French doors
The room gets lighter. The garden feels closer. And because French doors open outward on hinges rather than folding or sliding, they are simpler to operate and easier to maintain than most people expect.
They work on all kinds of properties – period terraces, new builds, rear extensions, side returns.
What is a French door?
A French door is a pair of fully glazed doors hinged on either side of a central frame. Both leaves open outward, giving a wide, clear opening across the full frame width.
The term comes from 17th-century French architecture, where large glazed doors opening onto a terrace became a standard feature of domestic design. The principle has not changed – a wide glazed opening, hinged on each side, with as much glass as the frame will allow.
Modern French doors are available in aluminium, timber, and composite timber-aluminium. They can be fitted with full-height glazing, glazing bars, side panels, or a fanlight above to bring in more light.
How French doors differ from other door types
French doors vs bifold doors
Bifold doors fold back in sections and suit wide openings – up to 5 or 6 metres. French doors suit narrower openings, typically up to around 2.5 metres. They open on hinges, require no track system, and work particularly well on period properties and standard rear elevations.
French doors vs sliding doors
A sliding door moves horizontally on a track and gives maximum glass in wide openings. French doors open on hinges and work well on narrower openings, period properties, and rear elevations where a hinged door is the natural choice.
French doors vs patio doors
A standard patio door has one fixed panel and one sliding panel. French doors give a double-leaf hinged opening across the full frame width. Both suit similar opening sizes and are a practical choice for rear garden access.
French doors vs a single external door
A single door gives one point of access. French doors give a double-leaf opening, considerably more glass, and a stronger connection between the room and the garden.
Why aluminium French doors?
The brands we work with
Aluminium French door systems
Timber French doors and composite timber-aluminium French doors
Timber French doors suit period properties, rural settings, and any project where the character of natural wood matters. A well-specified timber French door, in hardwood, engineered oak, or softwood, brings warmth to the rear of a house that aluminium cannot replicate. Factory-finished in any RAL colour or stain, with multipoint locking and PAS 24 security hardware available.
The main consideration with solid timber is maintenance. Painted timber needs repainting every five to ten years. Hardwood and factory-finished systems hold up considerably better. Quality-engineered timber from manufacturers like Accoya can last for decades with minimal maintenance.
For homeowners who want timber inside without the maintenance of a timber exterior, composite systems are the practical answer.
French door colours and configurations
Glazing
Double glazing is standard across all systems. Triple glazing available on premium systems. Acoustic glazing for road-facing openings, solar control glazing for south and west-facing doors. Full-height glazed panels as standard; glazing bars available for a Georgian or Crittall-style grid. Side panels and fanlights above the frame increase light on taller openings.
Colours
Any RAL or BS colour in gloss, matt or textured powder-coat on aluminium systems. Velfac and Rationel allow different colours inside and out.
Opening direction
French doors open outward by default. Inward-opening is available where external space is limited. One leaf can be bolted as a fixed panel with the other used as a traffic door.
Thresholds
Low-profile as standard. Flush threshold available where the subfloor allows. Part M compliant on new build and extension work.
FAQ
A French door is a pair of fully glazed doors hinged on either side of a central frame. Both leaves open outward, giving a wide, clear opening. They are one of the most common rear door choices in the UK.
Bifold doors fold back in sections and open up to 90% of the frame width - the right choice for wide openings where maximum aperture is the priority. French doors open on hinges, suit narrower openings and work particularly well on period properties and standard rear elevations. Both are popular choices for London homes.
A patio door has one fixed and one sliding panel. French doors open outward on hinges, giving a wider, more open feel with no fixed panel in the way.
Most external French doors in the UK open outward. This gives more internal floor space and keeps rain from dripping in when opening. Inward-opening is available but less common.
Yes. All systems we install are PAS 24 certified with multipoint locking as standard. The Origin Soho uses an 8-point locking mechanism with a 3-star British Standard Kitemark barrel.
Both are composite timber-aluminium systems made to Scandinavian standards. Velfac is the more contemporary system with very high thermal performance and a minimum 40-year life expectancy. Rationel offers two ranges - AURA for modern properties and FORMA for traditional British architecture - with U-values from 0.79 W/m²K and a service life of 71–83 years.
Yes. All systems we install comply with current Part L (energy efficiency), Part M (accessibility) and Part Q (security) requirements. We handle any Building Control notifications needed.
Most French door installations take one day. New openings requiring structural work may take two days.