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.
This might come as a surprise, or not, but the name French Doors came from the French themselves. The French designed a window-like-door between the 16th and 17th Century France with glass panes which extended from the top to bottom of the door. This door provided the perfect proportions of light in their homes.
Double doors for double the opening capacity
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.
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.
What Are French Doors? French doors are a style of door which feature two door panels that open either outwards or inwards from the centre. As they tend to be a glazed door style, they are most commonly found on the rear of properties, leading out to the garden.
So yes – you can use patio doors as your front door, but only if they will look to scale. Otherwise they will just look a bit weird. This means that if you have a smaller home then big double patio doors would not be a good idea as the main entrance to your house.
A Brief History of French Doors
French architects refer to it as porte-fenêtre (“window door”) and they were used merely as oversized windows. The equally symmetrical grille style, which is today referred to as “Colonial,” divides the sash into smaller glass panels.
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.
Sliding doors provide better security and offer ease of use and space-saving opportunities. Sliding glass doors use a glass pack and insulated frames to offer better energy efficiency than the traditional French doors. French doors allow more ventilation but can have space, mechanical, energy-efficiency issues.
High return on investment
Anytime you install French doors in your home, you can expect to receive a significant return on your investment. One of the most reliable ways of increasing resale value of your home is to replace your entry door with a stylish French door.
“The name 'french doors' can also refer to exterior glazed doors or doors leading to small Juliette balconies.” “Americans continue to call doors 'french' because that word holds a certain prestige.
What Is an Atrium Door? The most accurate way to describe an atrium door is to call it a cross between double French doors and a sliding screen door. Like French doors, an atrium door swings open. But like a sliding screen door, only one panel is operable.
French doors are also known as French windows. Originally, French doors were constructed as large windows composed of multiple individual panes of glass. The large windows opened and allowed for lots of ventilation and unobstructed views.
French Doors were invented in France around the Renaissance period because people wanted more glass, allowing light and air to flow into their home.
Ultimately it's all a matter of preference. If you want to maximise internal floor space, get French doors that open outward. If you want French doors with better weatherproofing that maximise patio or garden space, chose to fit it so your french doors open inwards.
They're extremely customizable and allow in additional fresh air when open. When the time comes to replace yours, you might be worried French doors are outdated. These doors remain very much in style for 2021 and beyond.
Without proper sealing, French doors also serve as a notorious source of water leaks, reveals Better Door. Left untreated, these water leaks can damage your flooring and may even rot the doors and surrounding structure.
Patio doors, for example, serve as a protection against security threats. Just like windows, a patio door can be an entry point for intruders. In this case, French patio doors are much more effective than sliding doors because of their dependable locking system.
Screening French doors
They can be installed on the inside or the outside of your doors, allowing for increased privacy, bug protection and shade. A screen is mounted on both the left hand and right hand side of the opening and the screens pull together in the middle.
But as appealing as they are, French doors are thought by many homeowners to be somewhat less secure than the standard entry door. So, are French doors safe and secure? The answer is, yes, they are. French doors come with the same quality locking mechanisms found in standard doors, making them just as safe and secure.
French doors are more secure than sliding doors because of their central point. The left and right side of each single door is very sturdy thanks to the use of hinges and a locking mechanism.
From Italy to France
Originally used as entrances to balconies, french doors became a popular design feature throughout Europe due to the fact that they allowed plenty of natural light into spaces, especially as electricity had not yet developed.
French Doors are full length and feature a door handle, whereas French windows are half length and have a different handle specifically manufactured for windows. French windows feature two panels of glass that are side hung and open either inward or outward, creating an uninterrupted view.
They usually comprise of two doors which both open either inwards or outwards. As they're hinged they can open full 180 degrees (depending on your walls and brickwork).