The Ins and Outs of French Doors

Published: June 21, 2021

Beautiful exterior French doors on Patio

Are you looking to say goodbye to your old obstructing standard door and introduce something that will not only let more light into your home but up the style factor? Take a look at French doors, with a combination of beautiful hardwoods and glass these doors create an elegant sense of space as they fill the room with natural sunlight. With new glass and lock technologies the security and insulation concerns that previously plagued French doors are a thing of the past.

What are French Doors?

French doors or sometimes known as French windows are typical panel doors that replace the middle panel or panels with glass. Traditionally when someone refers to French doors they are talking about 2 doors that meet in the middle and swing out to opposite sides of the door frame, however French doors can be used as a single hung door in smaller openings or wherever you'd like to bring the outdoor views into your home.

Where did French Doors come from?

France. Well it's a little more complicated than that, the original French doors were birthed out of the 16th century Italian renaissance and its emphasis on light and symmetry. With the combination of aesthetics and the pre-electricity dependence of natural light with the increased availability of glass led to more windows on homes which then expanded to adding windows into doors. Since glass was fragile and expensive during this time, the glass was installed in smaller panes with mullions in between.

Benefits of French Doors

When it comes to French doors there several advantages to having them in your home.

Lets in sunlight without compromising interior thermal conditions
Creates a visual bridge between rooms or between the outdoors and interior of your home
Opens up your patio or balcony to expand your warm weather living space
Brings natural light into rooms and hallways that don't have windows
Makes rooms feel larger and more open
Fills wider openings and creates a seamless flow between rooms, as well as allowing you to still close off one room from another as needed.