When choosing the door for an outdoor area of the home, it´s interesting the variety of types that there are and the materials that are usually used. However, today there are very popular options thanks to the large number of people who favor the same proposal. Regardless of the variety of alternatives available, today you will learn about the difference of french doors and patio doors so that you can select the option that you like the most, and that best combines with your home.

What are the types of doors to install in outdoor areas?

Fortunately, outdoor environments are very receptive when remodeling and installing new decorative elements; therefore, the different options of french doors and patio doors fit perfectly in any space. Simply the model or design to install will depend on the creativity and taste of the homeowner. In this sense, both the french doors and patio doors can be:

Collapsible: it´s the type of installation indicated for small spaces since its accordion-type installation method makes it possible for the door to be opened and closed in small spaces.
Folding: it´s the design style that includes 2 doors that can be opened completely and offer a convenient view to enjoy all its width. The only disadvantage of this type of door is that it requires enough space so that both leaves can open completely.
Sliding: its installation is a little more complicated than the rest since it contemplates the installation of a rail or slide so that the door can slide on it and make possible an adequate opening and closing. Depending on the type of installation and convenience, one or several doors can be slid on the same track.

Once the most common types of doors to be installed in outdoor areas are known, the question arises as to the selection of each of them as the case may be. The truth is that one of the main elements to take into account at the time of the choice is the taste of each person, but especially the space available.

The available space available to install the door is essential to decide the most convenient type since not all styles can fit in the same space. For example, for confined spaces, folding doors are the best option while folding doors are perfect when space is not of much concern.

How to recognize the difference of French doors and patio doors

The main characteristics that differentiate french doors from other traditional patio doors are the following:

They allow the admiration of the area that is found from the other side since it can be observed in its entirety.
Installs completely on the wall; that is, from the ceiling to the floor.
They allow a convenient combination with french windows of the same style and design.
Its opening is usually outwards; while patio doors open sideways.
They can cover a wall in its entirety thanks to wide designs that contemplate the door and the rest of the glass that completes the entire structure that simulates the wall.

It´s important to keep in mind that some patio doors may include glass in their frame. However, the marked difference concerning French doors is that the latter offers maximum glazing; that is, most of the structure is made of glass. On the contrary, conventional patio doors include only small glass spaces in their structure as a detail or to highlight a certain area.

French Doors

What materials are used to make french doors and patio doors?

If there is something in common between this type of door, it´s that regardless of all the possible models and designs, in most cases the same materials can be used for their manufacture. Some of them are:

Wood: The look a wood door provides to outdoor areas is unique. For this reason, it´s usually one of the favorites for French doors and patio doors. However, some of the disadvantages they have are that they require very continuous maintenance, their structure tends to distort over time and they are more expensive than doors made of other material.
Aluminum: it´s one of the most economical materials to make perfect French-style doors and for patios. It´s very light material so its installation is easy to carry out. Also, they do not require extensive maintenance as wooden doors.
Stainless steel: represents one of the most resistant and durable alternatives when it comes to manufacturing doors for exterior areas including French doors. Additionally, they have the particularity of being able to safely resist rust and corrosion that could be generated by the simple fact of being exposed to outdoor environments.

What is the glass used for the french doors and patio doors?

Both for the French doors and the rest of the patio doors there are glass options that vary from their safety, quality, resistance, thermal insulation, and acoustic insulation. Among these are:

Monolithic: they have insulating properties but are of very low quality. Today it´s a practically obsolete type of glass.
Double glazing: they are made up of 2 insulated sheets that are separated by a third element. The purpose of insulating the 2 sheets is to create better thermal and acoustic insulation.
Laminated: they offer great resistance since they are made up of several sheets of the same glass to offer a high-security armored glass.
Tempered: it´s a type of glass that when it breaks it does so in minimal portions; therefore it´s a very safe glass. Also, it´s highly resistant.
Low emissivity: they are characterized by having a low emissivity on their surface, which makes it a high-quality glass and highly efficient in terms of energy characteristics.
Floats: they are created from various compounds that are introduced into a furnace and go through a previous melting process until the desired quality is achieved.

Patio Doors

Variety of styles in exterior doors

The french doors and patio doors are essential elements that should not go unnoticed when it comes to creating dazzling projects or remodeling that generate radical and vibrant changes. If you want an admirable outdoor area, you should focus on selecting the best materials and looking for the design that best suits your environment. Fortunately, there is always the support you need to advise you and select the best alternative.