If the room already has little wall space consider the room design before deciding on french patio doors.
Sliding glass door vs french doors.
French patio doors are mostly made of glass and look similar to windows.
Sliding glass doors exterior sliding doors are the more popular option for patios as they are often less expensive than french doors and provide uninterrupted outdoor views.
French doors have a wider door frame.
A french door consists of a frame around one or more transparent panels that may be installed in matching pairs or in a series.
A classic model has two side by side panels that swing in or out from hinges on the sides of the frame.
Sliding glass doors are a great option in rooms with less space flexibility as they don t swing to open like french or hinged patio doors.
Traditional sliding glass doors have two panels with one that slides along rollers to cover the other.
Although sliding glass doors can provide more flexibility with furniture arrangement in a room french doors can based on your configuration provide a wider opening if you are moving large furniture into your house or hosting parties where there will be a lot of foot traffic in and out you may be limited by the width of the patio slider.
French doors and sliding doors have different hardware.
Traditional two panel sliding doors are available in wood fiberglass or vinyl.
However the wider frame on a french patio door is a more traditional style which many homeowners desire.
The space issue can become a problem for those who are not able to renovate their entryway to provide enough space for french exterior doors.