Differences Between Interior and Exterior French Doors
A French door is a style of door that is made of glass windows with wooden, steel or fiberglass frame. French doors can add beauty to the home; however, there are differences between the two types of French doors, Interior and exterior that should be taken into consideration before deciding to install them.
Door Frame Material
Wood frames on French doors can work well with interior French door frames. However, when it comes to exterior French doors, there are only certain types of wood that will be durable enough to handle the harsh elements, such as white oak, Spanish cedar and mahogany. These options can be a costly option that can still warp, swell or dent over time. For an exterior French door a fiberglass or steel frame can be a more practical as well as affordable option.
Glass Windows
A thin type of glass can be ideal for the windows of interior French door since odds are these will not need to be protected against being tampered with. However, exterior French doors have other needs, since these types of French doors will need to protect against harsh weather and intruders. Therefore, exterior French doors require a thicker more stronger and durable type of glass to give the homeowner more protection. Keep in mind though that even with the thicker glass this is still glass and therefore can still be broken.
Style
French doors do not necessarily come in double doors. There are actually different types of French doors that can be chosen for exterior and interior purposes. Some common interior types of French doors are bi-fold and multi-fold, which can be used for closets and hallway dividers. For exterior French doors, there is also a sliding door variety. There is also a single type variety of French door that can be purchased the same as the double door type that can be used for exterior and interior use.
Window Treatments
It is entirely up to you whether you wish to place window treatments such as curtains or shutters onto interior French doors, since their not necessarily needed. However, with exterior French doors, window treatments will be a necessity. Not only will the treatments help eliminate the glare of direct sunlight at certain times of day, but will also add a certain amount of protection from someone being able to see within your home. Although, placing window treatments on French doors may seem to defeat the purpose of having these doors to begin with, and ruin the beauty of the door itself. A solution could be to have the exterior French door frosted, or install beautiful stain glass, that will add to the beauty instead of detracting from it.