Natural light is a must-have feature in any contemporary home. That’s one of the many reasons why glass doors are so popular across the US. The question is — which type of glass door is best? Are you better off purchasing sliding doors or steel French doors? To help you make the right decision for your home, we’ll explore the various pros and cons of steel French doors and sliding doors.
1. Space
Space is a big point of contention in the steel French doors vs. sliding doors debate. If you need a door for a very small room, sliding doors are probably the way to go. Unlike French doors, they don’t push outwards or inwards, so you don’t have to worry about indoor furniture or patio furniture getting in the way.
That being said, French doors offer a wider opening to move through. This is important if you hope to move furniture in and out of the room or plan on hosting parties with lots of people. If you purchase French doors that swing outwards AND inwards, then you’ll essentially have the same level of space and flexibility as with a sliding door.
2. Security
The usual locking systems for sliding doors tend to be either anti-lift blocks fixed to the top or a portable security bar that you can fit from the inside. These options, and most other sliding door locking options, are rather inconvenient and can take away from the doors’ aesthetic. Steel French doors, however, tend to have much simpler locking mechanisms that are highly effective and don’t detract from their beauty.
3. Convenience
Steel French doors win when it comes to ease of access. They do require more space to open, meaning you can’t have furniture in the way. However, they can also open their entire width, whereas sliding doors can only open to half their width. This is particularly important when it comes to ventilation, as having the ability to open one or both doors allows you to control how much breeze you’d like coming into the room.
Another inconvenience that comes with sliding doors is that there’s sometimes a mechanism you have to step over when passing through. This mechanism is the bottom part that the door slides across to get from one side to another. It isn’t always elevated, but when it is, it can be a minor tripping hazard.
Browse Steel Doors Online With Bighorn Iron Doors
While both are ideal for letting in natural light, the extra features offered by steel French doors help them come out on top. That’s why we here at Bighorn Iron Doors are proud to offer such a wide selection of French iron doors, along with pivot doors, bi-folding doors, and others you can view from our gallery.
As the largest distributor of iron doors in the United States, we’re passionate about bringing our secure, high-quality, and eco-friendly doors to homes across the country. To thank our customers, we’re happy to offer free local deliveries and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re interested in placing an order or have any questions for us, please feel free to call (833) 811-7199, email sales@bighornirondoors.com, or complete our inquiry form.
