French Patio Doors: A Guide for Knoxville Homeowners

Patio doors are a convenient way to connect your home’s interior with your outdoor living space. However, that’s not the only role they play—they also contribute to your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. As such, you need to ensure they are in top shape. If they no longer function as intended due to years of damage, then you need to consider replacing them.

When it comes to replacement patio doors, no other unit combines elegance and simplicity like French doors. With multiple glass panels combined with an inherently open design, these patio doors are a great way to enhance your home’s aesthetic and boost your property’s overall value.

Renewal by Andersen® of Knoxville, your local source of replacement windows and doors, discusses everything you need to know about French doors.

About French Doors

As the name suggests, French doors originated from France in the 17th century. However, they were originally designed as large casement windows that were meant to highlight symmetry and light—two major features found in Italian Renaissance architecture. They swung out towards the balcony, and because of this configuration, they were eventually designed to look like the patio doors we know of today.

Benefits of French Doors

Designing and developing French door units are still deeply rooted in a period where electricity is yet to be made accessible for all, and this greatly influenced their popularity in modern times. Unlike solid doors, they can transform any indoor space with natural light and views.

Hinged French doors help link two adjacent rooms or tie together your indoors and your balcony, patio, deck, or garden. Entertaining becomes a breeze for you as your guests can easily move back and forth between indoor and outdoor spaces with ease.

This opening also lets copious amounts of fresh, healthy air. This improves your home’s indoor air quality, keeping humidity levels at a minimum. Close the doors and you create an airtight seal that prevents costly energy from leaking out and drafts from leaking in.

Lightweight and versatile, you can find beautiful French patio doors in a wide range of material options. As your local door and window company, we believe that the classic and elegant appearance of French doors makes them an instant focal point for your interior.

Hinged French doors often have large glass panes, giving them their ability to bring in sunlight to bring in a brighter, more expansive feel to your room. By harnessing the sun as a light source, you won’t have to use indoor lights as often during the daytime, reducing your energy consumption. The same glass panes also offer wide, uninterrupted views of your outdoors.

Considerations When Selecting French Doors

When shopping for French doors, you need to consider the following features:

• Door Swing – You can find French doors that have either swing inward or outward. Be sure you have enough space to accommodate the door swing.
• Glass – If you want your indoors to receive sunlight but don’t want your furniture, carpet, or artwork to fade, consider tinted or coated glass options. Low emissivity (low-E) glass, for instance, has special coatings that help prevent heat loss and provide insulation.
• Locking Mechanism – Certain French doors generally require a three-point system that locks the door to the head jamb and the sill. Those from Renewal by Andersen have a unique reach-out lock system for added security and airtightness.

Renewal by Andersen of Knoxville is your local door and window contractor for your home improvement needs. Our French doors combine the traditional, detailed beauty of this old-world door style with the advanced materials of an industry leader. When you work with our experienced design consultants, you will be able to customize the size and appearance of your French doors to fit your personal preferences and your home’s spatial constraints.

Call us today at (865) 588-2508 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, in-home consultation. Our Tennessee service areas include Knoxville, TN, and the surrounding areas.