If you’re considering an Alside 6100 sliding door you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ll be looking at the good and the bad of the popular 6100 model sliding patio door to see if it’s the right solution for you.
In addition, we’ll answer commonly asked questions about the 6100 sliding door and if you have more questions you can post a comment below. We read every comment and do our best to respond to as many as possible.
Let’s start with the history of the Alside 6100 sliding door
These doors have been around for a VERY LONG time which is not always a great thing. I started dealing with Alside in 2004 and the 6100 model was a popular door back then. That means as of today it’s about 20 years old and getting older every day.
There have been some improvements over the years but not many. Rather than improving the quality of this door Alside came out with the newer Promenade or 6400 / 6500 model doors a few years ago.
When the newer model came out there was talk that the 6100 door would be discontinued. I can only assume the reason they kept the old 6100 model, at the same cost as the newer model, is because people really liked it. Installers liked it, salespeople liked it and customers liked it.
Why do people like the Alside 6100 sliding door?
Customers tend to like this sliding door because it’s very easy to operate. When installed correctly it slides very smoothly and can be opened with very little force.
The air infiltration rates of these doors are also pretty good. You’ll find an air infiltration rating of 0.10 for the most popular sizes and that means you’re not likely to feel a draft through this door.
Installers like this sliding door model because it comes with a knocked down frame. This means it’s easy to transport because it does not come with a big bulky frame. The door will come in 4 boxes which can easily be loaded into a pickup truck. That might not be too important to the customer, but to the installer it’s a great feature.
This door also has a wood frame inside a vinyl covering. Some people want to avoid wood when replacing windows, but this isn’t really a huge concern. The wood is sealed behind the vinyl and it’s been a relatively trouble free configuration.
The salesman who is pushing this model will tell you the wood frame adds to the structural integrity of the door. In reality doors that are all vinyl are also very good so this wood doesn’t make a huge difference, but it’s also not something to be afraid of.
What are the other popular features of this model?
The other features that you’ll hear about from a window salesman are the composite rollers, aluminum reinforcement, the multi point locks and the optional door lock (also called a vent lock).
These features are nice, but also very common on many doors so they’re not very remarkable.
If this door is so great why is there a newer model?
This was the question everyone was asking when the newer 6400 door was released at the same prices. Even the Alside salespeople had a hard time explaining the reasoning for the new model.
Over time it was clear that the newer model could come in faster. In addition, the new model was all vinyl so there was no opportunity for competing salesmen to make the wood frame of the 6100 model into an issue.
The newer model would also be available in sanded 8′ heights vs the custom 8′ hight, with extended lead time, of the 6100 door.
The newer model was also available in different frame sizes including contemporary, classic and French style sliding door.
Many companies did switch to primarily offering the 6400 Promenade model. My company is included in that. I generally prefer to offer the newer product lines rather than products that were designed 20 years ago, but you do still see many companies offering the older 6100 sliding door model.
What sizes are available for the Alside 6100 sliding doors?
These doors are available in a range of standard sizes and custom sizes up to 12′ wide. The doors can be ordered in 2 panel, 3 panel and 4 panel configurations.
In a 2 panel configuration the door can be ordered with either side opening but when it’s installed one side will be fixed and one side will be active. The 3 panel door is only available with the center panel active. In a 4 panel configuration the two center panels both open by sliding to the sides and the two end panels are fixed. This can be a beautiful configuration if you have enough space for a 12′ wide door.
The min size of a 2 panel door is 4′ wide by 8′ tall. The max size of a 4 panel door is 12′ wide by 6′ tall. These doors will work great in most applications, but if you’re looking for stacking doors or an entire wall of sliding doors they may not be the best fit.
What’s the bottom line?
At the end of the day this door is perfectly nice. My company offered them for years and will still order them if a custom requests it. We’ve switched to the newer 6400 model is most cases since I like to stay up to date. Recommending a 20 year old model doesn’t necessarily make sense to me so it’s not a product my company recommends any longer.
If you’re asking my advice I’d say to get one of the newer models instead.
Other posts relating to Alside windows and doors that you might find helpful:
- Can you by Alside windows and doors online?
- Mezzo window reviews
- Alside Patio Door warranty information
- Alside window complaints
- Who are the best window companies in your town
How can you find a great window company?
When shopping for windows I do always suggest finding a great installation company before you fall in love with any particular window model. There are plenty of great window options out there. Not as many local companies are great to work with.
To know which companies to avoid you can find common window sales tactics here. That’s become one of the most popular sections on the site.
Remember, for more great window company info you can find our suggestions for the best local companies in 2023 right here.
There’s no need to work with a company that gives you the run-around or makes the process difficult. There are plenty of fish in the sea as they say. The best way to get started is to check out our list of great window companies here.
Must Read Content:
Find the best window company in your town
Replacement window reviews by manufacturer
Quote & order windows by email with no pushy salesman
This might be the future of replacement windows!