French Doors vs Sliding Doors: Which Style is Right For You?

Grassmoor Glass • May 4, 2021
Double glazed windows

Choosing new back doors for your home can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many different styles to choose from! With their own lists of benefits and potential drawbacks, it’s important to spend time researching the different styles and options available to you before investing. Two of the most popular styles of back door are French doors and sliding doors, which are both undeniably stylish and elegant. They each provide a sophisticated solution to boosting the safety, security and privacy of the rear of your home, but which is the right choice for you?

 

To help you figure out whether you should opt for stunning French or sliding doors, we’ve listed some of the key differences, benefits and potential limitations of each. Don’t forget - if you still aren’t sure which style of door is best suited to your property, the expert glaziers at Grassmoor Glass are just a phone call away!

 

French doors vs Sliding doors: What’s the difference?


A crucial step in making your decision is, of course, understanding some of the key differences between French doors and sliding doors! Here, we discuss some of the variations between these two back door styles and consider some of the factors that might influence your overall decision.

 

What are French doors?

 

French doors are a great example of sturdy glazed doors. They are double panelled with two separate doors that can be opened independently of each other. French doors are typically produced with uPVC frames, although it depends on your chosen manufacturer and installation company.

 

Like standard, single pane doors, French doors open outwards and close inwards. They are made predominantly from glass, so you can expect plenty of natural bright light to flood into your home with a set of these traditional doors. You can also open them ever so slightly to ventilate your home with fresh air, but it’s not possible to secure them in one position. If it’s windy outside, you may notice that they shut on their own accord.

 

French doors are also renowned for being highly secure. They are typically fitted with security hinges and sturdy locks that make it very difficult for intruders to gain access to your property when the doors are locked.



What are sliding doors?

 

Sliding doors, like French doors, are produced with multiple panels. However, unlike French doors, sliding doors don’t open outwards. They slide open and close horizontally, allowing you lots of flexibility with how far you would like to open them. Unlike French doors, they should stay fixed in one position regardless of the weather outside.

 

As sliding doors tuck away neatly and don’t require much space to operate, they are ideal for patios without much room. If you have a garden where space is at a premium, sliding doors may be the most suitable option. However, sliding doors typically require more wall space than French doors, so they aren’t always appropriate for smaller rooms.

 

Whether you opt for sliding doors over French doors will largely depend on your personal preferences. Some people feel that sliding doors offer a slightly more contemporary look than French doors, so you may factor this into your decision-making process.

 

Grassmoor Glass: Beautiful French doors and sliding doors for homes throughout Chesterfield


At Grassmoor Glass, we’re proud to supply a stunning selection of both French and sliding glass doors for customers throughout the Chesterfield area. We recognise that not everybody has the same needs, so we’ll go above and beyond to help you choose the perfect option for you! For expert advice and exceptional customer service, contact our team today.

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