Door Style · Classic Garden Access
French Doors
Classic double‑leaf glazed doors opening to the garden or terrace. Available in uPVC, aluminium, timber and composite — with optional sidelights and Georgian bars.
French doors are the classic garden door: two glazed leaves hinged at the sides, meeting in the middle, opening outwards (or inwards) to the patio or garden. They’re a quieter, more domestic alternative to sliders and bi‑folds — suited to traditional homes and replacement projects on existing French door openings.
Wright Windows manufactures French doors at our Milltownpass factory in uPVC, aluminium, timber and composite. Multi‑point locking on both leaves, toughened safety glass, and a passive‑leaf shoot‑bolt that secures the second leaf to head and threshold. Sidelights can be added to widen the composition.
- Classic Double-Leaf
- In or Outward Opening
- Multi-Point Locking
- Made in Westmeath
How They Work
Two leaves. One opens, one stays locked — until needed.
A French door is two side‑hinged glazed leaves meeting at a vertical mullion (or directly to each other on a rebate). The ‘active’ leaf opens with the main handle on a multi‑point lock. The ‘passive’ leaf is held closed at top and bottom by shoot‑bolts — release them and you have a full double opening.
French doors can be specified to open outwards (the traditional spec, common to garden patios) or inwards (more space‑efficient on a small patio — the leaves swing into the room). The threshold is typically a flush‑sill aluminium track for level access, or a weather‑step for traditional installations.
Why French
Key Benefits
- Classic, period‑friendly look. Traditional double‑door geometry suits Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s homes.
- Daily access without sliding. Use one leaf as your everyday door; open the second only when you need full width.
- In or outward opening. Spec to suit available swing space.
- Sidelights and fanlights. Combine with fixed glazed sidelights to widen the composition.
- Multi‑point locking. Active leaf locks at multiple points; passive leaf shoot‑bolts top and bottom.
Specifications
Configurations & Detail
Opening Direction
Outward (traditional) or inward (small patios). Active leaf can be left or right hand.
Sidelights
Fixed glazed sidelights one or both sides to widen the composition. Fanlight above for full Georgian look.
Hardware
Multi‑point locking on active leaf, shoot‑bolts on passive leaf, toughened safety glass standard, drained sill.
Best Suited For
Where French doors belong.
- Traditional homes — Victorian, Edwardian, 1930s — where the proportions suit double‑leaf doors.
- Replacement of existing French door openings, keeping the original geometry.
- Dining rooms and snugs onto small patios — less‑disruptive than sliders or bi‑folds.
- Compositions wanting sidelights and fanlights for a wider glazed expression.
- Rear gardens with limited swing space — inward‑opening spec works where outward would clash.
Recent Work
French Door Project Gallery
French Doors FAQ
Common Questions
Should French doors open inwards or outwards?
Traditional French doors open outwards onto the garden, keeping the room interior clear. Inward opening makes more sense on small patios where the doors would clash with outdoor furniture — but you lose interior floor space when open. We’ll advise at site survey.
Are French doors as secure as a single front door?
Yes — modern French doors use multi‑point locking on the active leaf and shoot‑bolts top and bottom on the passive leaf. With toughened safety glass and internal beading, the security spec is identical to a single‑leaf entrance door.
Can I have sidelights with my French doors?
Yes — fixed glazed sidelights either side of the doors widen the composition without adding more opening leaves. Useful for narrower openings that need more light, or for matching an existing Georgian‑style opening with sidelights and a fanlight above.
What’s the difference between French doors and patio doors?
French doors are hinged double leaves that swing open. Patio doors usually refers to sliding doors that glide horizontally. Both serve the same use case (garden access) but the operation, sightlines and max sizes are completely different.
Ready to quote your French doors?
Visit our Milltownpass showroom by appointment, or request a free no‑obligation written quote.
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