Can I replace just the glass in my patio door instead?

Often, yes. If the frame and rollers are sound and only the glass has fogged or cracked, a new sealed unit goes into the existing panel, in safety glass made to size. It's usually quicker and less disruptive than a new door. See door glass replacement for how it works.

What is the average lifespan of a patio door?

There's no honest single number. It depends on the frame, how hard the door's used and how exposed it is; a door facing the wind up on the Mountain has a tougher life than a sheltered one. Watch for a bent or soft frame, leaks that survive repairs, and parts nobody makes.

Do I need a permit to widen a patio door opening?

Yes. In Hamilton, creating a door opening or making one bigger needs a building permit, and the header above it is part of that work. A same-size swap generally doesn't, unless a fire rating applies. Burlington and Grimsby have their own building departments, so check there.

Is there a rebate for a new patio door?

There's a provincial one, not a City one. The Home Renovation Savings Program pays per opening for ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors, through a home energy evaluation and alongside other upgrades. New glass in an old door doesn't count. Check the program's current rules first.

Does a new patio door on a heritage house need approval?

Yes, if the house is designated or in a heritage conservation district. Replacing any exterior door there needs a Heritage Permit before work starts, and there's no fee. Fixing broken glass usually doesn't. Our heritage districts guide shows how to check your address.

New patio doors

Replacing a sliding or hinged patio door

If the frame's bent, the sill leaks every storm, or the slider's been patched more times than you can count, a new patio door may be the honest answer. Keep the same opening and you generally skip the building permit; widen it and you won't. We connect you with an independent local installer who quotes the door, the opening and any permit work.

Same opening or wider, explained
Heritage approval before you order
A repair considered first

Get a free quote 905-540-1432

Keeping the old opening size keeps the job simpler.

Worn out?

Signs a patio door is past fixing

There's no set age when a patio door is finished. If one small thing is wrong, try sliding door repair first. Otherwise, watch for these:

A bent, split or soft frame

Rollers and handles can't fix a frame that's out of shape.

Leaks that survive repairs

If water still gets in along the sill after new weatherstrip and rollers, the door or its drainage has failed.

Parts nobody makes

When a pro can't match rollers or a lock for an older slider, replacing becomes the practical choice.

Fog plus a tired frame

Fog alone is a glass job. Fog with a worn, dragging door is often the point to replace the lot.

Permits

Same opening or a wider one? The permit difference

Hamilton's building permit page says same-size, same-location window replacement needs no permit where no fire-resistance rating applies, and a same-size door swap is generally treated alike. Creating, enlarging or moving a door opening does need one, as does work on the header above it. Confirm on the City's building permit page before you order; near the LRT corridor, Metrolinx approval may come first.

A wider opening adds framing, drawings and inspections. In Burlington or Grimsby, their own building departments set the rules.

Choosing a door

Sliding, hinged and multi-panel doors

Sliders don't swing into the room, which suits a tight kitchen. Hinged garden doors open wide and seal firmly but need floor space for the swing. Multi-panel doors often mean a wider opening, and so a permit.

Older houses rarely match standard sizes, so a pro measures the rough opening, not the old door. Replacing windows too? One visit can measure for replacement windows as well.

Glass and ratings

Safety glass and ENERGY STAR ratings

Glass in sliding doors must be safety glass, tempered or laminated, under the Ontario Building Code. Every new patio door comes that way.

For energy claims, look for ENERGY STAR certification on the specific model. The provincial Home Renovation Savings Program pays per opening for certified doors, but it runs through a home energy evaluation and needs more than one upgrade, so check its current rules first. There's no City of Hamilton program for new doors.

Heritage

Heritage properties: approval before you order

If your house is designated or in one of Hamilton's heritage conservation districts, replacing an exterior door, back patio door included, needs a Heritage Permit first. So does a removable storm door. It's free, but no building permit is issued until it's approved.

Check the City's heritage map before ordering anything made to measure. Our heritage districts guide covers what needs a permit and what doesn't.

Comparing quotes

Price factors and how to compare quotes

Ruled out the smaller door fixes? These move a patio door quote:

Door type, width and number of panels
Glass: double or triple pane, coatings, blinds or grilles
Same opening or wider, with the header, drawings and permit
The sill and subfloor once the old door is out
Trim, capping, and any flooring or deck work
Matching a period look on a heritage house

Compare quotes line by line: removal, trim on both sides, the permit. Ask for it in writing with the door and the labour listed separately, and ask what could change once the old door's out.

Get patio door quotes

Free to ask. Independent local installers quote the job.

Questions

New patio door questions

Explore your options

Local installers replace patio doors across Hamilton and the former towns, including Hamilton Mountain, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Binbrook and Glanbrook and Waterdown.

Send the door's width and a photo from inside

Rough width and height and a photo from each side is plenty to start. We'll pass it to a local installer who replaces patio doors. If a repair would do, they'll say so.