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How Do I Choose the Best Replacement French Doors?

By Anna B. Smith
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,549
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To choose the best replacement french doors, homeowners should select energy efficient models that insulate the home. Old doors, which are typically made from wood and single glass panes, can allow air, cold, and heat to enter the home and negatively affect energy costs. New doors can be installed by the homeowner as one whole kit, or can be custom fitted for the home by construction professionals.

Replacement french doors are often necessary when an existing exterior doorway becomes damaged and is in need of replacement. The new doors selected should match the existing entryway exactly if they are being installed by the homeowner. If an entryway is being expanded to allow for the use of french doors, a professional contractor may be required.

The replacement french doors should be functional as well as beautiful. These doors typically allow light to enter through glass panes along the entire length and width of the double doors. This type of construction guarantees that over 80% of the door is made of glass, which may be a poor type of insulation between the interior of a home and exterior elements. The glass of the french door may be comprised of single panes set into a wooden grill work frame, allowing multiple points of entry for outside air and wind to penetrate the home.

Consumers can begin their search by selecting energy efficient replacement french doors. These doors are often certified by an outside energy rating agency to guarantee that they comply with local or national efficiency guidelines. Instead of one single pane of glass, these doors feature a double pane of glass that creates a vacuum between the two panels that becomes a type of insulation. Decorative grill work or sliding blinds may be embedded within this vacuum for privacy and aesthetics.

Vinyl or composite building materials, like fiberglass, are often recommended by many builders for use in replacement french doors over wood. This material is easy to clean and will maintain its color and appearance for a greater length of time. Wood must be sealed and painted regularly to maintain its look and integrity, and generally requires replacement after many years of use. Vinyl and composite materials can withstand weathering elements, and may never need replacing, depending on their use in the home.

It is often necessary, when performing this type of home maintenance, to replace additional materials around the doors. When removing old french doors, the homeowner can benefit by examining the existing frame work, trim, and weather stripping. Many types of replacement french door kits are equipped with new frames which can be mounted directly into the existing entryway as one whole unit. These kits usually require the use of new door insulation to surround the new frame, new trim, and new weather stripping to stop weathering elements from entering the home. Replacing all parts of the door system at the same time can often extend the life of the door, and prevent the need for maintenance for many years.

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Discussion Comments
By Raynbow — On Oct 10, 2014

@spotiche5- Yes, you can certainly paint vinyl doors. Just make sure that you choose a paint formula that is recommended for this type of material, then you can have it tinted any color you want and paint your vinyl French doors.

By Spotiche5 — On Oct 09, 2014

I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not vinyl replacement French doors can be painted. I found some that I love, but I can't find them in the color I want. I would like to match them to the trim of my home, but want to make sure that painting them myself will work.

By Ocelot60 — On Oct 09, 2014

I recommend replacement French doors with built-in blinds, because they offer beauty and convenience. Since the blinds are fitted in between two panels of glass, you never have to fuss with them or clean them.

By Spotiche5 — On Oct 08, 2014

Several years ago I wanted to replace my old, rusty, sliding patio doors with French doors, but I hated to spend a lot of money on them. I had heard that my local home improvement store had a nice clearance selection with many different materials, so I decided to check it out.

Though there weren't any French doors in the clearance section at first, I kept checking. After about three weeks, I found a great set of French doors at a fraction of the price of retail. They had been special ordered and returned, so they were in great shape and looked very stylish. Since I had a contractor on standby, he was able to confirm that he could make them fit my home.

I would suggest that anyone who wants French doors but is on a tight budget to shop like I did. Give the clearance section of your favorite home improvement store a chance, and you may find these costly doors at a great price.

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