What Are French Doors? Types, Pros and Cons, and More
French doors are functional and elegant, but they're not the best fit for every space
French doors are an elegant option for side or rear entrances.
They cost more than most other types of patio doors.
They are more secure than sliders and all-glass doors.
French doors are beautiful and stylish, and they’re a highly sought-after exterior door option that boosts your home’s value. However, there are some drawbacks to consider before installing one in your home, like the cost and the above-average door size that may not fit your space. In this guide, we’ll discuss what a French door is, the pros and cons, and how to decide if it’s the right door style for your home.
What Is a French Door?
A French door is a type of door that serves as a secondary entrance to your home, from a patio, deck, or side driveway. French doors come in pairs, so you can open either side for easy access or both sides for maximum airflow or to move large pieces of furniture in or out of your home with ease.
French doors are characterized by a multitude of small glass panes that make up the entire door, with grilles separating the panes. The abundance of glass means they let tons of natural light into your living space, which is partially why they’re such a popular exterior door option.
What Are the Different Types of French Doors?
Like other door options, French doors also come in many different types. As they vary from design, style, to functionality, it is important to know the differences and find the best option for your home.
Common types of French doors include:
Exterior French doors: Exterior French doors are always built to be sturdier than interior doors. Most nowadays come with a pre-hung wood frame, a sill, and weather stripping.
French-style front doors: French doors can be used as front doors. To make a grand entrance, French-style front doors tend to be heavier with design elements. They are also curved at the top rather than having a flat edge like other front door options.
French pocket doors: French pocket doors are sliding French doors that slide in front of stationary doors or walls using the track at the top. They are great options for both interior and exterior doors because of their multi-layered visual effect.
Interior French doors: Interior French doors tend to be thinner and lighter, and they are great options for bedrooms, dining rooms, and balconies as they let in more natural light.
Sliding French doors: Sliding French doors slide on a track and can be used for many purposes, particularly as shower doors for easier access.
Double French doors: Double French doors are the most common French door option.
Single French doors: Though rare, you can still find single French doors for interior and exterior use. French door inserts can also convert a regular door into a single French door.
Modern French doors: If the extravagant traditional French door designs don’t suit your home, modern French doors may be a better choice. They often feature a sleek, minimalistic design with a metal or vinyl frame.
What Materials Do French Doors Come In?
When you purchase and install a French door, you also have your choice of frame materials, including vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, wood, and wood-clad. These all come at different prices, have varying levels of longevity, and affect your home’s energy efficiency in different ways.
Popular French door materials include the following:
Wood: Wood is the classic French door material, featuring a timeless look. Most wood French doors today come with an exterior aluminum cladding for added stability, although all-wood French doors are still popular among historic homes.
Vinyl: Vinyl French doors are the most affordable option, partially because the material is the least stable. Vinyl can crack under extremely cold temperatures, and can warp or bend under high heat. Therefore, vinyl French doors are often used as interior doors.
Aluminum: Aluminum is durable and requires minimal maintenance. Aluminum French doors can be made of roll-formed and extruded aluminum. Extruded aluminum is often used for exterior French doors since it is thicker and stronger.
Fiberglass: Fiberglass French doors have amazing insulation properties, are extremely stable, and can resist scratches, dents, and fading. Many fiberglass French doors come with a wooden frame.
Wrought iron: Wrought iron French doors are loved by homeowners seeking a sleek but elegant design. There are also wrought iron customizations that can be added to French doors with a wood or aluminum frame for more visual intricacies.
Pros and Cons of French Doors
If you’re considering adding French doors to your home, make sure you evaluate the pros and cons thoroughly.
| Pros of French Door | Cons of French Door |
|---|---|
| Additional security | High cost |
| Design versatility | Lower energy efficiency |
| Natural light and ventilation | Space requirements |
| Makes the space feel larger | Doesn’t fit every door |
Pros of French Doors
French doors come with many advantages, ensuring their lasting popularity among homeowners. These advantages include:
Added security: Wood or aluminum French doors provide additional security to your home. Exterior French doors are made to be sturdy and impact-resistant, so they can withstand strong winds and storms.
Design versatility: They are extremely versatile in design and offer many customization options, significantly boosting your home’s aesthetics.
Increased lighting and ventilation: French doors allow more natural light and ventilation into your home
Making your space look larger: French doors tend to make your space feel much larger than it actually is because of the additional lighting and visibility through the glass.
Cons of French Doors
French doors are popular for their appearance and functionality, but there are some drawbacks to consider before installing one in your home. Major concerns with French doors include:
High cost: French doors can be expensive, especially if you hire a pro for the installation.
Less energy efficient: While French doors allow more light and ventilation, they tend to be less energy efficient, even with weather stripping.
Space requirements: French doors often require more space than traditional doors, although options like sliding French doors and single French doors can slightly compensate for the space requirements.
Don’t fit every door: French doors don’t fit every door frame, so you need to carefully choose where to install them.
How Much Do French Doors Cost?
French door installations by a professional door installation company cost from $1,600 to $2,500 on average, but the price can vary significantly depending on the door’s design and material. If you need additional customization, such as a wrought iron frame or a smart lock, the total cost can easily exceed several thousand dollars. Interior French doors cost a little less than their exterior counterparts, ranging from $350 to $1,200.
Are French Doors Worth It?
French Doors have their upsides and downsides, but most homeowners agree that they’re a worthwhile investment. They could reduce your energy efficiency a bit, and do cost a little more than other types of exterior doors, but they’re aesthetically pleasing, maximize ventilation and natural light in your living space, and add an elegance and functionality that most homebuyers adore.
Ultimately, you should choose what’s best for you and your family, along with what fits in with your home’s decor and your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Double doors consist of two solid doors, sometimes with a small window in the upper section of each, while French doors are made almost entirely of glass encased in a thin frame. Double doors are more secure because there’s less fragile material that could break and give access to your home, while French doors are an elegant and beautiful addition to your home that maximizes light and ventilation in your property. Double doors also tend to open inward and sit at the front of your home, while French doors usually open outward to a rear yard or patio area.
French doors can either open inward or outward, but because hinges are the mechanism for opening and closing, a single set of French doors will not be able to do both. Most French doors only open outward onto a patio, deck, or porch, while some only open inward if the outdoor space is limited and can’t accommodate the open doors.
French doors usually have two handles, with one for each door. However, some French doors only include a single door adjacent to a panel of glass that doesn’t open or close. In that case, you’d have a single handle on the door side and no handle on the stationary side.
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