PVC French doors are now very popular and, as well as giving you access to your garden and patio they allow a lot of extra light to come inside. They are smart and practical and, as they are purpose made, they can fit into any window opening. An excellent way to up-grade your room is to cut out the section the wall below an existing window cill and install a new set of uPVC French doors.
Over recent years French doors have been increasing popularity over uPVC patio doors. PVC French patio doors open inwards or outwards and you can enjoy the full width of the opening unlike standard patio doors that slide to the side usually behind a fixed pane therefore only half of the opening is useable for access or egress.
They are delivered with all the necessary framing, weather proofing, safety glazing and door furniture. The installation is easy takes no time at all.
With PVCu French doors security is a very important consideration. Some locking systems come fitted with Euro key cylinders that burglars can bypass with ease. Please click here for additional information on this subject. When you are talking to your supplier be sure to fully consider the locking facility that will be fitted.
You must also make sure that sufficient room is available for PVC French doors to swing fully open so that you can enjoy the full width of the door opening.
UPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) exterior french doors are manufactured with a rigid plastic and unlike other materials, such as timber, will not rot, require repainting or re-staining and not absorb moisture. PVC French doors will perform very well in all weather conditions and nowadays colour fading is not a problem as the surface finish is stabilised against UV light, preventing excessive colour shifting.
Colours to Choose From
White PVC French doors are not the only colour available. They come in a variety of many other colours and wood grain effects and there is a colour exactly for your needs:
The most popular colures are:
- Polar white
- Cream
- Rosewood
- Cherrywood
- Mahogany
- Light oak
Some manufacturers offer other colours as well as the above. Why don’t you check out the full REHAU colour range.
In addition it is possible to have two colours within the same frame. For example the frame could be white internally and light oat externally. Particularly suitable for traditional type homes where white frames internally is a must to blend with the rest of the room decorations.
Range of uPVC colours
French Doors Specification
When discussing with your supplier the following specification for your new doors is typical:
| Component | Specification |
| Dimensions | Purpose made |
| Door framing | Grade A uPVC 70 mm framing fully reinforced with galvanised steel for added strength |
| Door Cill | Narrow at 85 mm or wide at 150 mm |
| Locks | 3 hooks, 4 rollers, 2 anti lift bolts and latch locking, anti snap cylinders – 3 keys |
| Door handles | Lever type – colour white, gold, black or chrome |
| Hinges | Fully adjustable 3 way hinges colour coded with door framing |
| Door opening | Inwards or outwards |
| Threshold | UPVC Standard 70 mm, lower uPVC 50 mm or low threshold aluminium type |
| Glazing | Toughened glass double glazed units (28 mm thick overall) incorporating Low E energy saving glass |
| Glazing bars | Optional mid rail 115 mm deep or double glazing incorporating internal glazing bars |
| Glazing beads | Internal for added security |
| Ventilation | Door set incorporating trickle ventilators |
| Side fixed screen | 1 or 2 with glazing same as main doors |
Depending on the width of the existing opening the following door set configurations is possible:
| Width in MM (inches) | Configuration |
| 1000 – 1800 (393/8” – 707/8”) | 2 French doors possible within this dimensions |
| Opening dimensions beyond the maximum above will require a side fixed screen on one side or on each side of the doors (see sample photographs below). A fixed side screen on each side of the doors will offer the most aesthetically pleasing option. | |
| 1800 – 3000 (707/8”) – 1181/8”) | 2 doors with a side fixed screen on either side |
Example of French doors only OR French doors with side screens
There are two areas to consider when it comes to with glazing.
- Thermal Efficient Glazing
- Safety Glazing
Thermally Efficient Glazing – “Low E”
Low E (low emissivity) glass is a thermally efficient glass that has a special coating which blocks out long wave radiation but allowing through short wave radiation i.e. visible light. The suns short wave radiation passes through the glass and absorbed by the objects in the room such as carpet, furniture etc heating them up. In the winter time the heat radiating from the objects in the room tries to escape through the window but the Low E glass reflects the heat back inside keeping the room warm with reduced heating costs. While in the summer time the same thing but in reverse. Everything outside is warmer. The heat wants to radiate through the glass to the inside of the building. The Low E glass prevents the heat from entering reducing the effects of solar gain keeping the room cooler.
Radiation deflection internally and externally
Safety Glazing
Toughened Glass – This glass is stronger than standard glass due to the process of tempering. With the tempering the glass is resistant to thermal stress and impact e.g. the pane being struck by a football. This is not to say it will not break. If it breaks the glass will shatter into small blunt pieces reducing the risk of injury.
Laminated Safety Glass – Due the large panes of glass in French doors safety is paramount. Laminated glass is two panes with a plastic membrane between forming a sandwich. If the pane breaks its integrity is held by the plastic membrane. Laminated glass is thicker (normally 6.4mm) and therefore heavier increasing the wear and tear on swinging doors. It is also more expensive than toughened type.
Door security
If you decide to install new French doors or maybe a new uPVC front door make sure your supplier fits the latest cylinder technology that is tamper proof. Tamper proof cylinders on French doors and uPVC front doors mean that they are drill proof and anti snap. With older cylinders burglars were able to snap off the outer half of the cylinder thus gaining access to the inner mechanism of the lock system. The newer versions of the cylinder prevent this happening.
Some other related topics:
Interior French doors can also be installed within the home and they look great.
You may also be interested in reading about glazed internal doors and PVC front doors.
There is an interesting article on a lightweight screen door guide right here.