| If you are building a new home or renovating your | | | | many weather conditions that they might be |
| existing home, you might want to consider interior | | | | exposed to, and are used as entryways into the |
| and exterior French door options to add a touch of | | | | home, often found near the posterior of the home, |
| elegance and flair to any room in the house - and a | | | | such as those that "let out" to the patio or deck. The |
| beautiful focal point for the outside. A French door is | | | | French door allows bright natural sunshine into the |
| also known as French windows and is a door made | | | | home, so they are perfect for areas with poor |
| from panes of glass or glass panels, called "lites"; | | | | lighting. The tempered glass that is normally used in |
| when choosing a French door, the door will be | | | | the construction of exterior French doors is stronger |
| described by the number of lites in the door - as an | | | | than regular glass, including the glass on interior |
| example, a 15 lite French door or 15 panel French | | | | French doors. |
| door. French doors are either interior (used for | | | | Types of French Doors |
| interior entrance doors or room dividers/partitions) or | | | | The most popular French door types are: |
| exterior door, used to gain entrance and exit from | | | | -Pocket French doors. This type of French door is a |
| the home. Most French doors are partnered in pairs | | | | great space saving door; the door slides into a wall |
| to create a large entry/exit when opened at the | | | | instead of requiring an opening on a hinge. |
| same time. French doors for the interior are typically | | | | -Bi-fold French doors. This type of doors has two to |
| made of wood while exterior French doors are | | | | four sections of panels that will fold into pairs when |
| usually made of a more weather-friendly material, like | | | | opened, and usually open from either side; used most |
| fiberglass, steel or other metals. The glass in a French | | | | typically for closets. |
| door is made more durable than regular glass to | | | | -Multi-fold French doors. The multifold French door is |
| withstand usage without breaking in most instances. | | | | designed to accommodate places that require a |
| French doors are available in pre-hung varieties that | | | | folding door in order to cover an area that is wider |
| make them easier to install. | | | | than is considered normal. These are great for hall or |
| Interior French Doors | | | | room dividers. |
| Interior French doors are made less durable than an | | | | -Sliding French doors. Perfect for the balcony where |
| exterior type. These doors can be used to adjoin | | | | there is limited space, the sliding French door slides |
| one interior room to another; you may have seen | | | | open and closed to allow more room for furniture, |
| many homes where the master bedroom features | | | | etc., because there is no need for a door way |
| French doors that open into the master bathroom. | | | | clearance for a traditional door to "swing" back and |
| Exterior French Doors | | | | forth. |
| Exterior French doors are designed to handle the | | | | |