Doors

French doors

French doors are a pair of glazed doors that open from the centre with no post between them, giving a wide opening onto the garden. As a rough guide they suit openings from about 1,200 mm to 1,800 mm wide. Side panels can make up the width in a larger opening.

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See all 6 layouts
French doorsElevation · NTS
1500
Viewed from outside. Dashed lines meet at the hinge side, as on an architect’s window schedule.

One leaf is the main door, with the handle and multipoint lock. The other is the secondary leaf, held by shoot bolts into the head and threshold. Open the main leaf on its own for everyday use, or both for a wide opening.

Most French doors open outwards, which keeps the room clear for furniture. Inward-opening doors need clear floor space and careful threshold detailing to keep rain out. Opening stays hold the doors back in the wind and protect the hinges.

Approved Document K treats glass in a door as a critical location up to 1,500 mm above the floor, so French doors use toughened or laminated safety glass. Replacement doors also have to meet Part L. For doors more than 60% glazed, that means a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better, or a Door Set Energy Rating of band C or above.

Models

6 standard layouts

The layouts we fit most in UK homes. Every one is made to measure, and you choose the opening side, colour and glass. Need something different? Tell us and we’ll draw it for you.

FD-01Popular

Standard pair

Two glazed doors that open from the centre.

Best for
Most garden openings
Typical size
1200 × 2100 mm
Quote this layout: Standard pair

Drawings are viewed from outside and are not to scale. Dashed lines meet at the hinge side. Sizes are typical starting points; we measure every opening at survey.

Features

Why choose French doors

01

Wide clear opening

No centre post when both doors are open.

02

Secure secondary leaf

Shoot bolts lock into the head and threshold.

03

Opening stays

Hold the doors open and protect the hinges in the wind.

04

Side panels

Extend the glass across wider openings.

Specification

At a glance

Exact figures depend on the system and options you choose. We confirm them on your written quote.

OpeningOutward or inward
SecurityMultipoint lock, shoot bolts, anti-snap cylinder
GlassToughened or laminated safety glass, A-rated options
EnergyMeets Part L for replacement doors (1.4 W/m²K or better, or DSER band C or above where more than 60% glazed)
ThresholdStandard or low threshold
Questions

About French doors

French doors or patio doors?

French doors open the full width and suit narrower openings, but they need space to swing. Sliding patio doors suit wider openings and need no swing space, but only part of the width opens at once. We can show you both at survey.

Should French doors open in or out?

Outward opening is the usual choice, because the doors take up no room inside. Inward opening suits a Juliet balcony, or a small patio where outward doors would block the path. Inward doors need extra care at the threshold to keep rain out.

Can I widen my opening for French doors?

Often, but widening an opening means a new lintel. That is structural work, and it needs Building Regulations approval. We can advise at survey and size the doors to the opening you settle on.

Compare

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Get a price for bi-fold doors

Free survey · written quote · no obligation

Get a price for French doors.

Send rough sizes and a few photos for an estimate. Or book a free survey and we’ll measure everything ourselves.

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