French Doors – So Nice!

French doors are also known as french windows and appear to have their origins in France at the latter part of the Renaissance period. They are derived from what was known as a casement door and their defining property is that they contain multiple windows encased within the door. These windows provide light to the room in which french doors are installed and for this reason the windows within a french door are known as lites.

In their original design french doors were constructed with multiple sections of glass set into dividers known as mullions. If you were speaking of a 10 lite french door it would have had ten individual pieces of glass divided by these mullions. Some manufacturers today however will use one sheet of glass for the entire door and then place a grid over it providing the same visual effect. These doors are generally considered less desirable than a true divided lite door.

Today there are a number of options available for french door installations. Traditional two door, center opening french doors, while usually found installed as patio doors, are also wonderful in the interior of a home. These doors allow a room to be closed off for privacy while still letting in light. This allows for an open floor plan, while giving the flexibility to create a more intimate environment.

Many homes today have sliding glass patio doors which of course are nice but the problem is that only half the door actually opens. Those who have been tempted to replace the sliding door with a french door have found that installing two doors each up to 4 feet wide is a bad idea. Such wide and heavy doors would eventually sag due to the tremendous weight on the hinges. And so many would be home improvers have decided to stick with their existing sliding glass doors.

Well there is finally an answer. The folding french door. Using narrower doors that are hinged to each other, manufacturers today have begun making french doors that fold away and provide a beautiful wide opening to enter and exit the home. If you have a sliding glass door and are considering replacement, give some serious thought to the folding french door.