What Are French Doors?

French doors originated in 17th-century France to allow more natural light into dimly lit homes.

French doors resemble French windows, but their glass panes extend most of the door’s length. This maximises the sunlight that comes in during the summer – a very desirable feature. They remain trendy, making homes bright and airy without sacrificing security.

These doors are also sought after for their aesthetic appeal, which creates a wider opening than sliding patio doors. This is one of the reasons sliding doors are often replaced with French doors, along with a number of other benefits.

They’re ideal for ventilation, making rooms appear more spacious – and they come in various colours and materials.

Characteristics Of French Doors

If you find yourself asking, “What are French doors?” You’ve come to the right place. French doors comprise two doors with hinges—quite a familiar design to most people. The doors open outward to create a “double” doorway and are locked in the centre when closed. They typically have toughened glazing that allows for natural light.

The glass panels are either single- or double-glazing – transparent enough to let in sunshine and brighten the room. French doors are often used as external doors leading to patios, but thousands of people have interior French doors.

They come in a range of sizes, and can even be customised to suit different measurements. Some people prefer multiple sets of French doors if they want something to fit with a wider doorway.
Different Types of French Doors

Different Types of French Doors

External French doors

These are the doors that lead outside to your patio, deck or yard. External French doors open inwards and outwards, with large glass panes allowing plenty of natural light into your home.

Internal French doors

French doors are a smart way to create the illusion of extra space in your home’s interior. A well-designed French door can divide a space into two practical and stylish rooms.

Sliding patio doors

Sliding French patio doors are a popular choice for many homeowners, as they allow for plenty of room to pass in and out of the house. While not the traditional design, sliding French doors do provide a certain kind of charm.

What Materials Do French Doors Come In?

Aluminium

For long-lasting, maintenance-free doors, aluminium is ideal. This durable material doesn’t corrode (perfect for coastal areas) and regulates the house’s temperature: keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter. Our website has many more valuable tips on aluminium doors.

uPVC

uPVC is the least expensive material for French doors, making them more affordable for those with smaller budgets.

Wood

The most traditional door material, timber, is popular because it can be varnished or painted to suit your property’s style and décor. Our website has more information on aluminium vs. timber bifold doors.

Composite material

Composite material, produced by binding glass fibres with plastics, is primarily used in construction. Its many benefits include longevity, durability, and minimal maintenance needs.

What Are The Benefits Of French Doors?

French doors are popular for many reasons – their versatility, for a start. They are attractive and practical and can be installed indoors and outdoors.

Security

French doors fitted with double-glazing and toughened glass are very secure. A high-quality lock, such as an espagnolette bolt, can boost security for external doors. This lock is keyless, simple, and 100% effective.

Price

With their simple design, few components, and range of sizes and glazing, French doors can be cost-efficient. Some doors’ sliding mechanisms can be complex, such as aluminium sliding patio doors, increasing their price. French doors are a practical and aesthetically pleasing alternative to aluminium bifold doors and uPVC options.

Open design

Sliding patio-style doors may be simple, but they always obscure at least part of the frame. French doors help solve this problem by allowing for an open design with as much natural light and air as possible.

Exterior and interior use

People tend to use French doors externally, but they can be used similarly in home interiors. 
We can all appreciate the feeling of spaciousness. A wider entrance makes a room feel bigger and brighter, whether it’s a dressing room, playroom, or dining room.

Disadvantages Of French Doors

Space

French doors open outward and need enough space to move, making them impractical for smaller doorways and rooms with a lot of furniture. A sliding door will help you avoid this issue.

Lack of privacy

Privacy can be tricky with French doors, as the glass and light make it easy to see inside. Curtains or blinds can improve privacy to an extent, but they don’t work well with larger doorways. 
You can’t slide a French door partially open as you would a patio door, for example – your French door is either open or closed, with no grey area in between.

Can French Doors Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?

When you replace or install new doors, sustainability should be one of your top priorities. Who wants to waste money on high heating bills besides benefiting the environment? Building codes also regulate dwellings’ energy efficiency.

If you’re considering installing exterior French doors, you may wonder about their energy efficiency. Fortunately, well-constructed exterior French doors are an ideal energy-efficient replacement for other doors.

Doors with double-glazed panes keep homes warm, as the toughened glass loses very little heat. Try using fibreglass panels instead of glass to improve your house’s insulation even more.
French doors with tough, double-glazed panes prevent heat from seeping out. Fibreglass panels are even better insulators. French door frames have a good balance of glass to wood, making them far more energy efficient than your average set of sliding doors.

How Secure Are French Doors?

Multi-point locks are similar to those of many modern front doors – your aluminium door probably has one. 
A multi-point locking system is like a mortice lock; turn the key once and the door locks in multiple places. Many people consider multi-point locks the sturdiest and most secure lock for a French door.
A security bar prevents a door’s handles from moving, adding an extra layer of safety. Some security bars include alarms – perfect for older French doors without modern security features.

How Much Do French Doors Cost?

In the UK, most French doors are made from uPVC. To convert an existing window into a uPVC French door, expect to pay around £1,700 (labour and the cost of the door).
If you’re looking to create a new opening or to enlarge an existing door frame, the cost will be around £3000.
Our aluminium options cost a little more than this, but they have many advantages over cheaper materials. Aluminium will last much longer than uPVC, and it requires little maintenance. So, as a long-term investment, aluminium is an intelligent choice.

FAQs

French doors and patio-style doors – What’s the difference?

The main difference between French and patio doors is that the former opens outwards on a hinge while the latter slides on a track. French doors tend to be traditional, and patio-style doors appear more modern.

Sliding door or French door – Which is safer?

Most modern French doors have multi-lock systems that are more secure than sliding patio doors.
Sliding doors often have flimsier locking mechanisms that can be pushed up and down easily.

Can I get matching roof lanterns?

Yes, most profile manufacturers supply the same roof lantern profile as the doors. If you would like aluminium roof lanterns, just contact us and we can quote.

Do French doors last long?

French doors usually last a long time, sometimes around 30 years or more. This will depend on what they’re made from and how well they’re maintained.