It’s springtime in the state of endless summer; could this be the right time to lighten up? French doors, a splendid combination of windows and doors, offer the opportunity to open up a room and let the sun shine in. Today, French doors are no longer an energy inefficient luxury or home security risk. High-tech, impact-resistant window and door systems provide protect your family and home investment from extreme weather; insulation from noise, temperature fluctuations and the fading effects of UV rays; and are an unbreachable barrier against intruders.

As their name implies, French doors were developed in 16^th century France from the desire to light interiors more effectively by installing small panes of glass called, “lights,” in solid doors. Besides allowing more light to enter while maintaining an even temperature inside your home throughout the year, French doors provide:

• an appealing way to “connect” the inside of your home with the outdoor patio, pool, garden, beach and balconies
• a visually engaging way to create functional space between adjoining rooms that can be controlled in instances where each room needs to be partitioned off for privacy, noise elimination or air conditioning purposes
• a stylish alternative to classic front entryway doors that does not increase security risk because of impact-resistant glass panes and a three-point locking system, typical to exterior French doors,that secures the doors to the head jamb and sill

Modern Florida Building Code-compliant French doors are made from fiberglass, aluminum, and wood; meaning that all of these impact-resistant doors are built to weather storm-force winds of 170+ mph. What, then, is the differentiator in deciding which French door system to purchase? Senior Client Manager, Joseph McFarlane, references cost variation as the predominant factor that determines homeowners’ choices; citing the cost range of impact-resistant French doors from least to greatest in the following order: fiberglass, aluminum and wood.

Wooden French doors are most often used for custom designs and stains, which their higher cost reflects. Wooden French doors’ performance ranks as high as fiberglass and aluminum French doors but they require more maintenance and are not a practical choice for use on beachfront or intracoastal properties where perpetual exposure to saltwater and sea breeze will cause them to warp and corrode.

Aluminum and fiberglass French doors offer an astute waterfront alternative to wood. Aluminum and fiberglass impact-resistant French doors, crafted to replicate the opulent look of wood, equal wooden French doors’ strength and performance but simplify their maintenance routine to the extreme while retaining beauty. For example, aluminum French doors are available in neutral colors such as white, bronze and can also be finished with a mahogany, walnut or hazelnut wood “wrap.” Fiberglass French doors are available stained white, a particular color of choice or with wood grain.

An assortment of hurricane glass is available to further customize any of your impact-resistant French doors and offer as much privacy or transparency as you wish. The standard of all impact-resistant French doors’ design, however, includes stainless steel or corrosion-resistant hardware and three-point locking systems that secure the doors to the head jambs and sills for maximum impenetrability.

French doors, once a recherché feature of premier real estate, are now available to bring every home stately curb appeal and interior design refinement. Contemporary impact-resistant glass and design technologies provide an entryway solution that guards your family and home investment from extreme weather; temperature fluctuations affecting energy use; solar UV ray fading of flooring, furniture, window treatments and art investments; noise; intruders; and lowers insurance premiums while increasing the value of your home. Tres belle; n’est-ce pas?!

by Kate Donovan