Energy Efficiency Of French Doors Vs Sliding Glass Doors
French doors allow more ventilation but can have space mechanical energy efficiency issues.
Energy efficiency of french doors vs sliding glass doors. French doors and sliding doors have different hardware. Energy star most efficient 2020 sliding glass patio doors. Sliding glass doors use a glass pack and insulated frames to offer better energy efficiency than traditional french doors. Doors are a little different.
This means doors can provide more insulation than a window or skylight can. Also find a door that has all of its frames rails and stiles injected with r 5 comfort foam which acts as a thermal insulator around the door s exterior. These sliding glass patio doors represent the leading edge in energy efficient products this year. Sliding glass doors use a glass pack and insulated frames to offer better energy efficiency than the traditional french doors.
The energy star most efficient 2020 designation recognizes the most efficient products among those that qualify for the energy star program. Glass or patio doors especially sliding glass doors lose much more heat than other types of doors because glass is a very poor insulator. 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. For example a 1 1 2 inch 3 81 cm thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.
A sliding glass door frame is typically narrower than a french patio door frame which means it will allow more natural light into your home. Homeadvisor s french versus sliding glass door guide defines what a french door and a traditional patio slider door is and the differences between them. French patio doors can be considered a little more energy efficient as the central glass panels can be smaller by being set into wider frames whereas sliding doors are almost exclusively created from glazed panels. Many doors don t have any glass like your front door but even doors with lots of glass like a sliding patio door have lower glass to frame ratios than windows or skylights.
One last factor to weigh in on when considering french doors vs sliding glass doors is how the doors will perform in terms of energy efficiency for your home. However the wider frame on a french patio door is a more traditional style which many homeowners desire.