french window or sliding doors

Selfbuilder14 · 22-06-2014 5:36pm #1

Our architect has specified french windows on our new build three sets but would sliding doors be better? French windows can be fully opened but does the wind catch them? Can you clip them open. I prefer the look of french widows but with three sma children would sliding be better?

missmoxy86 · 25-06-2014 12:56pm

We have 2 sets of French doors in our house and yes the wind does sometimes catch ours, it wouldn't happen often enough to put me off them, it would have to be very windy (once it happens once your more aware so not likely to happen again) and if its so windy then kids will be indoors and not likely to be using them anyway. We have 2 young kids and have no problems with them. I like that they open out fully on the good weather days, you won't be able to do that with the sliders. Re clipping the French doors open, we just prop ours with a cobblestone. Good luck with your build!

Skatedude · 25-06-2014 1:04pm

personally i would be going for bifolding doors. You can open the space completely, but the wind dosent catch them as they run on a rail

AntrimGlens · 25-06-2014 1:08pm

I don't know what you may be planning on covering your sliding doors/french windows with, but we got built in blinds into the two sets of sliding doors (between the panes) and they are a godsend. We have 1 1/2 yr old twins, now on their feet and they would have blinds pulled to bits if they were on the outside. This keeps the blinds in place and no rattling when doors are opened and closed, also helps to keep them clean and free from fly sh1te.
Everyone who has seen them just went, sh1t i wish i knew about them when we put in our doors, they're a super job.

BryanF · 25-06-2014 1:58pm

'French doors' type will have best cost to overall U-value and air-tightness

Selfbuilder14 · 25-06-2014 2:43pm

Internal blinds are a good idea esp since we have three young children. We are put off bi folding for the same reason they look like they have many moving parts and won't stand up to my three kids. thanks for all your replies still not sure which we will go for. Both are probably good

db · 25-06-2014 2:58pm

We went with French windows for a couple of reasons - sliding doors will only open half way and bi-fold doors need a minimum of 3 panels so need to be wider than the standard patio door size. We got one set to open in because there is a wall at one side and kitchen units at the other so there is no problem with wind. The other set is in a bedroom and not used as often so they open out. It's great to have the extra wide opening to bring in large furniture and appliances.

fifib · 26-06-2014 1:27pm

we have 2 large openings at the rear of our house (3.5m wide each). the back of the house gets the brunt of bad weather but we have an amazing view so we really wanted to have these 2 large openings. first we were going with bi-folds on them but their energy rating werent great and we were restricted on the material. then we looked into french doors with a fixed panel either side. my parents have the same put in theirs only last year and we saw the abuse they can get especially on a windy day. some days they cant even be opened. and theres a block used to keep them open on the nice days! so we opted for sliding doors. we've just ordered them but they ticked all the boxes for energy rating/u-value, giving us least amount of frame/cross sections of frame and most amount of glass and they were in the material we wanted.