A room can be transformed by installing a beautiful set of uPVC French doors. The room will benefit with lots of extra light and allow access onto your patio of garden bringing the outside inside. UPVC (Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride) is a profiled plastic material used for making uPVC French patio doors. Most manufacturers offer door sets that are bespoke to fit into any opening size. They are supplied complete with surround framing, doors, glazing and ironmongery and are easily installed.
These days security is very important, therefore care should be taken when choosing locking system for these types of doors. Burglars can easily overcome some of the locking systems commonly fitted to uPVC doors, especially euro profile cylinders. One technique they use involves snapping off the lock cylinder end with simple tools such vice (mole) grips and pulling out the remainder of the lock to gain access to the inner workings of the multipoint locking system. With the cylinder removed the locking system can easily be operated. Lock makers have now developed anti snap cylinders which can be fitted to improve the security of these doors. Glazing beads should be internal for improved security.
External uPVC French doors open outwards unlike sliding doors and therefore require sufficient room for the doors to swing open fully so that you can enjoy the full opening width. French doors can also open inwards. If space is a problem sliding uPVC door is alternative choice.
Example of uPVC French doors
Glazing is a very important issue in the design of your French doors. Two issues must be considered:
- Safety
- Thermal efficiency
UPVC double glazed French doors usually have large panes of glass fitted. If someone accidently falls against the pane there must be a system in place to ensure injury is kept to a minimum. There are two types of glass – laminated and toughened (tempered) glass.
Laminated glass consists of two panes of glass with a thin clear layer of plastic film between. If the pane is broken upon impact, the plastic will maintain the integrity of the glass. This type of glass however should not be used in situations where the glass must be kicked out in the event of an emergency e.g. fire, as it is too tough to break through in a hurry due to the plastic layer.
Toughened glass on the other hand when broken will shatter into small blunt pieces and injury is minimal. It is impact and shock resistant and therefore stronger than standard glass.
From a thermal efficiency point of view there are glass products such as Low E that reduce the effects of solar heat gain by reflecting heat outwards therefore help with keeping the room cool in summer time. In winter time it is the opposite. Internal heat trying to escape through the window is reflected back by the Low E glass reducing heating costs.
The standard colour is white uPVC French doors however other colours are available such as brown uPVC French doors including mahogany and light oak.
The choice is yours……