French doors and energy efficiency

FRENCH DOORS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY


1WHAT ARE

FRENCH DOORS


WHAT ARE FRENCH DOORS

Tired of the old doors in your home? Want an option that won’t obstruct views of the outdoors or block natural lighting? If you’ve answered “yes” to both questions, then you really should consider French doors.

French doors are popular as entry doors and patio doors, as well as interior doors. They allow adequate privacy while letting in light, providing views and allowing for a visual connection between two spaces. This series of posts gives you the lowdown on French doors. You’ll be amazed by the many benefits these doors have to offer.

French doors, also known as French windows, are doors that come in varying sizes. They are characterized by panels of glass that allow ample natural light to enter a room. Traditionally, French doors are installed in pairs and are hinged. They can be either in-swing or out-swing, depending on your personal preferences and your area’s building codes. There are also folding and sliding French doors on the market.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE FRENCH DOORS?


WHAT ARE FRENCH DOORS

WHY CONSIDER FRENCH DOORS FOR YOUR HOME?

When used as a patio door, French doors can draw the eye to aspects of the home you’d like to highlight, such as a beautifully landscaped garden or a stunning view. Indoors, French doors provide a visual bridge between living spaces to create continuity and the illusion of space. A French door can also substitute for an interior wall.

DO FRENCH DOORS HAVE LIMITATIONS?

As with any other building material, French doors have a few limitations. For one thing, they tend to be slightly more expensive than other door types. Homeowners also need to be more vigilant about energy loss; if not oriented properly, French doors may allow too much sun (and heat) into the home.

French doors can give your home a high-end, attractive appearance, helping improve your home’s value. However, for you to be able to

maximize your investment, you will need to learn more about another important aspect: energy efficiency. In the next post, we will discuss the

energy performance of French doors.


2THE ENERGY

PERFORMANCE OF FRENCH DOORS


THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF FRENCH DOORS

Most homeowners want nothing but the best for their homes. If you want doors that can add to both your aesthetic and investment value, you’ll inevitably end up with French doors on your shortlist.

In the first part of this series, we discussed what French doors are, and the reasons why they make a good door choice – and we also looked at a few of the limitations, one of which is performance when it comes to energy efficiency. In this post, we focus on that crucial aspect.

ARE FRENCH DOORS ENERGY-EFFICIENT?French doors are popular for the unique appeal of their multiple glass panes. They are also favored for the visual elegance that they create when both doors are swung open. However, these positive attributes can also be a negative in terms of energy efficiency.

A French door’s multiple glass panes can let in a lot of sunshine – and heat. Without specialty glass installed in the door, this can make a room warmer than you’d like it to be, which can also mean that an air conditioning system will have to work harder to keep indoor temperatures comfortable during the hot days of the year.

Low-quality French doors don’t lend themselves well to energy efficiency because of the way they’re designed and how they operate, so there’s no doubt that any homeowner will think twice before choosing these doors over more solid counterparts. With today’s manufacturing advancements, however, homeowners can rest easy – there are ways to make French doors more energy-efficient than they once used to be.



WHAT MAKES FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENTFRENCH DOOR?

What makes the difference? All it really takes is the right materials and composition, installation, and additional options to improve the energy performance of French doors.

MATERIALS AND COMPOSITION ▶ Frame. A French door should have a framing material that has excellent insulative capabilities, apart from being durable and reliable. Solid hardwood tops the list of insulating materials, but new materials such as Fibrex® offer comparable insulating values when compared to wood, vinyl and fiberglass.

▶ Glass. For a French door to be an energy performer, its glass must be treated with advanced coatings. Low-E glass, which has a special metallic coating that lets in just the right amount of natural light and sunshine, yet blocks damaging ultraviolet, is what you’ll want to look for. This means that you can get as much visible light as you need in the summer, without suffering the harmful effects of unwanted solar gain. In winter, Low-E glass helps keep heat inside your home.



INSTALLATION AND ADDITIONAL TREATMENTSA French door must fit tightly into the door opening to provide long-term energy efficiency and performance. This can be achieved by having a reliable contractor custom-fit and install your French door. Furthermore, you may also consider adding window treatments, such as blinds and curtains, for enhanced protection against extreme temperature fluctuations.

Now that you’ve learned the factors that affect energy-efficient French doors, you might also

want to get installation tips that can help you take your investment further. Our next post will tackle

that, so stay tuned!


3INSTALLATION TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE


INSTALLATION TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE

At this point, you may already have enough information about French doors to make the decision to have them installed in your home. In this last installment, we help seal the deal and finalize your decision by giving you French door installation tips to ensure optimal energy efficiency.

OPT FOR PROVEN PRODUCTSSolid hardwood and comparable engineered products, such as Fibrex, offer better insulation values than other door materials. Installing a high-quality French door can ensure that you get maximum energy efficiency benefits.

OPT FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE LOW-E GLASSLow-E glass offers optimal visual transmittance while keeping solar and radiant heat at bay. Furthermore, choosing a product that has glass panes with gas fills, such as argon, in between will ensure that energy leakage is kept to a minimum.

CAULK PROPERLYThe new doorframe must be properly caulked to seal it to the rough opening and threshold. This will also help prevent unwanted air from getting around the door seals and into the house, and keep energy from escaping.



ADD WEATHERSTRIPPING

Make sure that your French doors are weatherproof to prevent energy loss and damage from the elements. In fact, this should apply to all types of doors. If necessary, apply weatherstripping to the cracks between the door and the doorframe to seal the space.

CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL

Installation is very important to a fenestration product’s performance and, more often than not, you are better off having a French door custom-made and professionally installed. A reliable window contractor or professional will not only install your door, but also give you recommendations to help you achieve what you have in mind.



RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN OF KANSAS CITY7220 West Frontage Road

Merriam, KS 66203

913-385-1300www.rbakc.com

http://www.rbakc.com

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French doors and energy efficiency