French Doors vs Patio Doors: Which Door Should You Choose?

What is the difference between French doors and patio doors? While they are both stunningly wide doors, the main difference between French doors and sliding patio doors is the way they open. French doors are double doors that swing on hinges, while sliding patio doors slide on a track along the wall.

This may seem like a very superficial difference but it gives these gorgeous doors their own sets of pros and cons. Read on to find out which one is the most suitable style for your East Anglian property!

Choosing Between French Doors and Patio Doors

How Do You Want Your Door to Open?

French doors generally open outwards as standard, but you can always get them installed to open inwards. Patio doors, on the other hand, slide open on tracks horizontally. Since both of them can be fairly large doors, which one you should choose boils down to the amount of space you have available.

If you have room to leave a large swing arc clear for opening the doors, French doors will give your home a beautiful European style. These doors can be a design feature in themselves. However, if you are short of space, then you might want to consider sliding patio doors. These doors will give you the same wide opening and sunlight. However, you will not have to worry about clearing out space before you open your door.

How Windy Does it Get?

If you have a swinging exterior door in a place where it might get windy, you need to ensure that the open door doesn’t slam shut. You need to be even more careful if you have children or pets who might get injured.

With French doors, like all swinging doors, you do run the risk of the door slamming. However, you can opt for door stops or safety restrictors which will limit the damage a strong breeze might cause. On the other hand, patio doors, being sliding doors, are not affected by the wind at all.

If your home is protected from strong gusts of wind, then nothing can beat French doors in terms of chic elegance. However, while French doors are chic and stylish, a graceful sliding patio door might be a better option if your property is vulnerable to strong winds.

Would You Like to Have an Opening You Can Control?

There may be times when you do not want your property to be fully open to the outside. Sometimes, it’s enough to have the door cracked open so you have air circulating but not open wide enough to make the room cold or draughty.

With double glazed sliding patio doors, you can control the opening better. However, if you like your doors wide open, French doors will work nicely. These stylish doors give you an aperture that is as wide as two doors!

How Big Do You Want the Doors to Be?

Replacing a wall with a glass door gives you a room that is flooded with natural light. You also get a gorgeous view of the world outside. The brightly-lit room looks bigger and more welcoming – this makes it better for entertaining as well as simply relaxing with your family.

However, if you are thinking about French doors with an overly wide entrance, you will need a large amount of space for them to open. While these doors are perfect for smaller openings, patio doors might be a better option for larger than standard-sized apertures. No matter how wide you want your doors to be, they will simply glide on their tracks without the need for a clear area of space around them.

Do You Want an Unobstructed View?

When you have a breathtaking view or a garden you’re proud of, you want to show it off. Both French doors and patio doors are large glazed doors that will allow you to do that. With patio doors, you get a large wall of glass that allows you to view your outdoor areas. Similarly, French doors are also wide glazed doors.

The difference is, while sliding patio doors give you more visibility in terms of area, they have a static frame. French doors, though they only have a glazed area the size of two door sashes, have a flying mullion. This is a central pillar that opens with the slave sash. Once both the doors are open, you have nothing obstructing the view.

Therefore, if you want an unobstructed view once the doors are open, you should opt for French doors. If you are amenable to the idea of frames breaking up your view, you will find patio doors to be ideal.

At Ultra Trade Frame, we offer both French doors and sliding patio doors. These beautiful double glazed doors are available in both uPVC and aluminium. Our Halo uPVC patio doors and Profile22 uPVC patio doors offer beautiful panels with sleek sightlines. However, we also offer Smart aluminium patio doors for slimmer frames, if visibility is your priority.

Similarly, you can opt for Halo uPVC French doors, Liniar uPVC French doors, Profile22 uPVC French doors, and Rehau uPVC French doors. These gorgeous doors give great thermal efficiency and security.

French Door Prices vs Patio Door Prices

So, now you have learned about the differences, pros and cons of French doors and patio doors, you will be able to choose the correct door for you. At this point, you might be wondering which one will fit your budget better.

While the individual door prices vary according to your specifications, you can get a quick estimate using our online quote calculator. Simply tell this clever tool your requirements, and it will generate a bespoke door price for you. You can also get multiple quotes simply by changing your parameters, so you can use it to compare French door prices and patio door prices quickly and easily.

Alternatively, you can contact us and let us know your requirements. We will be happy to give you your personalised French door or patio door costs.