Exterior Double Door Design

French doorways are among the most desirable to homeowners due in large part to their effortless elegance. They're different than other doorways in that they're built from two-layers, which allows for opening both inwards and outwards. Read on to learn more about the various types of exterior double doors available to buy and install in your home.

French doorways may be used either outside or inside the house. Indoors, they function well as dividers between one living area and the next and are a much more stylish replacement for sliding closet doors. On the other hand, these doors can be charming and functional when leading to an outdoor patio, for example.

Outside facing French doors can be found in a number of designs and in a wide range of prices, from cheap to expensive. Many feature ornamental details including glazed or stained glass, which is usually double-paned, and even wooden edges with custom carvings.

Hinged Front French Types: These can open in the direction most suitable to their use. Front doors should open into the home, for example, while patio ones are better opening out into the patio space.

Pocket French Types: Like bifold closet doors, pocket French doors do not swing, the slide laterally into the walls on either side. This makes them ideal for small entryways unable to properly accommodate the swinging of a hinge.

They're also great for small porches or patios. They do require room on either side, however, and also need special construction considerations. Adding a sliding screen door is also desirable in this setup scenario.

Bi-Fold & Multi-Fold French Types: These accordion-like folding doors are excellent for closets and even sheds, but do not make the best exterior door option for a home. They're installed and hinged on a track and slide and collapse with effort and can be condensed down to a quarter of their size.

While every type of door has its purpose, it's important to consider the desired function and overall look you're looking to achieve with your purchase of exterior double doors. Besides the two most obvious considerations of climate and budget, if you keep the above considerations in mind, you should be ready to make an informed purchase.

An entryway set is an important feature of the front door not only because it sets the tone for what visitors can expect inside but because it is a crucial focal point of design. Most home entryway sets are chosen to reflect the architectural style of the home itself. Understanding how to choose a new entryway set can seem like a daunting process with so many options available but it can be made simple by understanding a few fundamental questions:

Is it for a Single or Double Door?

A single door typically requires a single knob and deadbolt set. Depending on the style of entryway set these could be two separate pieces that function separately from each other or one larger piece installed onto the door. If they are separate pieces a passage style doorknob is typically used and a single cylinder deadbolt is installed above it to secure the door. Multiple deadbolts can be keyed the same.

A double door system will typically utilize one active knob and one dummy knob for the non functioning door. The active door will use a system similar to the single dummy set up while the inactive door will be secured at all times (sometimes by an interior surface bolt) and a non functional doorknob will be installed. The non functional knob is referred to as a double dummy style knob and although it will appear the same as the functioning knob it will not turn or operate a latch mechanism.

What Backset is needed?

The backset refers to the distance from the center of the bore hole to the edge of the door. Not all doors have the same backset measurement so it is important to measure this distance before choosing a backset size.