So are you saying that the Narroline series is going to give us problems?

The doors will lead onto a screened porch, so they won't get the brunt of heavy weather.

Originally specified 400 French sliding door unit but client wanted the 200 series for the same reason as yours...less wood, more glass. The only issue so far was closing the door. The French door is heavier and its momentum helps to reduce the push needed to lock the door. The 200 series requires a deliberate push against the jamb in order to lock the door. Other than that we have had pouring rain and snow without any problems but again, it has only been two months.

Thanks so much, Scott Design. We ordered the Narroline doors and I think I'm going to be very happy with them.

Whew! Glad you purchased these doors! I have sold over 900 Andersen patio doors in my window and door replacement career. You made an excellent choice! Before Andersen realigned their products a few years back the Narroline door and the French wood doors were together in the same group. They share many attributes. Gliding rail, high-performance threshold, hardware, even glazing. Simply, the styling is what is different between the two; you'll see no difference in operating or locking ease. Enjoy! You purchased from the best patio door builder in America!

Thank you SO much for the support. We had 2 ugly metal sliding doors and will now have 3 pretty wooden doors. I can hardly wait!

The newly designed patio doors will surely fulfill your desire. In case of kitchen you must proceed with opaque glasses. Your choice of 400 series is truly appreciable, but be careful about the installation. If the same will not handled properly, your replacement will go in vain. In this concern I am suggesting you the name of Sliding Doors of Chicago, Inc. as they can provide you the best product along with the installation according to my own experience.

Linda Jones, do you have any follow up on how satisfied you are with the narroline? We are considering the Narroline but haven't been able to test one out in a showroom and are concerned with how easily it will close. Thanks!

I'll way in once more here. Would you scale the two door panels, the Narroline would be heavier-there is more glass and that darned tempered double pane glass weighs more than the the wood astride it. We've carried a few hundred around to the back of houses and I can attest to this. The frames are the same, the locking mechanisms are the same, everything is the same high quality.

I got an Andersen French door slider about 7 years ago and have loved it since day one. Our previous doors were cheap and terrible and this one is a dream. I don't know which one it is and maybe they've changed in all these years but you will adore them!

jnmparker, we are extremely pleased with our Norroline doors. Don't worry about it, there are no drawbacks, the door closes easily, and I really love my new view.

We are also considering Narroline - even though we'll probably get Eagle (by Andersen) for our windows. Did you end up staining or painting the inside?

We are building house on lagoon- we are considering 4 panel door with center opening versus 2 separate doors- would 400 series be better than 200 and why?

I just ordered the 4 panel narroline doors because of the glass usage. It is also center opened. Well see when they arrive from now how it looks.

To those who opted for the 200 Narroline... Are you happy with your choice? I'm also considering the 4 panel sliders and prefer the 200 over the 400 in appearance, but don't want to sacrifice quality over form...

The only difference between the 400 Series Frenchwood Gliding vs the 200 Series Narroline door: 200 panels have narrower stiles and rails than the 400, and the 400 has more factory color/finish options. They use the same frame, weatherstrip, & glass.

The only problem I've seen in the hundreds I've done-the narrower stiles/rails do bow more easily than the 400 Series panels, so be careful on how you store them before installation & make sure you finish & seal every edge to protect from any moisture. Also make sure you report any operation/leaking issues right away, and Andersen has always been good about covering warrantied items.

We are replacing our 8 foot tall patio slider and are also leaning toward 200 Narroline because we don't want to lose the view to the wood on 400. We were told by the installer and distributor that there is no difference between Barroline and the Permashield series. They pushed this because we had asked for pre finished wood as in the 400. Any thoughts or experiences?

PermaShield product is completely encased in vinyl to be maintenance free. Narroline is a maintenance free exterior but wood interior. They use nearly the same frame and have the same core structure. Also use the same hardware. That's the simplistic answer, what exactly are you looking for in a door?

We are building a new house and want a 12' wide 4 panel patio door. That is available in the 200 Narroline but not the Perma-shield, which you can get with only the single moving panel. We prefer the white interior too, which they do not make at all. UGH! I think we will probably go with the 200 Narroline and paint the interior frame white, since we will have wide white trim. Or should we keep the natural wood?

To anyone who has used an 8' gliding patio door, is the additional weight of a taller door hard on the stiles/rails? I am more concerned with performance than view. Which type (French doors, Narroline, etc.) would best endure years of use?

Doreen, Did you have the 8' Anderson Narrowline installed? Are you happy with its performance?

Kalli3. Yes, we went with the Narroline and we are satisfied with our choice. Quality, function appearance, without too much view obstruction from the frame. Also recommend the low e glass as we did. The house has southern exposure. Sound light and heat have been aided by Narroline.

Has anyone purchased the 200 Series with the mini-blinds in the doors? What are your thoughts?

I have not purchased one yet for my house, but have serviced a few of them. They are still quite new, so I can't speak to long term durability as an Andersen product-but the company that manufacturers the blind system for them has been around for many years, and I have had one of their entry door glass units for years with the same mechanism and it's great. I also am impressed with the 200 Series PermaShield door that it is installed in-it's been around for many decades.

The only thing I've had service calls for them is that the movement of the blinds is done by magnet through the glass & that magnet can be disengaged if moved too roughly(usually takes quite a rough movement to do it), but it's easy to re-engage so it's no big deal at all for a homeowner to fix in a few seconds.

Thanks, quasiexpert. I think my main concern is that the Silver Lines (which we've ordered) will look cheap (I have not been able to view in person). We are nearing the end of a significant remodel to our home and I think (hope!) it will be stunning. But I am hung up on how the Silver Line doors will look - it sounds like they are contractor grade which in my mind translates to cheap. So now I'm considering the 200 series which also has the mini blinds thinking they might be a nicer look. Any thoughts on all of that? Thanks!

We sell both doors, and I don't necessarily think you're getting a bad door with the SL, but to put it diplomatically-theres a reason the 200 Series is more expensive. Its just a nicer, more solid door, IMHO. And nicer looking to me.

Thank you for your honesty! I appreciate your thoughts and insights.

LInda Jones, now that a few years have passed, are you happy with your choice of Narrowline, Andersen 200 sliding doors? We have recently moved into an older home, with a beautiful view, and have the same decision to make, wanting to maximize the view.

We have a house on the bay in NJ. Will the Narroline doors hold up? I can’t find a wind rating.

400 series are the way to go. The bottom plates allow water to drain the 200 doesn't. 200 series is considered a builders model.

we installed a 67" anderson e series awning in the kitchen. we are considering narroline, A series and E series for the 12 foot and 8 foot sliders. we also like the maximum view on narroline but are concerned about exterior and interior matching to the e series we installed. that one is wood pine interior and black exterior. also the window is aluminum exterior. any thoughts?

dt516, I'm not sure if you've already gotten your doors by now? The A & E series have the same black exterior & pine interior available, the only difference will be the material under the paint. E is aluminum, the A is fiberglass and/or Fibrex.

Thanks! We actually STILL have not yet ordered our doors. So with the A line will it look the same even though the exterior material is different? Also we’d actually really like to go with the narroline since everyone here seems to be real happy with it. Anyone put in narroline slider with e series windows?

Uri-there will be a neglible difference due to material difference, yes. But I don't think you'll be unhappy with the A Series. The A Series is also a bit more forgiving to mistakes during the process.

The Narroline will be fine as well, just be sure to finish all unfinished wood on the panels-if not before install, then make sure to remove all weatherstrip to do it right later. In many years of service work, that was the main problem I found-unfinished wood soaking up moisture & warping. When that's done & installed correctly, normally a great experience & the most glass area possible!

Do the narroline doors have more glass than the e line?

Are the 200 series doors sold by Home Depot the same quality as those bought directly from Andersen? I'm only doing one patio door, not a whole house, and I've been told that Andersen direct will be more expensive because I won't get the discount I would for a larger order. Thanks.

We are considering 200 series narroline in a four panel center open design. Are you happy with the performance and seal of the doors a few years down the road?

We are purchasing the 200 Narroline 4 panel doors. Should I have the factory paint the interior? My builder wants to have his painter finish the interior so we can receive the doors 2 weeks earlier.

Also, do any of you have the insect screens and use or enjoy them? Are they visible from the inside?

Thank you for any responses!

@dt516

@Doreen Dourdounas @Joanne Foggy @Linda Jones @Les Jones

Painter can match your interior trim so I would go with the recommendation of your builder. Screens are a personal choice.. for those who love having the doors and window open during spring and fall, screens are a must. You can always remove them when you are not using them to enjoy a clearer view in the off seasons . All the best!

After 16 years doing factory service for Andersen, there is only one way I would allow finishing onsite.

The finishing must be done with the panels completely removed from the frame and all weatherstripping must be removed. Every little bit of unfinished wood must be sealed to protect from moisture. Only after the finishing is completely dry and verified to be covering all raw wood can the weatherstripping be reattached & the panels reinstalled in the frame. AW never refused to give replacement parts to my customers even if this wasn't done, but the frustration of bowed panels and having your door leaking moisture & air until you get the replacements finished & installed will make you wish you would've insisted from the beginning.

This goes for all raw wood interiors on all AW products, but the 200S Narroline doors are the most susceptible to damage due to the large glass area & related narrow stiles & rails.

As far as the screens-yes they are very useful and work very well as long as they are installed properly(amazing how many I've had to flip right side up🙄). They are visible from the inside, but very easy to remove and store if you don't need them. From what i understand-they won't do the virtually invisible Truscene screen option[available on the windows] on the doors because they are simply not noticeable enough, and people will walk into them.

@Joanne Foggy and @quasiexpert thank you so much!

Ordered the doors today!

Review of Andersen Windows and Doors’ “Big Door Architectural Collection” (https://www.andersenwindows.com/windows-and-doors/doors/big-doors).

We bought two Andersen “Big Doors” at a price of $24,000 in June 2021. The doors finally arrived at the end of November. They are now installed and span most of the wall of our living room. They come with very narrow stiles, and we ordered ours with brushed-nickel hardware and maple wood finish. If you want a modern, minimalist look it’s hard beat these doors!

Alas, they are not good doors. The most serious issue is that they leak. When it rains the water runs across the sill and underneath the doors to an inside channel, where we use a sponge to keep the water from reaching our new hardwood floors. The doors are actually designed this way. They sit on rollers that are raised from the floor, and water can flow to the inside. Andersen uses an aluminum threshold, called a “nose”, to essentially cover up the water. The water supposedly runs off through weep holes, although on ours it stays for days at a time.

What do you do if water rises above the edge of the inside channel? Andersen’s solution is a threshold with a 1.5” high edge or “lip” that literally functions as a dam. The lip of the nose protrudes about an inch above the bottom of the doors, so if water ever reached that level, the wood frame would get soaked and ruined. The rail is also a serious trip hazard because it sits right across the opening where you walk.

Needless to say, if water can run to the inside, the door is also not airtight. We live in Boston, and we can feel the draft of cold air coming through the bottom of the doors whenever there’s a wind is against the doors. That’s not quite as upsetting as the water, but it is also not exactly what you expect from a door at this price point.

Build quality is also surprisingly poor. Our doors came with a poly finish (which we paid extra for), but after two months it is already beginning to peel around the glass (we think from condensation water). We have asked Andersen to fix it under their “best in business” warranty (supposedly including 20 years on the finish), but our request has been ignored despite repeated tries.

This gets to the most frustrating part of the Andersen experience: it is almost impossible to communicate directly with Andersen. From deciding specs to handling installation issues, you can only deal with Andersen indirectly through the dealer, which in our case is National Lumber. Our point person in NL was nice enough, but he had no experience with these doors (very few do as we have discovered), and the technical support we needed from Andersen was never there. A local Andersen sales rep shared an installation video (it’s actually a recorded webinar), but you can’t talk to any Andersen person with technical knowledge. Attempts to contact them by us or by our contractor were resolutely ignored.

Long after the doors were installed a rep from Andersen showed up, but he essentially just confirmed that the doors are indeed leaky (“I didn’t design them”), and he refused to answer any direct questions, including the one about fixing the peeling finish under warranty.

Andersen is marketing their Big Door Architectural Series as a high-end product, with prices to boot, but their service is decidedly bottom-end. The design of the doors, while aesthetically pleasing, is problematic. But the lack of support is infuriating. Perhaps Andersen’s makes decent budget doors and windows that big-box outlets like Home Depot and Lowes can readily service; but Andersen is entirely unprepared to operate in the upscale market. We made a bad choice.

[Taglines: Andersen Windows and Doors complaint; Multiglide; Leaking and drafty doors; lack of Andersen service; tripping hazard; water problem; ignoring customer pleas for help; no service; will not honor warranty].

There are some complaints on the andersen site about the narroline sliding door screens. Someone was complaing that there are gaps on the top and bottom of the screen doors and insects can come into the house. For those of you above who own this door - has this been a problem? Thanks

dt516,

The main thing I've seen when dealing with AW's sliding screens are adjustment-related. In particular upside down installation. The spring rollers belong on the top, and the adjustable rollers on the bottom. Beyond that, they're very easy to install, adjust, and replace parts on them. The rollers take about 10 seconds each, and the handle about a minute.

We have just ordered a renewal by Anderson narrow line sliding patio door. I wish we had thought more about having to stain these and the hassle associated with it. Since it is a sliding door it really makes sense to stain before installation but I don’t know how to make that happen. Will they be willing to deliver ahead so we can get them stained before installation?
And not sure how to find a pro to do it for us. Since we are spending all this money, we want it done right to protect our investment. Renewals by Anderson won’t recommend anyone to do it.

Karen, it's not hard to take the door panels out after it's fully installed. All you need is a philips screw driver. However-if you could have them delivered ahead of time, that would be ideal.

We are replacing 3 sliding patios doors. They are all on the larger side. One is 8ft by 8ft, another is 8ft by 6ft wide and the other one is 6ft by 8 ft wide. We are deciding between the 200 series and the A series. The reason we like the 200 series narroline is for reasons listed above. We have a lot of windows near the sliders that have a more contemporary look with more glass and less molding. When all the window treatments are up I love the view. It’s a panoramic view where it feels like I’m outside. The main reason we are considering the A series is because it has a top hung screen and has fiberglass outside. It also has a multi lock and seem to glide smoother. Which is a concern for us because the doors are so big and heavy. We are worried about the look and loss of view from the extra molding. We are looking to do smart sun glass and heatlock. I also read that the lowE glass is better on the A series than the 200 series. Our current sliders screens are impossible to open and close. They get stuck on the track because they are bottom glide not top hung. I see everyone seems to love their 200 narroline. Does anyone have issues with the screen sliding or any other concerns I mentioned? Has anyone done the A series and how do they like that door? And is the view obstructed with the extra molding? Also, has anyone purchased the foot lock and does it make a difference?
I’m looking forward to hearing feedback. This decision is haunting us.

One piece of advice I give is use an Anderson installer. Our installer is great and did a wonderful job but not an Anderson installer. None were available. So every single problem we have had were blown off by Anderson. They even sent a regional rep out at one point who also rejected all of our complaints and blamed our contractor. See my original post on all of our issues. Anderson customer service in our case, never helped us. Everything was denied because of who we used to install. That is their business model.

We recently replaced 3 Pella patio doors because all three rotted (terrible product!). Pella had inside screens which were great for operation with the sand, but not so good to close at night due to the bugs. We bought Anderson E-Series doors, primarily because the screens roll from the top. We were told by two different lumber companies that Anderson E-Series and JeldWen were the only two options for top rolling screens. The doors are beautiful--narrowline with lots of glass. The doors are heavier but open and close easily. So far, we are extremely happy with them. No wind or water leaks, and insulation is great as the weather gets colder.

Thank you for your insight Valerie. E series was ideal for us because it had all the bells and whistles of the A series and has the option of narrow molding. Our contractor told us the size of our opening is a half an inch bigger than the e series door and to go custom would
add too much to the cost. So we considered the A line instead. has the top gliding screen but the molding is thicker so less glass. We’re not sure if we’d be happy with all that molding when we’re
used to having more glass