What are French Doors?

The external doors of your house can increase its aesthetic value. They determine how your house appears to others as it is the first thing that looks, at upon entering. From the various styles of external doors, French doors are one of the best options. They come in many designs, each, fulfilling the needs of kind of home they are installed in. The genius of French doors can be understood by studying about them further.

What are French doors?

French doors are generally double-hinged. They can be used inside the house or externally. Characteristically, they have multiple glass panes to see through. The glass is surrounded by frames, which can be made of different materials. French doors open both inward and outward, depending on individual liking.

Originating in France, they were initially large windows. Such windows made the house more ventilated and well-lit. With time, they evolved to become the French doors we know today. Since then, their advantages have drawn more and more people into installing them into their houses.

Advantages of French Doors:

• Brightens the House: The glass panels of the French doors allow natural light to flow into the room. Installing them will not make the rooms gloomy, unlike other traditional doors. It is a great way to savor the beauty of nature outside while sitting in the comfort of your home. It also makes the room look well ventilated and airy.

• Spacious Rooms: Since French doors allow sunlight to pour in; the rooms tend to look bigger than what they are. This illusion occurs because the doors are made of glass, which slightly blurs the space between the inside and the outside.

French doors also open fully. Traditional doors restrict the space in the room when they are open. Unlike them, the entire width of French doors can be used. This feature proves to be highly successful in smaller houses.

• Affordable: The cost of Internal Wooden French doors depends on the design and quality of it. When compared to other traditional options, these doors are cheaper. For smaller openings especially, French doors are the best of the lot.

• High Security: People live under the misconception that French doors are easily penetrable. The doors might seem to be too weak to withstand a robbery or other security breaches. Installing multi-point locks on the doors and having opening restrictors make French doors very safe for your house.

• Visual Appeal: French doors, without a doubt, add to the aesthetics of a room. They give a classic vintage look to the house. Be it interior or exterior doors, they are perfect for elevating the overall look.

Disadvantages of French doors

• Not Energy Efficient: These doors are a poor choice if you are looking for something energy efficient. These are not effective barriers to outside weather conditions. They tend to open when there are strong winds.

Cold air and water can easily seep in through the hinges of the doors. Controlling the temperature inside the house thus becomes a difficult task. Extra appliances like heaters or coolers increase the electricity bills.

• Unsuitable for a Few Homes: French doors might not be the perfect fit for all rooms. For some houses, they can look completely out of place. This depends on the interiors and the architectural design of the house. The first step while choosing a French door is to contemplate whether it is suitable for the rest of the house.

• Difficult to install: French doors cannot be installed without professional help. If you intend to install the doors you buy; these doors are not suitable. Installation leads to extra charges, which might cross your budget.

• Takes Up Space: These doors make the rooms look bigger without a doubt. However, they do occupy a lot of space when opened. Articles inside the room should be moved around to accommodate the French doors. A small room can become congested because of these doors.

Places where French doors can be installed in your house

• Patio: You can install French doors as an opening to your patio. It is very refreshing to have a clear picture of the beautiful patio outside. Adding a cozy sit-out makes it even more attractive.

• Balcony: Another place where these doors can be installed, is the balcony. It is a wise choice as it blocks out external unwanted agents. It also creates an illusion of a bigger room.

• For Other Rooms: They can be installed as doors from one room to the other. They can be placed at the entrance to the kitchen and the bedroom.

• The kitchen: French doors as the entrance to a kitchen make it appealing. Since the doors are glass, the kitchen looks like an integral part of the house and not some separate room.

Factors to consider regarding the installation of French doors

• Cost: Prices for the installation of French doors depend not only on the quality of the doors but also on the opening of the aperture in which they are to be fitted. While French doors are generally suggestible for smaller openings, sliding or bi-fold doors are more cost- effective for larger openings, due to the locking mechanisms and hardware involved. French doors might also need to be filled out with sidelights or additional windows to suit your house.

• 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. Having access to the full width of the opening is great for smaller properties where space internally or externally is limited.

• Security: At the most vulnerable area, most French door multi-points will be built with multi-point locks. They lock the frames together when they are closed and cover splines to rebate the space where the doors meet. To ensure security, always look for French patio doors with a three-point locking system that locks the door to the head jamb and the sill, instead of just to each other.

Opening restrictors are also a good idea, as they control and protect the doors against the strong wind at all times. You can also consider reinforcing glass panels if you are particularly worried about intruders. Overall, French doors are an incredibly secure option for your home.

• Performance: ‘Lower the value, better the performance’, I.e., double glazed window panels for French doors offer a U Value on offer and a decent thermal efficiency for your home. This hack and mechanism will not only cut down on heating costs but will also leave your home feeling more comfortable.

During the day, French doors facilitate excellent lighting, and therefore it will never be an issue. It is also easier to install a set of curtains over French doors than over other external doors should they be required.

All factors mentioned above are steps to consider while installing French doors, however, one need not be limited or overwhelmed too much by it in the planning phase.

French doors are a good investment, and here’s why

French doors, sometimes called French windows, can transform a room. A plain room with a French door is enough artistic and aesthetically pleasing. With tremendous natural light being let in, along with a view onto the outdoors, they are designed in themselves.

French doors can be an excellent replacement for walls too. If you are looking for a drastic change for your house, installation of French doors, instead of re-painting your old walls over and again, not only satisfy your need for new appearance but also adds an element of drama to the interiors.

A heavenly combination of form and function is just what French doors are.

French doors are versatile. They make a room appear expansive in size and also allow you to make the most of your garden or patio without hassle. There will also be an immense circulation of fresh air around the house that will increase the feeling of a sense of space.

Sliding French doors, especially the most of your room since you don’t need to leave space for the doors to open either, and you can instead utilize that space for furniture or even indoor plants that accentuate the connection in your house between the indoors and the outdoors.

When an ordinary room is installed with French door, it grows more attractive and leaves an impression. A well- built house with good- looking French doors is a remarkable house. A remarkable house thus increases its current potential value and offers a better re-sale investment value in future too.

Conclusion

French doors are on rising demand nowadays and is definitely a proper investment in terms of appearance, appeasement, and finance. However, it is vital to understand the implications involved in its installations, advantages, and disadvantages as well.

Once you are familiar with all you need to know about French doors, do consider them without hesitation, since they are stunning, economical and will absolutely be one of the reasons you will love your home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SHABANA KAUSER

Shabana Kauser is the dynamic owner of Emerald Doors, the famous door-selling company in the UK with immense knowledge and experience in working with architecture, interior design, and home decor. She continues to share tips and technical know-how of balancing interior elements, door fittings, room aesthetics, and the like. Personally, she loves coffee, always dabbling with several blends.