French Doors Open Up a Home

French doors are usually installed in pairs that when opened together, create a large entryway to the world outside. Yet even when these doors are closed, they offer a lovely view of the outdoor world through their combinations of window paneling. But don't let this generalized description get in the way of all that these doors have to offer. In fact, these entryways come in so many different shapes, sizes, and styles the hardest thing about buying them is choosing the one that best fits you and your home.

Door Construction
These doors are often built with either wood or fiberglass surrounding the window panes. Wood trim allows for a softer interior look and comes in many varieties of hardwood species and can be stained or painted in any shade or color. Fiberglass doors are also beautiful by providing a clean, modern appeal that can once again be painted any color you desire. Plus, due to their synthetic material, they are much more durable to exterior climates and will never peel, swell, or warp. Or you may choose a combination: a wood door with aluminum trim that can provide the best of both worlds and create a unique design to your entryway.

Glass Selection
The most unique part about French doors is their glass paneling. As you can probably imagine, the artistic design of the window arrangement is limitless and largely depends upon your own personal style: Do you want smaller, multiple panes? Do you want large, all-encompassing windows? Do you want a combination of both? Do you want it stained? Glazed? Beveled? Textured? Etched? What about an interior French door? Do you feel too open and vulnerable to the outside world? Then window treatments such as blinds, drapes, curtain, shades, or slatted shutters may be the way to go. The choices never end. But beyond the design, there has been major innovation in the types of glass used in these doors in order to protect your home from the exterior elements.

Since the majority of these doors are constructed of glass, there may be an increased threat of breakage. Wind, debris, and hail may be of concern to you, but more durable windows are now available to put you mind at ease. Special-grade glass can have enough strength to counter hurricane winds and high-velocity objects without fracturing. And even if there is a crack, newer forms of glass will not break and become hazardously jagged but will instead shatter to avoid any further danger or injury. Plus, most of the windows are insulated and can be slightly tinted in order to save any energy leakage and high utility bills during both summer and winter. Also, most trim is water and insect resistant to ensure safety against outdoor nuisances.

Forms of Entry
Though French doors are usually paired and hinged, new designs have been invented in order to make you entryways more unique:

Folding Doors: These multiple doors can be installed along the entire side of a house to create a large outside view, and when opened they literally open up an area by basically removing an entire wall of the room.
Expanded Windows: Instead of just limiting the glass panes to the door itself, there is the opportunity to expand the look of the unit by placing window units overhead and on the sides of the doors in order to extend the view beyond just the entryway.
Sliding/Gliding Doors: These French doors are a great alternative to the traditional design. You no longer have to worry about where to place indoor or patio furniture in relation to the entryway (since there are typically two doors, they can sometimes take up a lot of space when ajar) when you simply push aside a pane of paneled glass like a sliding glass door, which is especially useful for balconies that may not have much space to work with in the first place. Now, on nice days, the entryway can be "propped" open without wasting any extra space.

Due to all the benefits of French doors, why limit to a patio, deck, or balcony? Move them inside. Interior French doors give you the ability to close off one room from another while still allowing an open feel to the entire house, your home will feel more spacious and less claustrophobic.

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