Today, sliding doors have become quite a popular architectural feature in modern homes and commercial spaces. They offer tons of light, uninterrupted views, and have noticeably better sightlines than French doors (their main competition) when closed.

However, sliding doors aren’t for everyone. Before you commit your money, here’s everything you need to know about sliding doors, and how they compare to patio or french doors.

The Need for Sliding Doors

Modern sliding doors are designed to glide smoothly to open up a space, offering you a seamless connection between your indoor and outdoor spaces. The typically large panes of glass come with thin sightlines, with the flagship options delivering frameworks as slim as 20mm.

This means that your views will be less restricted compared to bi-folding doors, which are made up of smaller doors with a bit chunkier frames.

Some of the key benefits of sliding doors include:

• Easy opening and closing
• Large windows allow for plenty of natural light in your home
• Since they don’t swing, they save space when open.
• Typically feature thinner frames than French doors
• Modern sliding door designs have made them extra secure

What are French Doors

These are two identical doors that open side-by-side. When they open out to the outdoor area, they create a spacious path from the inside out, which is especially beneficial to homes with small gardens and areas where space is at a premium.

Unlike sliding doors, French doors allow you to open the whole wall up, without being limited to about a two-thirds aperture. However, when opened, French doors take up an extra floor area.

The benefits of french doors include:

• Highly secure according to 24hour-locksmith.ie
• Are faster to open and close than sliding doors
• Offer superb thermal efficiency as they will keep heat in
• Provide great aesthetics for traditional homes
• Lets in more cool air than their sliding counterparts as an entire area can open up

Which Doors Are More Efficient

With the rising energy prices, it’s always wise to consider efficiency when looking to have doors or windows installed in your home.

Since sliding doors are largely made of glass, which is naturally not a very good insulator, they are generally not as efficient as French doors, especially when it comes to locking in the heat. However, sliding doors are more effective at preventing drafts, since they offer a much tighter seal, with the option of double or triple glazing, which ultimately helps increase their efficiency.

Triple and double glazing can be used to increase the efficiency of sliding doors, but the same can be applied to French doors too, meaning they are still the more efficient option.

Are French Doors More Durable?

The hinges holding up French doors usually develop problems much quicker than the rolling tracks holding sliding doors. This is because they hang on hinges and aren’t supported along all sides by a frame, meaning the weight could cause the door to require more frequent adjustments.

The construction material also affects the lifespan of both products. Wood will rot over time, which could lead to durability issues. Vinyl might be able to take a lot more. With this in mind, French doors still have a much larger lifespan than sliding doors. The average life of a sliding door is 20 years, while that of a French door is 30 to 50 years.

What About Customisation Options?

There are so many ways to customise your French doors, including decorative glass, how they open, elaborate frames, and unique structural upgrades. Since sliding doors only have one pane of glass, the customisation options are quite limited. You may only be able to upgrade the door’s frame and change the kind of glass you use, or perhaps tint the glass.

Final Thoughts

Both door styles have their pros and cons, and your decision will largely come down to personal preference about space, price, convenience, and design. Your climate may also influence your decision. In areas with high gusts of wind, sliding doors are less prone to blowing shut. Similarly, if you choose French doors, consider the impact of drifting snow on your ability to open and close the door.

Still, no matter the option you choose, you can’t go wrong with either of them. Consult a local sliding doors or patio door pro to explore your options.