Impact Patio Doors Miami: Multi-Slide & Large Opening Systems
Open an entire wall to the outdoors while maintaining full hurricane protection — multi-slide, bi-fold, lift-and-slide, and pocket systems for South Florida living.
South Florida living revolves around the outdoors: pool decks, covered terraces, waterfront views, and year-round entertaining in the open air. Impact patio doors are the products that make this lifestyle possible while keeping your home sealed against hurricanes. Unlike a standard two-panel slider or a pair of French doors, patio door systems encompass the full spectrum of large-opening configurations, from multi-slide stacking panels to bi-fold accordion walls to lift-and-slide systems that glide effortlessly on heavy-duty tracks.
These are the doors that can open an entire wall of your living room to a covered lanai, create a seamless threshold between a great room and a pool deck, or transform a penthouse balcony into an extension of the interior living space. They are also among the most complex and expensive impact door products on the market, which makes understanding your options essential before you invest.
This guide breaks down the different types of impact patio doors available in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, their performance characteristics, typical costs, and the critical details you need to evaluate when choosing a system for your home.
How Impact Patio Doors Work
All impact patio doors share the same fundamental protection mechanism as any other impact-rated product: laminated glass consisting of two panes of tempered or heat-strengthened glass bonded to a PVB or SGP interlayer, mounted in reinforced frames that are engineered to withstand the debris impact and cyclic wind pressures specified by the Florida Building Code. What distinguishes patio door systems from standard sliders or French doors is the scale and complexity of the opening they create.
Where a typical impact sliding glass door covers an opening of 6 to 12 feet with two or three panels, patio door systems can span 16, 20, or even 30 feet or more. Achieving hurricane certification across these wide openings requires engineering solutions that go well beyond scaling up a standard slider. Each system type uses a different mechanical approach.
Multi-Slide (Stacking) Systems
Multi-slide doors use multiple panels that travel along parallel tracks. When opened, the panels slide behind each other and stack at one or both ends of the opening. A four-panel multi-slide, for example, might have three moving panels that stack behind one fixed panel, creating a clear opening equal to three-quarters of the total wall width. Some configurations slide the panels into a wall pocket so they disappear entirely, leaving a completely unobstructed opening.
The Mr. Glass MG-1100 multi-track system is one of the products designed specifically for these applications, with track configurations supporting anywhere from three to eight or more panels on multiple parallel rails. Each panel rides on heavy-duty stainless steel rollers engineered for smooth operation even at weights of 300 to 500 pounds per panel.
Bi-Fold (Folding/Accordion) Systems
Bi-fold patio doors consist of multiple panels connected by hinges that fold against each other like an accordion. When fully opened, the entire panel assembly folds and stacks to one side (or splits to both sides) of the opening. A typical bi-fold system uses four to eight panels and can cover openings of 12 to 20 feet or wider. The panels fold flat against each other, occupying minimal space at the jamb and leaving the opening almost entirely clear.
The engineering challenge with impact-rated bi-fold doors lies in the hinge connections between panels. Each hinge point must maintain its structural integrity under the extreme positive and negative pressure cycles of a hurricane while also allowing smooth folding operation in daily use. The top track, which carries the weight of the panels as they fold, must be securely anchored to a structural header capable of supporting the combined load.
Lift-and-Slide Systems
Lift-and-slide doors use a clever mechanical principle: when the handle is turned to the open position, the panel lifts slightly off the sill seal, allowing it to glide freely along the track. When the handle returns to the closed position, the panel drops back down onto a compression gasket, creating a tight seal against air and water infiltration. This lift-and-drop action means that even very large, heavy panels can slide with minimal effort because they are not dragging across the seal during operation.
Lift-and-slide systems are prized for their superior air and water performance compared to standard sliders, because the compression seal is fully engaged when the door is closed rather than relying on friction and gravity alone. They are commonly used for two-panel and three-panel configurations where individual panels may weigh 400 to 800 pounds or more.
Pocket Systems
Pocket patio doors take the multi-slide concept to its logical extreme: the panels slide completely into a cavity built into the adjacent wall. When open, there is no visible door panel, no stacking at the jamb, and no obstruction of any kind. The wall simply ends and the outdoor space begins. Pocket systems deliver the most dramatic indoor-outdoor experience possible, but they require the most complex construction because the wall cavity must be engineered to house the panels, the tracks, and the structural support needed for hurricane resistance.
Benefits of Impact Patio Doors
The definitive indoor-outdoor living product for South Florida homes — here is what they deliver beyond hurricane protection.
Expansive Openings
No other door type can create openings as wide as a multi-slide, bi-fold, or pocket system. A 20-foot bi-fold wall opening fundamentally changes the character of a room.
Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Transition
Low-profile or flush sill options allow the floor surface to continue from inside to outside with minimal or no step, creating true continuity between interior and exterior spaces.
Full-Width Hurricane Protection
Every panel in the system is impact-rated, so the entire wall is protected without the need for shutters — especially important for large openings where deploying shutters would be impractical.
Natural Light & Ventilation
Even when closed, the large glass areas flood the interior with daylight. When opened, the wide span creates cross-ventilation that can cool the home naturally on mild Miami days.
Property Value
Large-opening patio door systems are among the most sought-after features in the South Florida luxury real estate market. Buyers in Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach specifically look for them.
Insurance Savings
Like all impact-rated products, patio door systems contribute to the opening protection credits on your wind mitigation inspection, which can significantly reduce your homeowner's insurance premiums.
The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor Living System
Impact patio doors can span 20, 25, or even 30+ feet of wall opening — turning an enclosed living room into an open-air pavilion at will, while maintaining full hurricane protection across the entire width.
Best Applications for Impact Patio Doors
Patio door systems are designed for specific situations where a standard slider or French door cannot deliver the opening width, visual impact, or operational flexibility that the space demands.
- Pool and deck areas: The classic Miami application. A multi-slide or bi-fold system along the back of a home opens the living room or family room directly onto the pool deck, turning two separate spaces into one when the weather allows.
- Outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas: Homes with covered outdoor kitchens benefit from a wide-opening patio door that connects the indoor kitchen to the outdoor cooking and dining area. When the doors are open, the chef can move freely between both spaces.
- Waterfront properties: Homes on Biscayne Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway, or the oceanfront use patio door systems to maximize views and create a sense of being on the water even when inside. The uninterrupted glass wall becomes a living mural of the waterscape.
- Penthouse and high-rise units: Luxury condominiums in Brickell, Edgewater, and Sunny Isles Beach specify patio door systems for their balcony openings to create the widest possible connection between interior living space and the panoramic views that define the South Florida skyline.
- Commercial hospitality spaces: Restaurants, hotel lobbies, and event venues throughout Miami use impact-rated patio door systems to create flexible indoor-outdoor spaces that can be configured for weather conditions while meeting building code requirements.
For openings that do not require the full width of a patio door system, a standard impact sliding glass door handles most two-panel and three-panel needs at a lower price point. And for openings where you prefer swing-open operation rather than sliding or folding panels, impact French doors are a proven alternative.
Impact Rating and Code Compliance
Large-opening patio door systems face some of the most demanding certification requirements in the impact product industry.
For full details on the testing standards and code requirements that apply to all impact products in the HVHZ, visit our Florida Building Code guide.
Frame Material and Hardware Options
The frame and hardware requirements for patio door systems are driven by the scale of the openings and the weight of the panels.
Thermally Broken Aluminum
Pros
- Structural rigidity for wide spans and heavy panels
- Narrow frame profiles maximize glass area
- Thermal breaks reduce heat transfer
- Wide range of powder-coat and anodized finishes
- Available with steel reinforcement for widest openings
Cons
- Higher cost than standard materials
- Requires proper thermal break for energy performance
Best for: Virtually all impact patio door systems, especially large multi-panel configurations
Fiberglass (Select Systems)
Pros
- Better natural thermal performance than aluminum
- Does not conduct heat
- No corrosion risk in salt air
Cons
- Less widely available for HVHZ market
- Fewer multi-slide and bi-fold configurations
- Limited manufacturer options
Best for: Energy-focused projects where available configurations match the opening requirements
Track and Roller Systems
Energy Considerations
Large-opening patio door systems introduce significantly more glass area into the building envelope than any other product type. In Miami's climate, where solar heat gain is the dominant energy challenge, the glass specification becomes critically important for controlling cooling costs.
- Low-E coatings: Essential for patio door systems. A quality Low-E coating can reduce solar heat gain by 60 to 75 percent compared to clear laminated glass, which translates directly to lower air conditioning costs when you have 20 or more feet of glass facing the afternoon sun.
- Tinted glass: Gray, bronze, and blue-green tints reduce visible light transmission and solar heat gain. Tinted laminated glass is a popular choice for west-facing and south-facing patio door openings where solar exposure is most intense.
- Insulated laminated glass: Some patio door systems offer an insulated glass unit (IGU) that combines the laminated impact layer with an additional air or argon-filled gap for enhanced thermal insulation. This configuration provides the best energy performance but increases panel weight and cost.
Impact Patio Door Costs in Miami
Impact patio door systems are among the most expensive impact products per opening, reflecting the engineering complexity, the volume of materials, and the specialized installation required. Pricing varies widely based on system type, opening width, number of panels, and finish selections.
Multi-Slide (3–4 panels, 10–16ft)
Multi-Slide (5–8 panels, 16–30ft)
Premium wide-span systems
Bi-Fold (4–6 panels, 12–20ft)
Bi-Fold (6–8 panels, 20–30ft)
Large-scale accordion systems
Lift-and-Slide (2–3 panels)
Pocket System (into wall cavity)
Includes wall cavity construction
These installed prices include the door system, frame, track, hardware, standard installation, and permit fees. They do not include structural header upgrades, sill preparation, interior or exterior finish work beyond standard trim, or wall cavity construction for pocket systems. Those items are project-specific and should be quoted separately by your contractor.
For a comparison with other impact door types and their pricing, see our comprehensive cost guide. If the pricing of a full patio door system exceeds your budget, a standard impact sliding glass door in a two-panel or three-panel configuration provides solid hurricane protection at a significantly lower price point.
What to Look for When Buying Impact Patio Doors
Purchasing an impact patio door system is one of the largest single-product investments in a home renovation or new construction project. The complexity of these systems means there are more variables to evaluate than with a standard door. Here are the critical factors to assess.
When paired with impact windows throughout the rest of the home, an impact patio door system completes the full opening protection package that earns you the maximum insurance premium discount and provides continuous hurricane protection without the need to deploy shutters before every storm.
Ready to Protect Your Miami Home?
National Glass & Construction has been installing impact-resistant doors and windows across South Florida for over 35 years. Get your free, no-obligation estimate today.