Doors have a special place in many cultures: they reflect religious beliefs and give expression to art and architecture. Since doors are an integral part of any building, our homes are equipped with different types of doors.
One of the special entrances we like to go through are the doors to our outdoor living spaces. Whether it is a patio, a veranda or a terrace, they are charming portals that allow us to enjoy nature.
What is a French door versus a sliding door?
French doors Toronto and sliding doors are the most popular types of passageways between our indoor and outdoor spaces, but do you know the difference between the two?
The main difference between the two types of doors is the way they open. Revolving doors, like ordinary doors, are opened and held open by hinges attached to one side of each door leaf (usually two). Depending on your preference, they can be directed to the outside of the patio or to the inside of the house.
The sliding door, on the other hand, opens or the wings slide on the rails to open. If you have a sliding patio door, each panel usually slides on the side closest to it. There are also three- or four-panel French doors that can be slid to one side to open a large opening.
There are also French doors, which fit well into the wall and are ideal if you want an unobstructed view and access through the opening.
When it comes to the style of your home, French doors are best suited to traditional themes like cottage style architecture or transitional style homes.
On the other hand, if you’re leaning towards a modern style, sliding doors are perfect for a modern look without boards or frames on the glass panels.
Types of openings for patio doors
Besides the general design, knowing what kind of patio doors you want to use will help you narrow down your search from a good selection of patio designs.
Sliding doors
A popular option for patios with a modern theme are sliding doors, which are usually made of clear glass without panes or slit glass panels.
The mechanism allows the door wings to slide horizontally. When opened, the sliding door leaves slide in both directions along the rails.
If you have two double sliding doors, each panel slides to the nearest side. However, there are also sliding doors with two or more panels that only slide on one side. Double sliding doors can also have a fixed and a sliding door.
Sliding doors are perfect for maximizing interior and exterior space without the need for a door panel when opening, so the doors are flush against the wall. To learn more about the different types of sliding doors, click here.
French side doors
Most French doors come in pairs and are usually surrounded by fixed windows, such as. B. the roof window at the top and the side windows that surround the window on both sides.
A French side door is technically a double-walled frame door. With its balanced appearance, it is an ideal base or focal point for your indoor spaces and terrace.
Single and double doors
Patio doors that open inwards and outwards have a single hinged door. Installed hinges have parts that allow only a limited arc, usually when turned 180 degrees to one side.
A double door may have an arc of 360 degrees turning inward and outward.
Inset or cut-out doors
If you have limited space on your patio, a recessed patio door is a suitable choice, provided you have enough room inside. By omitting the gate wing, you can make the most of your outdoor space.
Revolving doors are best suited to large decks, where each door leaf can be folded outward onto the deck.
Advantages and disadvantages of patio doors
A French door gives a room a sleek look, while also increasing the charm of your outdoor space. French doors are distinguished from other types of patio doors by their square wood or PVC frames and the center posts that form the door panels.
Window Door Professionals
Traditional charm – Captures the old country charm and other traditional themes that give the patio a more homey feel, especially when combined with brick and other classic materials.
Easy Installation – French doors are relatively easy to install compared to sliding doors, which require an additional guide system to secure the top and bottom.
Versatile patterns – Traditional patio doors have square inserts and center posts, but you can use other interesting patterns to suit your style.
Easy to open – Hinged doors have a very simple opening mechanism, just like a regular interior door with hinges.
Disadvantages of patio doors
Additional space – when a hinge is used to open the door, space is required for swing doors. This can use up the precious space of a large French door, which is not suitable for homes with small rooms.
Restricted view – When French doors are closed, they can obstruct your view of the outside, especially if you have installed a half French door or if there are many intermediate posts or frames through the glass.
Thorough cleaning – With intricate frames and glass between door panels, maintaining and cleaning each pane of glass and the space between doors can be a challenge.
Expensive – Compared to sliding doors, French doors tend to be more expensive.
Sliding doors for and against
The growing popularity of sliding doors has made them the standard patio door of the modern home. A sliding door alone can drive up the price of a home.
Sliding door professionals
Smooth finish – Sliding doors usually have an all-glass frame with no center posts, although there are sliding doors with some center posts or frames designed to accommodate large sliding doors.
Save space – Because sliding doors slide neatly to one or both sides to open, you don’t need to free up space for door sweeps with flat door panels.
Clear view – Most sliding doors come without panels to support the glass panel, especially if the glass is tempered. This means that you can enjoy a full view of the road without signs obstructing your view.
Ease of maintenance – Because there are no profiles, the glass door is smooth and uncluttered, making cleaning quick and easy.
Disadvantages of sliding doors
Expensive – As a general rule, most sliding doors with advanced installation and high-quality glass are more expensive than traditional patio doors.
Difficult installation – you need the top and bottom rails for installation. To ensure the structural integrity of the rails on which the sliding door is installed, it is advisable to have the sliding door installed by a professional.
Difficult to open – Sliding doors are relatively easy to open, provided you regularly remove any stuck hair or dirt.
However, there are sliding doors that can be heavy, especially for windows with triple sashes, or that need to cover a large area. This can be difficult for children to discover.
No privacy – The advantage of French doors and other hinged patio doors is that you can partially open your doors, as long as you put a stopper on them to keep them from falling shut. This is useful if it is a windy day and you still need air and light in the room.
Thanks to the clear glass, you can also display objects from inside to outside.
You can choose a film with one-way glass, so that you can see through it when looking from the inside, but outsiders cannot see what is behind the glass. This can be an additional cost for a patio with sliding doors.
Price of a revolving door versus a sliding door
Installing or replacing patio doors and sliding doors is an expensive but cost-effective way to access your garden.
Many factors can affect the price of your patio door. If you want to know more about prices, it’s best to get a free quote from experienced patio door installers.
As a guide, we have set a national average for the cost of patio doors and sliding doors.
Factors that may affect the price :
- Dimensions of a folding or sliding door
- Brand
- Do it yourself or hire a professional
- Postcode
- Material
- Additional functions
- Replacement or installation
Installation costs for hinged and sliding doors
French doors are slightly less expensive to install than sliding doors. This depends on many factors, such as. B. the location of your home, the brand of the door and the features you want.
The average cost of installing a French door ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, with a maximum cost of $8,000.
Sliding doors, on the other hand, cost between $2,000 and $4,000, with a maximum cost of $4,804 and a national average of $2,756.
- Installing French doors in a brick wall costs between $2,500 and $6,000.
- A sliding screen is a great way to keep insects out of your home. This can cost around 150-250. Retractable screens, on the other hand, cost between $400 and $600.
Replacement costs
When replacing doors, French doors can be more expensive than sliding doors. French doors cost an average of $800 to $5,000 and sliding doors average $700 to $2,400.
French doors versus sliding doors to go
Both French doors and sliding doors are valuable investments, and it’s a matter of choosing the door that best suits your needs and requirements.
If you are considering reselling your property, ask your local real estate agent which one is most advantageous to local buyers.
What do you prefer for your home’s deck, French or sliding doors? Let us know in the comments section. For more information, see our article on dining rooms with double doors.
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