French Doors, often interchanged with French windows, were first used in the 17th century, quite obviously in France. One of the most commonly used pieces from the Renaissance period architecture, these are held together by a frame and are differentiated from other doors by their large glass paneling which often run along their entire length.
The glass is held in place by a frame which is made of different materials including aluminum, wood, PVC and fiberglass. The glass however does not have to be a single piece –and can be a combination of many small windows which when combined with the aluminum frame provides quite a dramatic effect.
Their specific design proves to be useful by allowing in lots of sunlight and giving an elegant and sophisticated look to the room. Having been made entirely of glass, they are mostly chosen by those consumers who are looking for doors which would open in their patio, garden or at times in their balcony.
Why Aluminum?
Many of those looking for french doors opt for aluminium as their material of choice as they are a little cheaper than wooden doors (usually) and are also lighter in weight. They also certainly last much longer than wooden doors.
A huge advantage of aluminum is its ability to be used in intricate designs due to its strength. This multi panel aluminum door is a perfect example
They provide users with the option of having more glass and less frame in their door owing to the natural slim line of aluminium. French door frames made from fiberglass and PVC mimic the look of wooden frames and thus are the preferred options for people who wish to keep a traditional feel to their home.
However they do provide a distinct modern look of their own. And are very popular with people who have particularly contemporary tastes in design. Both aluminium and PVC door frames can be colored in a myriad of colors according to the preference of the user – allowing for some quite intricate and specific design choices.
With a view like this its easy to see why they opted for the minimal frame of an aluminum door
Depending on the taste of the buyer, french doors can be bought both as hinged single or double doors which open in or out of the room or even as sliding doors. Since a they nearly always connect the outside to the inside of the home all modern french doors will come with double glazing.
How much do aluminum french doors cost?
The prices of aluminum french doors are quite expensive – but they are certainly worth the money. All of them these days will be double glazed. And as any homeowner will tell you – double glazing is not cheap.
You can expect to pay about $1000-$1200 for average quality aluminum french doors (this includes the double glazing). More ornate and designer doors can cost anywhere up to $3000.
So there you have it – a basic buyers guide. Take a look online at the myriad of doors on offer. But be warned – they are hard to resist!
