Exterior French Doors are not only for French homes

French homes, reminiscent of French chateaus, are symbols of elegance and architectural perfection. Chiseling and capping its beauty are its famed mansard rooflines and its majestic entrances defined by elaborate exterior French doors. French doors are basically large glass doors. Though wooden frames divide the glass panels of these doors, glass forms such a major part of exterior French doors, that one gets a feeling that there is no door there. Light can flood into the room through French doors, and if there is a garden in front, it will be visible almost as if it is a continuation of the room.

Exterior French doors do full justice to French homes that are a unique combination of formal and informal looks. Since French homes are set in wide expanses of land, French doors form a good communication channel between the home and the outside, bringing in the light and colors while blocking the heat and cold. Exterior French doors rhyme perfectly with the gothic sensibilities of French homes. French doors may be just two or three full-length panels fitted with glass, or they may be made up of different length frames of smaller squares, or rectangular shaped panels fitted with glass. As several smaller glass pieces, or smaller 'windows' go into the making of French doors, a French door was also referred to as a French window. The glass pieces were known as 'lites' and the frames, or dividing bars, as 'mullions'.

Exterior French doors may be pre-hung with double doors, or maybe a single door unit. They may be Bifold or multifold doors that fold back to one side, or pocket doors that disappear into the wall. French doors, when they are used as partition doors may be bypass doors that slide past each other, but this pattern is less used in French doors. Though French doors are perfectly in tune with French homes, French homes are not the only place where they can do a good job. The functionalities of these doors are suitable for various other settings as well. For example, French doors are quite well liked as conservatory doors. Since conservatories are all about being as close to nature as possible, the see-through nature of exterior French doors is quite suitable for it.

Large sliding and folding French doors in three, four, or five panels are available which are suitable for use in commercial buildings. These doors create a feeling of openness in the building, and a sense of more space than its actual size. As they are outer doors, double pane glass is used in the making of exterior French doors to satisfy insulation requirements. In some French doors, the wooden frames between the glass panels have embedded grille, while in others the glass portion may be a combination of glass and grille. Glazed patio doors with weather sealed frames are a type of exterior French doors, which are equally suitable for homes and conservatories. In some of these doors the glass panels may extend full length while in others it may be restricted to three-fourth of the door.

Glass panes used in French doors will be variously arched, curved, straight, eyebrow shaped, or scalloped. And manufacturers give plenty of color choices also for the glass used in exterior French doors.

Please visit Savoy Timber - http://www.savoydoors.co.uk/ - for a vast range of exterior french doors in different varieties of wood and design styles. Call or contact us now