as cost difference goes between the 200 Series Narroline, 200 Series Perma-Shield, and 400 Series Frenchwood you’ll likely find them priced higher than a standard vinyl or composite sliding door.

For the cost of the door without installation Andersen prices both 200 Series doors about the same while the 400 Series sliding door is slightly more expensive. All three are priced lower than Andersen E-Series and A-Series gliding doors and higher than Andersen’s 100 Series door.

What do we recommend?

We don’t like taking sides but we will say that Andersen’s 400 Series Frenchwood gliding door is their most popular gliding door product. We enjoy working with Andersen products so whichever one you choose we’re sure you’ll be happy with the quality as long as it is installed properly.

Choosing a door ultimately depends on your personal preferences, especially for color or material. You’ll also want to consider whether the product you’re choosing meets the energy code in your area, an Andersen dealer can help you determine which glass package will help you meet the requirements. Each of these Andersen products will meet or exceed even ENERGY STAR® requirements in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Pricing for products like windows and doors isn’t usually readily available, especially when it comes to products that are ordered in sizes for your specific home so shop around for a few bids to get an idea of what you feel comfortable spending. Don’t feel pressured to go with the first bid you get, good companies don’t mind competition and you should feel comfortable with who you choose from start to finish.

Good luck with your project!

If you are interested in one of these doors and live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we’d love to earn your business. Give us a call or submit a contact form and we’ll give you a call to schedule a free in-home consultation for a patio door replacement.