door hardware colors

If you’re tired or bored with your existing sliding glass door, then the next option for patio doors would be French doors. The range and options available for French doors are almost daunting so we will discuss them in broad terms here in this article. Look for more articles from me discussing specifics. There are three main parts of a French door that I want to discuss. Frame material, hardware and glass.

The first section is the frame material. French doors are available in many different frame types. Starting from least expensive to most expensive they are steel, fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, wood and aluminum clad wood. There are some small variations but for the most part these are your options.

I would recommend that you stay away from steel unless you are simply flipping the house and don’t plan on being there too long. It doesn’t last very long and has poor energy efficiency. Vinyl is a new product and hasn’t been tested in the market and has had issues standing up to wear and tear so I would stay away from that as well.

Your best bet is to go with fiberglass. It’s the best material to make a door out of; it doesn’t warp, twist peel or crack. Ever. Usually the frame is still wood, so the door panel itself (called a slab) will usually last much longer than the frame. In some cases you can get a fiberglass frame as well, if this option is available always select a fiberglass frame, it will last much longer than a wood frame.

If you really want the look and feel of a real wood French door then by all means they are there for the taking. Expect to pay quite a bit more, but the options available with these type of doors as well as the quality, craftsmanship and energy efficiency, they are definitely worth it. This is what I put in my house.

So as always, you need to decide what is most important to you when choosing a French door, then make you decision based on those criteria. If price is your only concern, but you are living there awhile, your only real choice is fiberglass

The next section is hardware. Whatever you do, make sure you buy a door that has a multi-point lock system and both the active and inactive door panels. Multi-point locks on both the active and passive panels are sometimes only available on higher end products so you may have to look around a little bit.

There are also hinges, hardware and thresholds to remember. There are several colors and finishes available but these have more to do with preference and design, rather than making sure you get a great product at a fair price and these things can be discussed with your product supplier at the time of purchase.

Just make sure you get ball bearing hinges and an adjustable sill. Also when go to put hardware on your door, you may want to consult a locksmith. Much of the hardware available at home centers and standard hardware supplied with French doors isn’t always the most secure. Just look up the term “bump key” on You Tube and you will see what I mean.

The last section I want to discuss is the glass. Just about every French door offered now comes standard with Low-E glass. However, this just isn’t enough. If you live in a warm climate, such as Arizona, Southern California or Nevada, you need to make sure you get “Soft Coat” Low-E. You need “Hard Coat” Low-E if you live in the opposite.

If you are concerned about security, you may want to consider that French Doors are the easiest way to get into a home. The glass takes a split second to break and now a burglar can walk in and out of your home easily. You may want to consider placing laminated glass on one of the panes of your dual pane glass in your French door. Laminated glass takes awhile to bust through even with a baseball bat. This additional 4 or 5 minutes of swinging a bat at your door will usually deter most burglars.

Another option is security film. This film is applied to the glass and makes it extremely difficult to break through as well. They cost about the same, so if that is something you want to consider, you will have to get a few quotes and make that decision for yourself.

While some plan for home improvement to add value to their house, others simply pursue a more luxurious and comforting lifestyle. Home improvement projects may need different levels of investment depending upon their scales. For instance, you don’t need too much capital and expertise to change a certain aspect of your interior design, however, adding new rooms and dramatically redesigning existing parts of the house require more resources. You need to be aware of different functions of home improvement hardware to be able to pull off a good home improvement plan. Here are some basics about different hardware:

Get Hardware for Your Bathrooms:

Bathroom hardware is a specialized type of hardware that is used in construction of bathrooms. Bathroom hardware that will be required during a remodeling project may include showers, tubs, faucets, towel holders, mirrors, cabinets and similar fixtures. If you plan to sell your home for a great price, bathroom home improvements may just be the key to your achieving this goal. Not only will a bathroom remodeling plan increase value of your home, but it will also add luxury and comfort in your family’s life.

Door Hardware is Always Part of a Good Plan:

Door Hardware is mainly used to give a more attractive look to your home’s doors. Many home owners, while paying attention to rooms, often fail to recognize the importance of doors and windows. Door hardware that can help boost up your plan includes door knockers, hinges, hooks, handles, locks, fasteners and number plates.

Furniture, Windows and Cabinet Hardware – Get Beauty and Utility:

Furniture and cabinets are components of DIY that enhance the functionality of a house. If you are planning to improve your home’s functionalities without compromising on style, you have to get the best furniture hardware. Furniture hardware that is commonly used in home improvement plans is frames, furniture legs and arms.

Similarly cabinets in any room can be a great improvement as they increase your home’s capacity to store things. Home improvement cabinet hardware includes latches, fasteners, locks, handles, pulls and cabinet frames. Cabinets do not have to be built strictly on functional lines as they can also give a great touch to your interior décor. Just like cabinet hardware, window hardware also includes hinges, latches, locks, frames, handles and other equipment needed for window installation.

Security Hardware – Essential for Your Family’s Safety:

In today’s world home security has become a major issue for home owners. If you don’t have plans of enhancing your home security in your improvement plans, then you should start thinking on these lines. Security hardware includes, fire alarm, smoke detectors, motion detecting sensors, window security system and security alarm system.

Plumbing Hardware – Be Careful While Buying!

Plumbing hardware is very essential for your home as it facilitates the water supply system and sanitation system in your home. Plumbing hardware mainly includes pipes and tubes through which water will be flowing in and out of your home, so you have to be extra careful that the hardware you purchase is able to withstand corrosion and other adverse effects of varying temperatures.

Curtain Hardware – Plastic And Metal Are Two Great Options!

Curtain hardware is mainly available in plastic and metal, so it’s totally up to you to decide which option is better for your home. Curtain hardware relates to hanging of curtains and includes hooks, rings and finials.