French Doors: Pairing Your Interior & Exterior
Elegant, practical, and a great way to make the most of fresh air and natural light in your home, Affordable French doors can do a lot for your property. In fact, there are likely more different styles of French doors than you may initially be aware of. For that reason, it’s well worth you taking a look at your options before you leap straight into setting up a system for your home.
Affordable Windows is pleased to provide French doors and leading glazing systems to homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex and North London. But what are the benefits of these doors? Will they look the part in your home? Why should you consider replacing your existing doors for French installations? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a French Door?
A French door, generally, is a door which will open your home out into your exterior property, such as into your garden, onto a patio, or onto a veranda. As such, it is sometimes easy to confuse French door systems with patio doors. However, there are actually a few crucial differences.
French doors, on the whole, are systems which come in pairs. Some people and manufacturers may also refer to them as French windows. The ‘French’ name derives from the fact that this style of door system is inspired by French architecture dating back centuries. In the time since then, modern looks and functionality have swept in, upgrading them into the 21st century.
One of the main differences between French doors and modern patio doors is the fact that French doors will open in and out. Patio doors, on the whole, are likely to slide across. A French door therefore gives a much more traditional look, albeit with modern functionality.
Things to Consider When Choosing French Doors
There are always going to be a few things to consider when choosing French doors. For example, you are going to need to think about the current look of your exterior build. Will a French door system complement the look of your garden or home? Which type of French door, such as the mechanisms used, will work best for you in terms of practicality? We will take a close look at the different types available a little further down.
You should also think carefully about measurements and materials used. French doors are generally amongst some of the widest available, meaning that they are fantastic for maximising space. One of the main problems people have with sliding patio doors, for example, is the fact that they are not always the easiest to move through.
French doors can arrive in various materials and manufacturing standards. From uPVC to aluminium, there are a variety of looks and finishes you can adopt to transform the look of your home. uPVC is likely to be very affordable, however, you may prefer timber if you wish to achieve a specific look. However, if you decide to choose timber French doors, keep in mind, that they are likely to require a little more work and maintenance to keep them looking great.
French doors arrive with the latest security. This means that doors from Affordable Windows will fit British manufacturing standards as you expect. You can also easily secure French doors from the inside and outside as you wish.
Are French Doors Draughty?
No – providing you buy them from a reputable vendor! Modern French doors, unlike classical designs and fittings, are built to seal in the heat and to lock out the cold. They are some of the most cost-effective systems in terms of energy efficiency, which of course means that you can expect to save money on your gas and electricity bills in the months and years to come.
French doors are very easy to maintain so that you can keep out the cold. When you purchase French door installations with Affordable Windows, we will make sure to let you know how you can benefit from the most secure and warmth-preserving systems on the market. We’ll also help you maintain your doors as carefully as possible.
The Benefits of French Doors
There are plenty of great benefits of French doors and installing these standards in your property. For one thing, they are very easy to access, and if you want to open up a clear, wide space to and from your home into your garden or patio, you will likely have more room to do so.
They are also fantastic for ventilation, and for bringing in natural light. This means that, during the summer months, you can benefit from fresh air and more efficient air circulation. That doesn’t mean, however, that you will feel the cold during the winter months. You can easily seal French windows to keep the heat in.
Above all, you’ll love setting up French doors if you are looking for a specific type of aesthetic. Modern French installations still borrow a lot from the classical aesthetic, but at the same time, they don’t come with the draughts you’d expect with traditional systems.
What Are the Different Styles of French Doors?
There are, of course, different types of French doors you might want to consider. You can generally split them into interior and exterior doors.
Interior French doors, as you might expect, are useful when you want to allow one room to blend into another. They are great if you are looking for open plan living, but don’t want to commit to completely blending spaces. As mentioned, French doors are fantastic for opening up wider spaces than you might expect from sliding models.
Exterior doors, of course, are traditional systems which open onto your patio or into your garden. These will mainly open outwards to increase space and ease of access. Exterior French doors will likely let more light in thanks to their larger glass panels.
Choosing the Perfect French Doors
Are you keen to experience the many benefits French doors? Why not give us a call, we can answer any of your questions and arrange to come and see you at home where we can show you examples and measure and quote for our affordable French Door range.
What our customers say
“Excellent company very responsive to queries and all work carried out to a high standard and clean and tidy when carrying out the works, products also to a high standard and also a good price!! Customer Care was also excellent received a thank you card and chocolates as a thank you which was a lovely touch! Love my new door!” JoG-212
Let's Discuss Your New French Doors
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