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Sliding Glass Doors vs. Bi-Fold Doors: Which Is Right for Your Patio?Sliding Glass Door Sizes: The Complete Spec Guide (2026)Large-Format Sliding Glass Doors: A Buyer's Spec GuideSliding Glass Doors: What Specs Actually Matter in 2026Sliding Glass Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec GuideBi-Fold Doors: The Complete Buyer's Guide for 2026Bi-Fold Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec Guide for 2026Folding Passthrough Windows: The Complete Buyer's GuideSliding Glass Doors vs. Bi-Fold Doors: Which Is Right for Your Patio?Sliding Glass Door Sizes: The Complete Spec Guide (2026)Large-Format Sliding Glass Doors: A Buyer's Spec GuideSliding Glass Doors: What Specs Actually Matter in 2026Sliding Glass Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec GuideBi-Fold Doors: The Complete Buyer's Guide for 2026Bi-Fold Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec Guide for 2026Folding Passthrough Windows: The Complete Buyer's Guide
Gladiator
Vol. IJacksonville, FloridaMonday, October 19, 2026

The Gladiator Dispatch

Doors · Windows · Modern Living — Straight From the Factory Floor

Sliding Glass Doors vs. Bi-Fold Doors: Which Is Right for Your Patio?
Sliding Doors

Sliding Glass Doors vs. Bi-Fold Doors: Which Is Right for Your Patio?

What Are the Main Performance Differences Between Sliding and Bi-Fold Glass Doors for a Patio? Sliding glass doors and bi-fold doors each open your patio in a fundamentally different way — and those mechanics drive almost every performance trade-off between...

8 min readOctober 14, 2026
Browse by Style
Why Gladiator · What to Watch For

What Sets Us Apart

01
Factory-Direct Pricing
You buy straight from the maker — no dealer markup, no showroom overhead. Watch for "direct" sellers who still route through a middleman.
02
Real Thermal Performance
NFRC-rated U-factors and genuine thermal breaks — not just a sleek frame. If a quote skips the numbers, ask why.
03
Coastal-Grade Aluminum
6063-T5 alloy engineered for salt air and wind load, backed by a 15-year warranty. Thin extrusions are the red flag.
04
Freight Done Right
Insured, liftgate-equipped, nationwide delivery with a Bill of Lading on every shipment. No surprise dock fees.
Latest Stories
Bi-Fold Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec Guide for 2026
Bi-Fold Doors

Bi-Fold Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec Guide for 2026

What exactly is a bi-fold door system — and how does it work? A bi-fold door (also called a folding or accordion door) is a multi-panel...

Oct 5, 2026 · 6 minRead →
Pass-Through

Folding Passthrough Windows: The Complete Buyer's Guide

What exactly is a folding passthrough window? A folding passthrough window is a multi-panel aluminum-framed glazed system that folds open over a counter, bar top, or...

Oct 3, 2026 · 7 minRead →
Sliding Glass Doors: The Complete Buyer's Guide for 2026
Sliding Doors

Sliding Glass Doors: The Complete Buyer's Guide for 2026

What should I look for when buying sliding glass doors in 2026? The most important factors are frame material, glass specification, impact/hurricane rating, thermal performance, and...

Oct 1, 2026 · 7 minRead →
Sliding Glass Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec Guide for 2026
Sliding Doors

Sliding Glass Doors: The Complete Buyer's Spec Guide for 2026

What should I look for when buying sliding glass doors in 2026? The single most important factors when buying sliding glass doors are frame material, glass...

Oct 1, 2026 · 8 minRead →
Servery Window vs. Pass-Through Window: Are They the Same?
Pass-Through

Servery Window vs. Pass-Through Window: Are They the Same?

Are Servery Windows and Pass-Through Windows the Same Thing? Yes — a servery window and a pass-through window are the same functional product, just named differently...

Sep 20, 2026 · 7 minRead →
Passthrough Window Screen & Weather Sealing Guide
Pass-Through

Passthrough Window Screen & Weather Sealing Guide

What is a passthrough window screen, and do folding passthrough windows need one? A passthrough window screen is a mesh barrier — typically retractable or panel-mounted...

Sep 19, 2026 · 8 minRead →
Aluminum Passthrough Windows: Benefits, Finishes & How to Choose
Pass-Through

Aluminum Passthrough Windows: Benefits, Finishes & How to Choose

What Is an Aluminum Passthrough Window? An aluminum passthrough window is a horizontally folding window system mounted over a counter or ledge that folds its panels...

Sep 19, 2026 · 6 minRead →
Kitchen Passthrough Window to the Patio: Design Guide
Pass-Through

Kitchen Passthrough Window to the Patio: Design Guide

What Is a Kitchen Passthrough Window to the Patio? A kitchen passthrough window is a horizontally-oriented opening cut between your interior kitchen counter and an outdoor...

Sep 19, 2026 · 7 minRead →
Pass-Through

Large Passthrough Windows: How Wide Can They Go?

How Wide Can a Passthrough Window Actually Be? A folding passthrough window can span anywhere from about 4 feet to well over 20 feet in total...

Sep 18, 2026 · 8 minRead →
Folding Passthrough Windows: What They Are & Why You Need One
Pass-Through

Folding Passthrough Windows: What They Are & Why You Need One

What Is a Passthrough Window? A passthrough window — also called a servery window, fold-down window, or bar window — is a wall opening fitted with...

Sep 17, 2026 · 2 minRead →
Pivot Doors for Indoor-Outdoor Living: A Buyer's Guide
Pivot Doors

Pivot Doors for Indoor-Outdoor Living: A Buyer's Guide

What makes a pivot door ideal for indoor-outdoor living? A pivot door is ideal for indoor-outdoor living because its center-hung or off-center pivot mechanism allows for...

Sep 12, 2026 · 6 minRead →
Bi-Fold Doors & Natural Light: Maximize Views at Home
Bi-Fold Doors

Bi-Fold Doors & Natural Light: Maximize Views at Home

Why Do Bi-Fold Doors Let in So Much More Natural Light? Bi-fold doors deliver dramatically more natural light than conventional hinged or sliding doors because their...

Sep 10, 2026 · 8 minRead →
Tips From the Floor
The Pro Desk
Tip No. 01
Measure the rough opening, not the old door
Order to the framed opening with proper deduction for shims and flashing. The most common sizing mistake on big panel systems.
Tip No. 02
Spec the glass before the frame color
Low-E coating and the right U-factor drive comfort and energy bills far more than finish. Lock performance first, looks second.
Tip No. 03
Plan the header for wide spans early
A 16-foot opening needs structural support designed in before drywall. Loop your contractor in at the quote stage, not install day.
Coming Down the Pipeline
New & Upcoming
Coming Soon

Slim-Frame Pivot Door 2.0

A narrower sightline, magnetic soft-close, and a concealed pivot hinge rated for oversized slabs.

Arriving Q3 2026
Coming Soon

Motorized Louvered Pergola

App-controlled aluminum louvers that pivot for sun or seal for rain, with integrated LED and a wind sensor.

Arriving Q3 2026
Coming Soon

Black-on-Black Bi-Fold Series

Matte black frames, black hardware, black track — a fully monochrome folding wall for modern builds.

Arriving Q4 2026
In This Issue · Outdoor Living

Define the Backyard. Aluminum Pergola Kits, Engineered to Last.

A patio without structure overhead always feels unfinished. See how a factory-direct aluminum pergola sharpens the architecture and creates a room you'll actually use.

Explore Pergolas →
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