Patio or French doors, what's the difference?

French doors or patio doors - what's the difference?

One job you often see quotes for on older properties is the conversion of a window to a patio or french door - especially where that will provide a convenient doorway to a rear patio area or even create a new entrance between the house and a new conservatory. Oh the possibilities!
Incidentely, if you're having a conservatory fitted, ask the installation company about the best doorway to choose for access between your home and the new conservatory. They'll usually be able to do all the work including brick and plasterwork involved in opening up a window to a full doorway.

When getting a quote for that new or replacement door, one question that is often asked is what's the difference between french and patio doors?

In a nutshell, french doors are hinged, opening outwards (or inwards like traditional doors) whilst patio doors slide from side to side.

It depends on the dimensions of course, but you'll notice that because on a patio door, one panel will always slide in front or behind another, the overall opening is usually just that little bit bigger on a similar french door when both halves are opened.

With french doors, there's no fixed centre strut that both doors seal up to, as one door, the one usually left closed, bears the centre strut upon it. Again talk with your installation company about the best configuration that suits your home.

If you're having french doors fitted, ask about hooks and catches to hook the doors open with - they're heavy units that you don't want blowing shut on you just as you're about to walk through them.

With patio doors, any crime prevention office will tell you the weakest security point is at the top and bottom where a thief may try to prise the door of its rails by trying to lift the door panel. Additional security catches on these points will let you feel a whole lot more secure and are usually included within modern locking systems anyway, but worth checking.

Both french and patio doors should have safety glass fitted.

Of course there is another door option - one on a much grander scale. The Bi-Folding door.

Available for large or small openings and the latest in interior design, the Bi-fold door is made up of separate panels that you can open in varying degrees so that they fold back concertina style to reveal a single doorway or the whole expanse. Great for where you want to really open a room to the outside - not just for pool rooms!

You can get quotes for french or patio doors directly from WindowQuoter - simply type in your own measurements, choose your style and material and our clever website will give you an instant price guide there and then.

And if we've wetted your appetite for something a little more swish, then go to Bi-Fold Door Quoter - enter your aperture (opening) dimensions and how many panels you'd like and again, our clever website will generate a quote for you there and then - completely salesman free and based on the latest UK installation prices.