A French door has two active doors that open and close from the side jambs. A hinged patio door, on the other hand, opens more like a butterfly. While they look similar and provide similar amounts of light and security, it's essential to keep in mind the functionality of your entry space.
Because of their elegance, they can fit most traditional and modern home styles. They work perfectly as interior or exterior doors, depending on your needs and design aesthetics. Tip: French doors can swing open both ways. So, you can use them as patio doors, front doors, internal doors, and more.
French doors also open up twice as wide and are perfect for moving furniture or hosting big parties. Unlike, sliding doors, however, French doors are more prone to blowing shut especially in areas with high wind gusts. Another bone of contention is that French doors are slightly more expensive than their counterparts.
A french door is a door of light construction which has glass panes extending for most of its length. They are usually fitted as a pair instead of a single door and french doors are sometimes refered to as French windows.
Generally, French doors feature large glazed panels and are often used as an alternative to classic patio doors. Double doors, meanwhile, are most often larger versions of these doors with minimal or no glazing, and can feature in commercial as well as residential properties.
Access – When your French doors are fully open you should have full access to the width of the opening. But you will be limited by the maximum leaf size (generally around 900mm), so a maximum opening with both doors open would be about 1800mm wide.
Can French doors open inwards and outwards? Most exterior French doors can open both inwards and outwards, and this is the same for our bespoke exterior French doors here at Kloeber. So if you're struggling for space inside and have more space outside, outward opening French doors will be ideal for you.
The classic, innovative design of French doors make them a very popular choice as an alternative to sliding patio doors because they allow for a wide opening – this is great for ventilation and creating an open atmosphere within the space.
The most common way to install French doors is so that they open outwards, but it is possible to have them open inwards instead if you are short of space in your garden.
Astragal. If your front door design includes double doors, an astragal is the vertical piece that runs between the two panels.
While French doors are a timeless look, they can also be trend-forward—which makes them an excellent choice for homeowners seeking to make mindful improvements that will continue to bring them joy for years to come while also increasing the value of their homes.
Do French or sliding patio doors cost more? 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.
Cost of French doors—and resale value
All in all, they're a good investment in your home, since they don't cost much but add significant resale value, so they almost pay for themselves.
French 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 can be sliding or hung and can open in or out. While French doors are particularly esthetically pleasing, some people avoid them because they think it limits their utility and can't install a screen if they have French doors. This is not true. French doors can be installed with retractable screens.
If you have double French doors, it is typical for the left one to open first from the exterior of the home. However, the opening direction of French doors can be adjusted based on personal preference, with options for opening inwards or outwards.
Florida has one of the most stringent building codes in the United States, as all exterior doors must open outward if you live in South Florida. Outward opening doors provide you with an added layer of protection, as an inward swinging door only has a latch and a deadbolt to prevent it from blowing into your home.
While French doors offer many benefits to your home, they also come with some unique challenges. French doors typically have glass panes, which can be easily broken. This means that criminals can enter your home by simply breaking a pane and reaching through to unlock the door.
Interior doors typically swing outward. When opening a door inside of a home or building, you'll probably push it away from you. Exterior doors, though, typically swing inward.
French doors add architectural interest and value to a home's exterior. They come in a variety of styles and sizes, from the classic arched door to the single paneled door. They can be used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a home, increase living space, and increase the amount of natural light for a room.
The knob at the door's midpoint provides more security, with a crossbar stretched across its width for even more reinforcing support. A central knob also presents a more straightforward installation for latching technology, which is beneficial for keeping doors shut.
The single-hinged door is the most common interior type of door. Room design must allow space for hinged doors to swing. Interior doors typically are lightweight and have two hinges; exterior doors are heavy and often use three hinges.
Do French Doors Have Handles On Both Sides? The short answer would be: it depends. Often one of the handles on a french door does not move and is purely decorative, also called a dummy handle. This is because not all french door configurations would necessarily need handles on both sides.
Work with your space and home layout
For this reason, inward opening French doors are often best suited for rooms that you spend a lot of time in such as your living room of bedroom where there is less likely that someone will be standing near the door of the room someone is walking into.
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.