Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Do you have a small room you want to look larger? Would you like to add more natural light to a dark room? Or perhaps you have an elegant room that just needs a little something extra. If any of these are your concerns, you might consider adding French doors, which have a reputation for stylish elegance—and add value to your home.
Traditionally, French doors come in pairs that when opened together create a large entryway. They are constructed with multiple sections of glass and mullions, and even when closed, French doors allow in a lovely view of the outdoor world.
There is a misconception, however, that French doors are automatically double (two) doors pre-hung on one doorjamb. In fact, French doors can be pre-hung as a single or double-door unit and can also, with the proper track and hardware, be utilized as a bi-fold door, bypass door, or pocket door.
Door sizes vary according to the opening. Most companies have a minimum door width of 16 inches and a minimum door height of 60 inches. Any variations have to be custom-made at greater expense. The thickness of a door typically ranges from 1 3/8 to 1 3/4 inches.
French doors are also known as French windows, or as true divided lite (TDL) French doors. The glass panels in the door are also known as “lites.” It is the lites that can be divided into multiple sections or come in one long piece. A true divided lite means that each pane of glass in the construction of your door is built in separately. For example, if you order a 10-lite door, it will be built with 10 separate lites inserted independently into their own mullions.
Since the majority of French doors are mostly glass, there have been major innovations in the type of glass used so you can still feel protected against breakage and the outside elements. Special-grade glass can now have enough strength to withstand hurricane winds and high-velocity objects without fracturing.
Do you have a small room you want to look larger? Would you like to add more natural light to a dark room? Or perhaps you have an elegant room that just needs a little something extra. If any of these are your concerns, you might consider adding French doors, which have a reputation for stylish elegance—and add value to your home.