French Doors vs Sliding Glass Doors

“French doors vs sliding glass doors, which is best for my home?” It’s a question that doesn’t pop up that often, but when it does, our installation pros get to have a lot of interesting and in-depth conversations with customers about their preferences, what they most want out of their doors, and the pros and cons of different door styles.

To help you get a head start on your door replacement journey, the team here at Karoly Windows & Doors thought we’d cover some of the basics about French doors vs sliding glass doors and what might make one type of door more or less suitable for your home than the other.

What Is a French Door? 

First off, let’s define what a French door is. Put simply, a French door is a type of double door with a large amount of glass… typically enough to constitute the vast majority of each door. Often, the glass is decorative in some way, allowing in lots of outdoor light. These doors are normally swinging doors, but the term French door has been applied to sliding doors as well in the past.

It’s hard to really nail down what constitutes a ‘French’ door more narrowly because the term itself is kind of loose and may be used in reference to any number of things. For example, a post about the history of French doors by Frenchly states that: “french doors can be traced back to the French Renaissance… any window with two panels that opens outward can be called ‘french doors.’”

If casement style swinging windows can technically count as French doors (even though almost nobody today uses the term to refer to casement windows), then it’s easy to see why there might be some confusion surrounding the term.

When we discuss French doors, we’re referring to a type of swinging double door with a large pane of glass.

What Is a Sliding Glass Door?

A sliding glass door is a type of door consisting mostly of large glass panes in frames with rollers that allow the operable glass door panels to move side-to-side on a track of some kind.

Functionally, they’re similar to sliding glass windows, but larger and meant to be used as a way in and out of your home.

Sliding glass doors typically have at least two panels, at least one of which will be operable, though there are several different configurations for them, such as:

• Standard Patio Sliding. The type of sliding glass doors most people probably think of when they hear the term.
• Pocket Sliding: These sliding glass doors have an extended track that goes past the door opening for the glass panels to slide into. Useful for maximizing the amount of open space in a doorway when open.
• Bi-Parting. This is a type of sliding door that has two operable panels that meet in the center of the door frame. A popular option for those who want a more elegant-feeling entryway.

Sliding glass doors may have multiple panels that do or don’t move. For example, an XO sliding door would have one operable panel on the left, and a fixed panel on the right (when viewed from the outside of the home), just like what you would see from a horizontal sliding window.

French Doors vs Sliding Glass Doors: Pros of French Doors

So, why would you want to install a swinging-style French door over a sliding glass door? Some of the major selling points of French doors vs sliding glass doors include:

• Aesthetic Appeal. If you have a more traditionally-styled home, French doors might be the perfect accompaniment to your existing architecture. The glass, especially if you go with a more decorative option, can really help sell a more traditional look and feel, enhancing your home’s curb appeal.
• Improved Air Flow. When compared to traditional patio-style sliding glass doors and bi-parting SGDs, French doors offer better air flow when open. This makes them a great option for balcony spaces in homes where you might want to open your doors to enjoy a breeze.
• No Tracks. Some homeowners find the tracks used for sliding doors to be unsightly or even a tripping hazard (particularly for those who have mobility issues). So, they may prefer French doors that let them have a more standard doorway without the tracks. Also, because there are no rollers to collect dirt and dust, there’s no need to vacuum out the tracks periodically.

Some people might cite another benefit in that the wider open area of a double door is more convenient for foot traffic when a doorway is busy, but pocket sliding doors also offer copious open space for foot traffic when open.

French Doors vs Sliding Glass Doors: Pros of Sliding Glass Doors

If French doors are the ‘fancy’ option, why would you possibly prefer a sliding glass door for your home?

A few of the potential advantages of SGDs over French doors include:

• Space Savings. Sliding glass doors don’t need outswing space. This makes them a great fit for patios, as it lets you put patio furniture right near the door without impacting your ability to open or close it.
• No Swinging. Sliding doors, when opened, tend to remain open, even when there’s a stiff breeze. Meanwhile, swinging doors can catch the wind, forcing them to move and closing them when you’re busy trying to do other things (like moving furniture in and out of the house).
• Cost. When filling doorways of similar size, sliding glass doors typically cost a bit less than French doors. However, the total amount saved can vary depending on the specific features you use and the size of the doorway.
• Can Have Screens Added. If you want to enjoy the breeze, but don’t like the idea of inviting Florida’s infamous mosquito population for an all-you-can-eat buffet, sliding doors can easily accommodate built-in bug screens to let in air while blocking out insects. This is harder to do with French doors since the swinging motion of the door would interfere with a bug screen.
• Can Fit Wider Entryways More Easily. With sliding doors, it’s not a huge challenge for the door manufacturer to add more panels, but with French doors, you have the two operable doors and any extra space will need to be filled with sidelights, which may look awkward for especially wide doorways.

So, with sliding glass doors, you typically spend a little less to fill the same space and don’t have to worry about keeping the space around the doorway clear of any obstructions.

French Doors vs Sliding Glass Doors: Which Is Best for Your Home?

So, which type of door is the best fit for your home? The answer is: “it depends on the circumstances.” 

For example, do you prefer doors that swing, or doors that slide? Does the doorway open out onto a space where you expect to install large pieces of furniture? What does the decor surrounding your doorway look like (both inside and outside)? How big is the doorway? What’s your budget?

All of these factors and more can influence whether you choose a sliding door or a set of French doors that swing.

French doors are the top choice for homeowners who want a more traditional look and style. Meanwhile, sliding glass doors are great for homeowners who value practicality cost.

Whether You Choose French Doors or Sliding Glass Doors, Get Them Expertly Installed!

Whichever type of door you choose, be sure to get it expertly installed by a team of dedicated professionals! Professional impact door installation helps ensure that your new doors are as durable and energy efficient as possible so you can enjoy the benefits of having new doors for as long as possible.

Karoly Windows & Doors is your best choice for French door and sliding glass door installation in Tampa Bay. On top of providing a free consultation to help you pick out the best doors to complement your home, we also:

• Never Use Subcontractors. Many ‘installation’ companies use cheap outsourced labor to save money on installs. This leads to inconsistent installation quality that causes you endless headaches. Karoly only uses our own in-house installation experts to ensure consistent competence and quality on every install.
• Provide Accurate, No-Nonsense Price Quotes. With Karoly Windows, we itemize each expense on the price quote so you know exactly what you’re paying for and how much it costs. Some installers just give you a ‘bottom line’ price quote that doesn’t spell anything out, and often changes between when you get the first quote and when installation actually begins due to ‘unforeseen’ cost overruns. We itemize so there’s less risk of inaccuracies on the quote.
• Back Every Installation with a Lifetime Labor Warranty. We back our work with a lifetime guarantee that covers labor for repairing your new impact doors for up to 25 years after installation. If there’s an issue with your new doors, we’ll work with you to make it right. We’re that confident that you won’t have to call us back!

Reach out today to get a free door installation consultation and discover the difference that professional installation can make!