French Windows and Doors

Elegant, Inviting, Flexible

Beautiful gardens and terraces need not be hidden behind walls. Turn your home and garden into one continuous space with French windows or French doors. They offer an easy way of adding light, views and the feeling of more space to any room. Available in all RAL colours, a variety of profile types and four different materials, French windows never go out of style for a good reason. Whether you are looking to add something simple or extraordinary, Neuffer can custom build a bespoke solution for your home.

French Windows & Doors: Overview & Advantages

French doors and windows come in sets of two leafs or casements, which swing inwards or outwards on hinges in the same way any simple door would. Each side features a large glazed surface allowing plenty of natural light in and creating great views. Having a door on both sides, they offer a larger uninterrupted opening area which is ideal for balconies, bedrooms and patios.

Advantages include:

Stunning views and more natural light
Ideal for smaller installation spaces
Tilt and turn functionality available
Improved ventilation
Optional glazing bars to match historical styles (e.g. Georgian)
Faster and simpler to use than sliding doors in high traffic areas
Open the entire available space in contrast to sliding options

Custom Options and Materials

Your choice of options begins with the frame material and continues to style, glazing, finish, colours and fittings. Non-standard shapes such as arches are available and glazing bars can be integrated for a more traditional look. On the other hand, minimal, aluminium clad options can create a sleek contemporary look.

We offer two main materials, timber and uPVC as either stand alone or aluminium clad. Each option offers a different set of features.

UPVC is well suited to those with a restricted budget while still offering most of the same customisation options. Timber features great insulation and strength without additional reinforcement, foam or internal chambers. It provides a traditional and natural look for any home while requiring a bit more upkeep than other materials. We offer a wide selection of hardwoods and softwoods including oak, cherry, larch, meranti and more.

Aluminium cladding represents the best of both worlds. For those on a stricter budget, aluclad uPVC provides solid security, durability, insulation and aesthetics at a great price. For the ultimate bespoke solution and premium aesthetics, aluclad timber frames are second to none. They feature a sleek modern look outside and excellent weather resistance. This means little upkeep over the years while retaining the cosy look of timber indoors.

Security and Fittings

Large glass surfaces can be a potential vulnerability depending on their location. A second or third floor balcony door presents little risk while ground level doors should be configured with further security options. These include multi-point locking, bolts, locking handles and concealed hinges. Georgian bars or even simple muntins also provide some additional protection while upgrading

Laminated safety glass is another wise choice for ground level windows and doors. It should be installed on the outermost pane at least in order to provide an added layer of security and make breaking the glass difficult.

Privacy and Ornamental Glass

For those desiring the large openings and increased light of French windows without outsiders being able to easily see in, they can easily be fitted with ornamental glazing such as frosted glass. Additional options include pleated curtains or integral roller fly screens. Finally, roller shutters offer a wide variety of benefits, including privacy but also better insulation and security.

Thermal Insulation and Energy Efficiency of French Windows and Doors

One of the hallmarks of French windows and doors is a large glass surfaces to provide beautiful views and daylight. At the same time, such large surfaces offer the opportunity of potentially losing or saving a lot of energy since they make up most of the overall surface area. Thus, your choice of glass plays a major role in overall energy efficiency, U-values and security.

With external doors, it is important to ensure that energy is not lost, whether that be cool air in summer or warm air in winter. Choosing double or triple glazing will go a long way towards ensuring this as will optional non-conductive warm edge spacers and argon filling between panes.

Was this information helpful?

( 8 ratings , Ø 4.84 )