Patio doors on wrong way

shebanjoed

New house and patio doors have been fitted the wrong way round. Opinion is mixed - one is that it is making it easier for a burglar and in winter the tracks will get damaged/ice up/won't get door open (from a joiner) another opinion is that the previous owners could have wanted it like that as it looks better from the inside and if a burglar is set on getting in that way dsn't make a difference what way round they are (from a builder).

Now I'm looking at these doors and the track is on the outside so to me (in my humble opinion) they've been installed wrongly and if there is a fire and the tracks have frozen I am not escaping that way.

I don't have a lot of money so is there anyone out there who knows about patio doors? Worth leaving as is or pay the money to have them "turned round"?

Thanks.

Chunks

My track is on the outside (as installed by the builder). 25 years on and never had a problem. If push comes to shove - the door will 'open' in an emergency

crazyguy

Aggree with Chunks, also if thieves want to get into a property then no matter what you have in place there is a way of opening almost any window or door so I wouldnt worry to much.

Yolina

Chunks wrote: »

My track is on the outside (as installed by the builder). 25 years on and never had a problem.

Same here, though "only" 22 years I just give it an occasional clean to keep it clear of leaves and the likes.

Edit: my terrace was comprehensively iced up the past couple of winter, yet there never were issues with the track icing up, no problem opening the doors when there was snow either.

shebanjoed

Thanks - maybe not a mistake then. Would be money wasted turning them round.

ormus

all mine have been on the outside. never a problem.
if my house ever sets on fire ill get out ok. an iced up:eek: patio door aint stopping me.

CharlieBilly

Mine were on outside too. I got some internal locks though but that said most windows and doors are easy to get it if you know what you are doing. You cam only make things harder for the opportunists out there

jennifernil

Why do you think they are the wrong way round?

Think about it......if the sliding bit was wet (due to rain) and you opened it, the wet side would be sliding inside the house and could make the inside of the fixed panel wet!

I have NEVER seen a patio door fitted with the sliding panel innermost.

For security, a decent door will have an "anti-lift" device fitted. If yours hasn't, it is easy to fit a lock that will prevent the panel being lifted easily.

27col

The sliding panels on my two patio doors are on the inside. The panels also tilt back at the top. Actually, I wish that they were on the outside because they interfere with the vertical blinds, when they are open.

jennifernil

Those sound strange.......tilting back at the top? Like tilt and turn windows?

I can imagine that would be a problem with blinds!

27col

They are similar to tilt and turn windows except that they are tilt and slide. We thought that they were a good idea at the time, but our experience is that they are a nuisance, because you have to have the vertical blinds pulled back out of the way if the window is open. or even if the window is closed and just tilted open at the top. Then the sun fades the carpet.