So you’re giving home renovation another go? Or maybe, you’ve already added the finishing touches to a home project that you’ve started in the last lockdown and wondering what are french doors are all about. Considering that the rates of home renovations have increased by 58%, you’re clearly not alone in your desires for new french doors.
But, some people come in armed with a multitude of knowledge when starting their home projects, and others just wing it. We’d rather you belong to the second group, as their results tend to be of much higher quality than the first.
Do you know about glass french doors? If not, then no worries. You’ve come to the right place. Keep on reading for our full breakdown of what french doors are all about.
What Are French Doors?
Before we start our deep dive into the intricacies of french doors, and what makes them so unique, and how they compare to patio doors, it’s essential to start with the basics.
French doors are known as “French” because they originated in France sometime between the 16th and the 17th century. By creating a door with window-like properties, they found a design that prioritizes illumination, proportion, and regularity. All of those factors were rather popular during the architectural renaissance time period.
From that point onwards, french doors have become more of a staple in the “chicest” of homes.
Why Are French Doors so Popular?
Starting with the wide-opening capacity that’s unique to french doors, if you’re looking for the perfect transitional door that you can place between your interior space and your garden, you can’t really find better than a french door.
Coming in a variety of materials, like timber, aluminum, or uPVC, there’s no limit to the customization capabilities. Moreover, you can get french doors with Low-E glass, Argon-filled glazed units, and even drought-resistant seals. All of those qualities can aid with improving your home’s energy efficiency.
This makes french doors not only delightful in design but rather high on the scale of functionality and durability as well. In short, they’re practically perfect.
Understanding the Difference Between French Doors and Patio Doors
If you’ve spent only five minutes searching for the right doors to add to your home, you’ve probably stumbled on numerous mentions of patio doors.
Before we break down the different types of French doors, let’s clear up any confusion in the design differences between the two doors.
The key difference between French doors and patio doors is the way they open. French doors move through the use of a hinge, so they open outwards. On the other hand, patio doors tend to slide to one side. Moreover, French doors have a traditional appearance and aesthetic, while patio doors tend to come in more modernistic designs and looks.
Now, let’s explore other factors that most buyers tend to compare between the two designs.
The Cost
On average, you’ll find that French doors can be a little more pricey when compared to patio doors.
This is mainly due to the way the mechanism works, and the use of additional hardware, and different manufacturing methods.
Patio doors, on the other hand, are a bit more cost-effective for both the manufactures, as well as their buyers.
The Opening Mechanism
Patio doors are known for their ability to slide to one side, which is a great attribute if you’re trying to maximize your space as much as possible.
However, you’ll have to deal with the fact that patio doors would only give you half of the space to move in and out. But, French doors can open outwards (at the same time), so they’re only restricted by the nearby walls and their frames. However, you’ll have full access to the gap between the frames.
But, what about sliding glass doors? If you’re wondering about the advantages and disadvantages of French doors vs sliding glass doors, you’ll want to check out more information here.
The Size Differences
Patio doors tend to be wider than French doors.
You can pick patio doors that are up to 480cm wide. French doors, however, can be installed up to 180 cm wide. But, you can always add sidelights to your French doors, which can expand their design to be as wide as 300 cm.
The Types of French Doors
Courtesy of being on the market for literal centuries, you’ll find that not all French doors are the same.
There are different types of French doors that you can buy, and each has its own characteristics.
Exterior French Doors
Otherwise known as French patio doors, those are the type of French doors that lead to your exterior area. Most commonly connecting your home’s interior space into your garden or backyard.
The two doors usually open outwards. But, you can ask for ones that open inwards if you’re concerned about space limitations.
In addition, those doors have large glass panels that allow natural light into your home.
Interior French Doors
Similar in make to the exterior French doors, the internal or interior ones are meant to be placed inside your home.
Generally, they come in as double doors that separate two interior rooms, which helps with creating more space, in addition to an aesthetic level up.
Sliding French Doors With Screens
Admittedly, it can be quite easy to mix up sliding French doors with patio doors.
While both have a sliding mechanism, the sliding French doors look just like the traditional ones, but instead of swinging open, the two doors can slide open, so that you can save some interior and exterior space.
On the other hand, sliding patio doors will have two sides. One that stays fixed, and the other can slide parallel to the first. Most people get sliding patio doors to create an additional doorway that can allow folks to pass through from the inside to the outside.
Ready to Pick the Right Doors for You?
Installing French doors can be a simple way to elevate your home’s value and aesthetic. Thankfully, as French doors have been on the market for a long time, you can customize them to your heart’s content.
We hope that our explainer has shed some light on what are french doors to begin with, as well as their characteristics when compared with patio doors.
If you enjoyed our article, make sure to check out our additional tips and tricks, all available to you in our home section.