French Doors Or Sliders
French patio doors can be considered a little more energy efficient as the central glass panels can be smaller by being set into wider frames whereas sliding doors are almost exclusively created from glazed panels.
French doors or sliders. French patio doors are typically found in more traditional home styles due to their historical place in home design. They are unique in that you can open them inwardly or outwardly. Also as winds blows against a french door it tends to bow thus causing additional air leakage. They consist of two doors that open from the center.
French doors have a wider door frame. A classic model has two side by side panels that swing in or out from hinges on the sides of the frame. For a multiple pane look choose from a variety of grid options available to create the look of individual lites. A sliding glass door frame is typically narrower than a french patio door.
Sliding doors overlap which is a more efficient design and creates a tighter seal where as french doors come together with no overlap and an increased chance for air infiltration. Milgard french sliding doors combine space saving convenience with the elegance of a french patio door. French patio doors are mostly made of glass and look similar to windows. French doors and sliding doors have different hardware.
A french style sliding door has the appearance of traditional swing french doors with wider stiles and rails while functioning as a sliding glass door. Design differences between french patio doors and sliding patio doors.