Andersen Narroline vs Perma-Shield: door handing

Quick answer. For the 200 Series gliding patio door families covered by Andersen's guidance, handing starts from the exterior view and the position of the operating panel. But a door's hand does not mean that every replacement part is handed. The Narroline article specifically calls its interlock weatherstrip non-handed, while the jamb/frame weatherstrip follows the unit hand. ¹²

First make sure you have the right 200 Series door

Andersen's comparison guide separates the Perma-Shield gliding patio door, described with a vinyl-clad interior, from the Narroline, described with a wood interior. This is a useful initial recognition cue, not a substitute for actual product identification. ³

If your observed door does not correspond to either of the two documented interiors, stop before applying these handing rules to an unknown model. Photograph the interior finish, full panel layout and available product identifying evidence.

Stand in the correct place to label left and right

In the Narroline explanation, look from outside the home toward the installed door: if the operating/opening panel is on the left, the unit is left-handed. Andersen adds an important distinction: Narroline's operating panel is handed individually, while the stationary panel is ordered as stationary rather than handed. ¹⁴

For Perma-Shield, Andersen also uses the exterior operating-panel position to establish handing. Its example says a left-handed unit has panels ordered operating left and stationary left. This is the manufacturer's Perma-Shield ordering convention, not a reason to copy those names into a Narroline order. ⁵

Is the weatherstrip itself handed?

Make a no-guess order worksheet

1. Mark interior finish: wood / vinyl-clad / unsure and supply a photo. ³
2. Draw the door as seen from outdoors and mark operating versus stationary on each panel. ¹⁵
3. Label the suspect weatherstrip jamb/frame or interlock/meeting area, based on the actual mounting position. ²
4. Record unit handing and part handing as two separate fields. A Narroline interlock and a Narroline frame seal should not receive the same handed label without the component-specific check. ²
5. If the model, panel layout or part identity cannot be confirmed, stop before selecting a left/right catalog item.

The result is an evidence-supported request for a part-specific check—not a promise of cross-family compatibility, a field retrofit guide or permission to substitute patio-door seals. Handling heavy panels and altering door hardware require the appropriate manufacturer service instructions and qualified help where needed.

Sources and references

All footnoted manufacturer facts were checked against the original publisher pages on 2026-10-11. A source describing a product family does not prove a specific unit or replacement fit.