Exterior French Patio Doors

Exterior french patio doors have become more popular than sliding patio doors perhaps because they offer more security, better insulation and are perceived to be more stylish. Sliding door manufacturers are even mimicking the look of the french door in the panels in their sliding doors.

Single Door French Doors

Most exterior french patio doors come with two panels, but in some models only one panel is an operating door. The other panel looks like a door, but its actually fixed in position. With a single operating door, the french door is less expensive and much easier to fit a sliding screen door on. Although many are made without screens at all.

If you do have to fit a screen door on a single door french door, the only things you need to do is install a track on the door sill all the way across, and a track on the top header. The screen door will seal on the astragal, or the vertical column in between the two french door panels. You may need a wide vinyl bug strip if the astragal does not stick out enough. You also have to pay attention to the door handles. Sometimes they stick out so far they interfere with the screen door.

Double Door French Doors

Double door french doors have two doors that open and close so that the whole patio door opening is available for entry or exit or just for the view. Usually one of the opening doors is held closed most of the time by slide bolts, one at the bottom sill and another at the top header.

These doors present problems if you need a sliding screen because you need two sliding screen doors on separate tracks. Or a single screen door which works only when the main door is open. Probably the best solution is the retractable screen for these types of french door since the retractable can be completely out of the way when the doors are fully open, and be operating as a screen door when one panel is closed and the other used for entry and exit. You still have to pay attention to the sizes of door handles and locks though. As these may interfere with the retractable screen door too.

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