See How Liftslide Doors are Made in Andersen’s Oceanside Manufacturing Facility
For projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible, there’s no better option than our Liftslide Door. See how we make each and every moving glass wall system to the highest quality standards in this tour with architect Vincent Appel and builder Nick Schiffer.
What is a Liftslide Door?
The Liftslide Door is our most premium moving glass wall system. It can stretch up to 16 feet tall and 60 feet wide, or it can come in window size for a perfect connection between a kitchen and outdoor living space. It comes in a variety of material options, including uniquely wood-clad aluminum, all aluminum and all wood. It can curve, meet at corners, pocket into a wall, be styled like a barn door and more. Finish options include 50 standard colors, anodized options and a variety of wood species and wood stains. All of this means that you can create a custom look for your project while still staying within standard offerings, which is why there’s no better option for your next luxury custom home.
6 notable details behind the Liftslide Door’s design
Let’s review the making of our Liftslide Door. These six details show how the process creates both high performance and great beauty with a relentless commitment to quality testing along the way.
1. Wood-clad aluminum creates clean lines
No splicing or finger joints are needed to create the extra-long continuous framing around doors that can reach 14 feet in height. This is because Andersen has perfected a process that uses an aluminum core with a pressure-fit wood cladding — the opposite of our aluminum-clad wood windows and doors. The aluminum helps provide stability, the wood provides beauty and a thermal barrier reduces energy transfer so the performance requirements of various climates can be met.
2. Inseparable corners with a flawless finish
Several innovations were created to make sure that the wood-clad aluminum frames can be assembled in a way that’s clean and structurally sound. First, a blade that cuts through the wood, thermal barrier and aluminum all at once which creates a perfectly clean miter. A custom pneumatic press is then used to crimp in the inside of the corner, creating an inseparable joint and avoiding any visible gap that you would see with a butt joint. Each corner is joined one at a time with a team member operating the press to ensure the attention to detail needed at this critical step. When the pressing is finished, the squeeze-out that results is cleaned with a vinegar solution.
3. Soaring heights and sweeping widths with structural integrity
The Liftslide Door is the largest moving glass wall system we offer. With such large sizes available, structural integrity is of the utmost importance. This is why we cap wood-clad frames at a height of 14 feet tall. This allows for the difference in expansion and contraction rates between the varied materials without compromising a unit’s structural integrity over time. For the largest possible size, look to our all-aluminum Liftslide Door, which can be up to 16 feet tall. One notable feature available with aluminum is that it’s sandblasted before anodizing for a unique matte texture, which creates a clean, sophisticated look. For those who prefer the natural beauty of wood, all-wood Liftslide Doors are also available and capped at 12 feet tall.
4. Flush sills with water management
Nothing disrupts the aesthetics of a large opening like a poorly executed sill. This is why they offer two flush track options, including the patented flush drainage track shown in the video. Weep and drainage systems are integrated into the tracks and fitted with stainless steel filter screens to help keep debris out. A scribed line on the upper track allows for the whole system to be set at your final finished floor height. The finished floor material fills the space between the tracks. Once the wood, concrete or other flooring material is installed, the tracks only protrude a discrete 3/16-inch. The tracks are the same anodized aluminum that’s used as a frame finish for a perfect match.
5. Built-in jacking screws ease install (and adjustment)
One challenge with extra-large openings is that structural framing can sag or deflect. This is where jacking screws come in. Jacking screws are built into our frames and have outer barrels that lock into the jambs and head while the inner barrel is free to rotate. The height of the inner barrel can be adjusted with a hex key, so it serves as an adjustable shim. A similar system is built into the sill to allow for adjustability there. All this fine tuning makes it much easier to plumb, level and square units. Plus, these built-in systems allow for any adjustments that may be needed over time.
6. Non-negotiable quality control measures at multiple steps
Every single Liftslide Door made at the Oceanside facility is tested to the rough opening dimension before crating. This is done by installing panels into an adjustable rough opening on the factory floor and checking that they operate as designed. For units that aren’t at 90°, like the serpentine door in the video, each piece of glass is measured against a one-to-one scale mockup to verify the radius is the exact size required. Full-scale paper mockups of doors are shipped to the builder, so they can verify sizing onsite — the running joke is that if there aren’t boot marks on the mockup, it hasn’t been tested. Many other quality control measures are built into the manufacturing process. These are just a few of the steps that go above and beyond.
Leveraging the human hand and high-tech manufacturing
The Oceanside manufacturing facility proves that you don't have to choose between efficiency and craftsmanship. Despite the impressive machinery, there is a "tremendous amount of hand" involved in the process of making Liftslide Doors.
You see this in the hand-applied glazing. The team uses specialized tools created specifically to apply a consistent, perfect bead all the way around the unit. This isn't just aesthetic; it ensures a mechanical connection and a superior seal.
By understanding the constraints and possibilities of this manufacturing process, you can push the limits of design, with the confidence that your product will perform in the field. Tune in to see how Appel and Schiffer are doing just that in a soon-to-be-revealed project.
In the meantime, are you ready to see what’s possible for your next build?
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