French doors and sliding doors have a few key design differences that can help dictate which door is best for your home.
French patio doors vs sliding doors.
Pella architect series sliding doors.
But there are many different kinds of patio doors beyond sliding glass and french entryways.
First of all a french door has a wider door frame so it visually has the traditional style which some property owners may desire more for their homes.
However the wider frame on a french patio door is a more traditional style which many homeowners desire.
When most people think of patio doors what comes to mind are the sliding glass doors on metal tracks that became popular during the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s for others a patio door might mean double exterior doors like french doors with shutters or roman shades.
Traditional two panel sliding doors are available in wood fiberglass or vinyl.
Traditional sliding glass doors have two panels with one that slides along rollers to cover the other.
Sliding glass doors are a great option in rooms with less space flexibility as they don t swing to open like french or hinged patio doors.
French patio doors can be considered a little more energy efficient as the central glass panels can be smaller by being set into wider frames whereas sliding doors are almost exclusively created from glazed panels.
Homeowners have lots of options when it comes down to these two styles both in terms of customization and manufacturers.
When it comes to admitting light french doors and sliding glass doors can pretty much go toe to toe whatever that means.
French doors have a wider door frame.
Deciding between sliding patio doors and french patio doors.
Pella architect series sliding patio doors feature exceptional wood furniture.
It s also a good choice for a home with a lot of in an out traffic because of the ease of sliding open a door.
Although don t forget that they meet in the middle and can let air in.
After all they re both mostly glass although a mullioned french door will break up the view a little more than the single large pane of glass that s most common on a sliding door.
The track can be unattractive in appearance.
French patio doors are mostly made of glass and look similar to windows.
Sliding and french doors are two of the most popular choices for residential patio doors.
A classic model has two side by side panels that swing in or out from hinges on the sides of the frame.
A considerable difference between french doors vs sliding doors is the track involved with sliding doors.
The sliding track deters many people from this option.
Keep reading to learn more about your options.