However the wider frame on a french patio door is a more traditional style which many homeowners desire.
Sliding door vs french door efficiency.
A sliding glass door frame is typically narrower than a french patio door frame which means it will allow more natural light into your home.
Homeadvisor s french versus sliding glass door guide defines what a french door and a traditional patio slider door is and the differences between them.
If the room already has little wall space consider the room design before deciding on french patio doors.
Poor energy efficiency ratings the area where french doors join together at the center is susceptible to air and water leakage.
For example a 1 1 2 inch 3 81 cm thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.
Glass or patio doors especially sliding glass doors lose much more heat than other types of doors because glass is a very poor insulator.
Learn the differences between folding french and sliding patio doors in this article.
Although sliding glass doors can provide more flexibility with furniture arrangement in a room french doors can based on your configuration provide a wider opening if you are moving large furniture into your house or hosting parties where there will be a lot of foot traffic in and out you may be limited by the width of the patio slider.
In a similar vein some have proposed that sliding doors have better insulating properties because the only crack is around the edges whereas french doors obviously have a crack between the doors.
Some may work better for your home and lifestyle than others.
The space issue can become a problem for those who are not able to renovate their entryway to provide enough space for french exterior doors.
French doors have a wider door frame.
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It can be hard to prove either case but your best bet is to talk to an expert who is familiar with the pros and cons of each and can recommend the best door for your home.
Each of these doors has different and unique traits.
Between french doors vs sliding doors french doors take up more space than sliding glass doors.
French patio doors can be considered a little more energy efficient as the central glass panels can be smaller by being set into wider frames whereas sliding doors are almost exclusively created from glazed panels.
Sliding doors overlap which is a more efficient design and creates a tighter seal where as french doors come together with no overlap and an increased chance for air infiltration.
Out of these two types of patio doors french doors had traditionally been better at retaining heat and keeping the cold out.