In the glazing industry, double doors can refer to any doors with two independently opening leaves. This includes French doors, but normally if you hear an industry professional talking about double doors, they are speaking about a larger version of the classic French door.
Side by side doors, also known as double doors, are two door configurations where both doors are next to one another. Another name for this type of doors is a French door. The doors can either be active or inactive.
The answer to this question is quite simple and obvious – It is because these types of double doors were first popular and fashionable in France – starting with French windows and evolving into doors and hence became known as French doors.
So what is a French door? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, by definition: French door (n.): A door, usually one pair, of light construction with glass panes extending for most of its length. They also can be referred to as French windows.
Double doors provide a grand entrance, with two entryways that open inwards. Patio doors offer a modern design, with one large panel of glass that slides open.
Also known as double-action doors, a double swinging door is a single or double door that can swing in both directions. When the two doors are on the hinges, each door can swing independently of the other door and each door will swing in both directions.
What is the difference between French doors and patio doors? While they are both stunningly wide doors, the main difference between French doors and sliding patio doors is the way they open. French doors are double doors that swing on hinges, while sliding patio doors slide on a track along the wall.
French doors, meanwhile, generally comprise two, separate doors which open outwards and will often be found in older houses leading out to patios or conservatories. For this reason, they are often also referred to as “patio doors”, although this term can encapsulate other door types too.
French Doors
These doors open from the center of the two doors. They usually have glass and typically have one side of the door that opens while the other stays stationary unless unhinged to open as well.
French doors allow for both doors to actually open and function. A double door or two-section patio door has a "dummy door" that doesn't actually function, it stays stationary and only one door opens.
An astragal is the vertical strip that is placed in between your two french doors. The astragal is attached to the inactive door pane, or the panel that is not typically used for entry and exit, in your french door system.
There are two main types of lock that you'll find installed in a typical pair of French doors. The most common is the classic top and bottom key operated 5 lever mortise lock, which will work in the same manner as the locks on your front door. These are rarely secure enough for many homeowners.
Double front doors can create a more welcoming entryway for both large and small homes. On larger homes, for example, double doors can provide a sense of balance and complement the home's vast exterior. On the other hand, double front doors can create a more open and inviting entry on smaller homes.
Dogtrot Houses are modest American homes that were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They feature a curious design—two front doors.
A Dutch door (American English), stable door (British English), or half door (Hiberno-English), is a door divided in such a fashion that the bottom half may remain shut while the top half opens. They were known in early New England as double-hung doors.
Many second front doors on homes, particularly Bungalows, lead from the front porch to the master bedroom. This way, couples could open the windows and doors, turn on a couple fans and enjoy a cooling breeze. This design was kind of a poor mans sleeping porch.
At a glance, center-hinged patio doors look like French doors. They have two single doors that face each other. Unlike French doors, a center hinge door has one functional and stationary door. Rather than opening away from the stationary door, the active door opens from the center towards the stationary door.
Multi-Slide patio doors are another great alternative to French doors. With a Multi-Slide, door panels slide open effortlessly and leave an open space behind. One advantage of choosing Multi-Slides over Bi-Folds is that Multi-Slide doors can be pocketed into the wall, making doors completely disappear.
The piece at the bottom of a door is called a sill. Door sills help prevent air and water from getting in your home.
It's hard to say which type of doors costs more as there are so many different door styles for both types and different ways to custom them, so you could spend as much or as little as you wanted. Generally, though, the French doors typically cost more than sliding doors.
French doors are set within a frame, contain pivots and hinges and have a central locking point. This makes it less likely that they will cave in. French doors are more secure than sliding doors because of their central point.
French patio doors typically cost more than sliding patio doors, but the cost of either door style can vary greatly depending on the custom options you choose. In fact, Home Advisor estimates the average cost to install any door is between $475 and $1291, which is a fairly wide range.
The “Ghost" system. The door sliding along the wall creates an effect of a ghost slipping through the air. All mechanical parts of the system are hidden in the door leaf and are not visible from any side. You see only an elegant stylish door, sliding along the guide profile, which is mounted above the doorway.
A Dutch door. A Dutch door (sometimes called a double hung or half door) is a door that's split in half horizontally, allowing the top half to open while the bottom half stays shut.
So, if you want to go with inward openers, you might want to make inquiries before completing your order. Either way, you won't be able to get French doors that 'swing both ways' due to the locking mechanisms required.