Patio door options - slider vs. french door

We are deciding which to put in our addition - it will lead to a patio space.

We wanted french but our contractor is talking us out of it pointing out they sag, and are less secure than the slider.

I worry about a slider with toddlers - will they get their fingers caught all the time?
Plus, I think French doors look nicer.

Thoughts??

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I would go for sliders when it comes to a patio. I guess a toddler could get their fingers caught but they could slam their fingers in any door for that matter. With sliders you don't have to worry about doors being left open, plus you can have a screen door, which you would not have with french doors.

Plus with sliders you can have furniture close to it,you don't have worry about the room a door needs to open (swinging in or out). KWIM?

Message edited 7/20/2011 11:33:09 AM.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

We have a slider (as you know!) and we've never had any problems with the kids fingers. I actually like it bc it's too heavy to E to open on her own yet.

I do think the french doors look nicer - they take up some space when you open them whether you do inswing or outswing. Just something to keep in mind. And that's 2 screens that you have to worry about the kids wrecking as opposed to one side.

Message edited 7/20/2011 11:35:02 AM.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

go slider. we have french in our DR out to the deck and in inswing stinks.

we want to put in a slider eventually!

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

They told us the same thing.

I would go for sliders mostly because of door openings clearance!

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

We removed our sliders and put in a french door. Love the look but I do miss opening my sliders for a cross breeze...

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

We opted for french doors this time. I wanted a door I could have keyed in case we want to come in that way (not an option with sliders as far as I know). Also wanted to be able to put shades or sheers on them which is tricky with sliders.

We had a slider at our old house and it was fine, as we didn't have enough room for the inswing of a french door.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

if you have the room a french door is nice. but you def. need to have the room to swing it open (get one that folds back onto its other side and has a sliding screen if you want the ventilation...we call them garden doors here)
sliding doors are great if you dont have the room to swing a french door open. you can get the grilles put into the glass to make it look more like a french door. most sliding doors also are able to have both panels removed for moving furniture in and out...with the garden door you cannot do that.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I had the same quandry a few years ago, we opted for the slider. Honestly, just because of the safety factor. I put a board in the door so it can't open.

I do agree though, the french doors would've looked nicer, but now I like having the slider with the screen door so it let's in a nice breeze when it's not so d@mn hot, like now.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I had sliders originally and never had any issues with them. I now have French doors leading out to the deck because I really like the look of them. I have had them for 4 years and haven't had any issues with security (we also have an alarm system and a Rottweiler) - nor have I had any issues with them sagging. Ours swing out.. but we usually only use one for going in or out. The other is usually fixed in a locked position.

I say you should just look at different styles of each and go with whatever suits your style best!

Message edited 7/20/2011 3:21:37 PM.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

Slider all the way!

MIL actually switched her slider for french doors and every time she comes to my house she says how she regrets making the change and how she HATES her french doors because of:
- the in swing which limits furniture placement in her room
- she can't have a normal curtain on her french door. I have curtains on a rod around my sliders and it looks so pretty. She hates that her french door is basically a window right into her home.

Good luck!!!

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

We have a slider, but the room is so small we had no room or French doors anyhow

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

we have double sliders so that you have the large openign you would with french doors and they lock well -also have foot locks- but there is no swing. - i like that we have a wall of class this way

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I prefer the french look. I think what we have now is considered a french slider? (slider with pane inserts).

My kids have never gotten their fingers caught.

Message edited 7/20/2011 10:07:28 PM.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I'm not a fan of sliders and would only use them if space & layout (furniture/lighting/walls) were an issue.

We installed 4 sets of french doors throughout the back of our home (not including single doors) so we could have access to our patio from every room. Best thing we ever did!!!!! We have 1 in-swing for the most frequently used doors and the rest are out-swing.

Little fingers are something that need to be watched/concerned about regardless of the type of door.

FWIW, they sell retractable screens for french doors.

I don't understand the curtain issues because I have drapes on all of my french doors. They're on rings and can easily be moved to the side to accommodate an in-swing door.

As for the privacy issue, we had 6' picture windows before the french doors were installed (except the master bedroom where we created the opening), so it wasn't any different for us from that standpoint.

For me, the french doors are more functional because we entertain large groups often. Having both doors open makes it much easier for 2 people to go in and/or out with out an issue. (When you're serving food and what not, it can get pretty hairy going in and out of a single door opening.)

Message edited 7/21/2011 10:44:39 AM.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I think french looks nicer but sliders much more functional. We are installing a slider with grills to look like a french door.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

Definitely get the sliders! We have french doors that lead onto our deck & I hate them - the kids are always leaving toys in front of the door & I have to constantly pick them up when we go outside & also it doesn't allow us to put any furniture near the door because we need huge clearance to open the door - very annoying!

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I love the look for French doors, but we didn't have enough room for the doors to open.....so sliders.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

I thnk I'm going with function over style and doing the sliders with grilles for the french door look.
We decided to add a transom window over it, and the windows in the room to dress it up a bit.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

We have french and I hate them. I want to get a sliding door.
They open in and the table is in the way.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door

Message edited 7/26/2011 6:59:14 PM.

Re: Patio door options - slider vs. french door