Exterior French Patio Doors
The addition of an exterior French patio door to any home is a great investment. Almost as hard as the actual installation of the French doors is choosing the style of door you will install and what product line will choose to buy from. As a homeowner, what are some of the exterior French patio doors that you should familiarize yourself with?
One style are the classic exterior French doors that come in a variety of shapes and styles that have a historic authenticity. Classic Wood French doors generally have a rustic look where typically walnut and mahogany woods are most often used in their construction, however woods such as the American white oak and Demesne Cherry are also used. Take the wood that you choose one step further, and select from one of the countless amounts of stain colors you can shoose from to give your door a unique look from any other. With wood doors, no two doors are alike. Along with the variety of styles, shapes and colors to choose from, there are many glass options you can choose from as well such as no windows, stained glass, decorative glass to bevel glass and everything in between. It is important to keep in mind that when using a real wood exterior French door set, that the outside elements will take their toll on the wood itself. It is important that the wood is maintained and conditioned routinely to ensure that you get the full life out of your doors, whether this means paint, stain or clearcoat make sure to stay on top of it.
Another style of door is that of the steel and fiberglass exterior french doors. Fiberglass and steel French doors are similar in the fact that they are both low maintenance, they give a quality appearance, they come in a large variety of panels styles including two, four and six panel French doors. Both of these French door styles can come with or without glass and allow for decorative glass options as well. The main difference between these two styles of doors is that a steel French door can rust with time, while a fiberglass or will not rust. Both steel and fiberglass doors can be painted, but a fiberglass exterior French patio door can be stained to give it a real wooden look and feel.
Another popular style of French doors are that of old world European. Old world European French doors, come in a beautiful selection of many different woods including hardwoods such as walnut and mahogany once again. Old world European French doors are known for their varied styles and shapes, but what really sets them off and apart from any other door is the use of decorative iron accents and hardware. Typically, but not always dark iron accents are usually oversized to give it the old world European look.
The final exterior French patio door that we are going to touch on is that of the traditional French door. Traditional doors are usually set apart from others with richly detailed woodwork, and a nice display of sparkling windows or different styles of decorative glass. Traditional doors are not always wooden, but can be steel or fiberglass as well. Traditional doors are not only trendy but timeless as well and custom traditional doors can be made to fit any lifestyle of any home. Traditional wood French doors offer transoms and sidelights as well.
These are just a few of the more common exterior French patio doors that are installed in the typical home today. As you can see there is a lot to think about when trying to decide on what shape, style, color and material to choose from when trying to select the perfect French patio door for your home. There are still more options to decide from when installing new doors, such as your exterior French door hardware along with the option of adding side-by-side windows to accent your new doors.
Exterior French Doors for your Home
Exterior french patio doors have been used for years to create the luxurious option to bring the outside world into your home. Whether you keep your french doors closed or open, they can still provide a lovely view to your back or front yard. Double door entryways come in so many different shapes, sizes, and styles the hardest thing as a home owner is going to be deciding which exterior french door style will best fit you and your home.
These doors are often built using either wood or fiberglass to surround the window panes, if there are any. When you buy and install a wood trim french door, it allows you the option to paint or stain the wood any color you desire. Wood exterior french doors also allows a softer look on your interior and comes in a variety of hardwood for any decor. If you choose to buy fiberglass prehung french doors they will give your home a clean modern look that is easy to maintain and clean. You can also paint the fiberglass any color you desire. Due to their synthetic material, they are much more durable to exterior climates, and will never peel, swell or warp. If you live anywhere that has extreme weather, or if you live on the coast line, fiberglass is definitely the way to go.
You may also choose to install custom french doors. In some circumstances you can not find the exact look or size you are going for in a home improvement store, in this case you can hire a builder to create a unique custom french door for your home. Typically a builder can use a variety of materials to create the right look for you such as, fiberglass, wood, and steel. Going this route may cost you a little more but the overall affect of a custom french door will speak volumes on the look of your overall home. After the builder is done with your custom exterior french patio doors it is now up to you the home owner in most cases to oversee that the doors get painted, stained, or anything else you can think of.
The cost of your exterior french patio doors can depend on the size, style, and the amount of glass panels. Most home improvement stores will carry these exterior french doors in stock and if they don’t have it in stock they are easy to order and will be available usually in less then a month. If you as a consumer take your time and wait for deals, they are definitely out there. You can purchase a brand new set of french doors for a discount price if you shop around check out places online and do your homework. The discount is usually worth the work and wait it takes to find the exact doors you are looking for. If you are leaning toward having a builder install custom french doors, again, do your home work interview a few builders in your area and get estimates. Always ask for references and to see prior work the builder has done.
Installing any one of the many kinds of french doors, from premade prehung exterior french doors to a totally unique custom set of french doors will not only give your home more value they will also ceate a soothing way to enjoy the outside world in the comfort of your own home. When you install these beautiful doors you will be able to enjoy your yard, deck, and balcony more than ever before, and from the comfort of your air conditioned house!
