Yes, they are! French doors let more light into your home and make rooms feel bigger. They’ll also give you relaxing views of your garden and provide easy access to the outside. However, they involve large expanses of glass, so how secure are French doors?
In short, there’s no reason to worry, providing your doors are made from the best quality materials and installed by a company that knows its business.
Here are the key points.
High-Quality Frames
French doors tend to be made with uPVC or timber frames. Both materials have their merits so either will be suitable, depending on your taste and budget.
uPVC is a popular choice, whatever the style of your home. It’s long-lasting and extremely tough, so an intruder won’t have much luck if they try to break in. uPVC is impervious to corrosion and moisture, and is excellent for energy efficiency. It’s a cheaper option than wood and it looks good, so it’s well worth considering.
Wooden frames may be the first choice for traditional or period homes, but they also give contemporary properties a smart and timeless look. Hardwood is the strongest option, but it is a little more costly – it takes time to grow, and every piece is unique. Wood is very robust, provides great insulation and will last for many years. However, it does require regular maintenance to prevent warping and rotting.
Extra Strong Glass
Standard double glazing is reassuringly strong, but for big panels you should consider laminated or toughened glass, as these are particularly resilient.
Toughened Glass: during the manufacturing process, standard glass is heated to an exceptionally high temperature and then rapidly cooled. This makes it much tougher and more heat-resistant than ordinary glass.
Laminated Glass: this is standard glass with a plastic layer between the two panes. This makes the glass much harder to break. If an intruder does manage to smash it, the shards are held in place by the plastic, so it’s still very difficult to gain access through the broken pane. Laminated glass is most commonly used for French doors.
A Multi-Point Locking System
As the name implies, this locks your French doors in several places. The locks incorporate metal rods which run into the door frame at the top and into the floor.
A double-cylinder deadbolt lock is the most secure option. It can only be opened by a key on both sides, so even if the glass does get broken the door can’t be unlocked from the inside.
Security Door Hinges
French doors are often designed to open outwards which can leave the hinges exposed. If the hinge pin is accessible, the door can be lifted off from the outside. Fortunately, it’s possible to have secure, anti-lift hinges fitted to prevent tampering and keep the door securely closed.
Don’t Forget to Lock the Door
Clearly, doors should be locked when you’re out, but remarkably many people forget this bit. Furthermore, many burglaries happen when people are in, so you should always keep external doors locked unless you’re in the same room.
Doors at the back of the house are particularly tempting for intruders, as they are concealed from the road, so whether you’re in or out, always take the time to check that everything is secure.
Quality Doors and Windows from The Window Centre
Our experienced team will find the right solution for you.