Best Back Doors For Home – Maybe you have a new stone patio and want to open up a sunroom from the living room. Or you want to see your garden from the kitchen for more light and air.
When French doors were crossed with windows in the 1600s, they had something similar in mind. Exported to North America a century later, pairs of multi-panel doors can be opened to catch a summer breeze while inviting year-round sun. In fact, Thomas Jefferson installed several pairs at Monticello.
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Today, French doors come in a wide variety of styles, from seamless glass panels to sliding and swinging ones with diamond-shaped grids. New engineering means greater energy efficiency, wind resistance and safety, freeing the mind to focus on light and air.
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“The best thing about a room is the sunlight on the floor,” says interior designer Malli Shock. “Unlike windows, French doors let in light and it’s always nice to be able to step outside.”
Today’s exterior French doors are usually pre-framed in wood, with sills and weather stripping. This simplifies installation. Optional grills and hardware can be added to complete your door style.
Sight lines: If you’re not replacing new French doors with old ones, work with your designer or general contractor on a location that’s good for interior views, comfortable access, and exposure to sun and wind.
Clearances: Before choosing fitted doors, make sure they have room to swing in or out fully. Space-saving options include a fixed door and fixed or sliding doors.
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Glass Type: Transom or sidelights can enhance the effect. Textured or frosted windows add privacy; In a hurricane zone, refer to the design pressure rating in accordance with the local building code.
Screen options: Hinged screens require floor space, and sliders are another track; A translucent material such as fiberglass curtains is not obtrusive. A better solution might be a retractable screen, sometimes sold with a door, that rolls up into the jam out of sight until needed.
Quality vinyl is affordable and durable, while paint mimics the look of wood – choose a different color for each side. A rigid foam core adds energy efficiency.
Stable, energy-efficient and low-maintenance, strong fiberglass offers good resistance to UV rays, rain and cold weather; Can be painted or finished with marine varnish. Foam cores provide insulation. Comes in a smooth finish or a realistic embossed wood-grain look that can be stained.
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The wood in the interior has a warm, traditional look; Aluminum, vinyl or fiberglass coverings on the outside add durability and stand up better to the elements. The core is a uniquely designed log for added strength; Laminate veneers can be kept looking new with paint or other finishes.
Window glass does not transfer heat as well as before. Options now include double or triple tempered panels (which can block some light), providing krypton insulation such as air or gas; “Low-E” coatings also help prevent heat transfer.
The Energy Star label means the door has been tested and certified to meet strict standards; The lower the U-factor, the better. ENERGY STAR certified sliders installed before December 31, 2016 are eligible for federal tax credits; Find details at energystar.zendesk.com. But equally important is proper installation and maintenance. To conserve energy and minimize drafts, doors should be tightly closed and weatherproof in good condition.
A single-hung panel is considered a French door; Fixed sidelights indicate the appearance of the pair. When the door opens inward, the rain is placed over the shutter.
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The pair features a door and a standing panel. Place the junction side where it is easier to swing. Tall lower rails give single-glazed French-door cred.
The slider saves space indoors and outdoors. Remote control blinds mounted between panels provide light control with a clean look.
Pro Tip: “The rough opening should be plumb, level, flush, and about an inch wider and taller than the door frame. Installation always goes faster when you pay attention to adjusting the strength of the opening.”
Multi-point sets offer more protection and less drafts. For hinged and sliding doors, the best protection against crashes and strong winds is a multi-point locking system with top, middle and bottom deadbolts.
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Since they require a key, these bolts prevent thieves from breaking the panel and getting in to open the door. For those concerned about extra security, hinged doors can be made with five locking points, two more bolts on the casing and the threshold. Safety locks not only provide peace of mind, but also reduce energy bills thanks to a strong air seal.
This classic option is natural for its ergonomic shape and traditional good looks, especially with the escutcheon plate. But the button is optional.
A steady hand grip helps to open the sliders easily. Can stand outside and be decorative or placed inside the door.
Accentuating period French doors, these have face-mounted bars that run from top to bottom and open into sockets in the casing and threshold. They retract with one turn of the knob to open.
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