French Doors
A true French door has two hinged panels, and both open. One is the active panel with the handle and lock, while the other is held by flush bolts at the top and bottom and swings open once they are released.
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Hinged patio doors that open wide and seal tight
French Door Installation in Kitchener-Waterloo
French doors open the full width of a doorway onto your deck or yard, and GTS Windows & Doors has installed them in Kitchener-Waterloo homes since 1986. We supply and install exterior French doors and garden doors for homeowners, property managers, builders and renovators who are replacing tired, drafty sliders or creating brand new walkouts. Our work covers Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and the townships within about 45 minutes of our Bridgeport base.
Compared with a sliding patio door, a hinged door gives you a wider clear opening, a classic look and usually a tighter seal, because the panels close against compression weatherstrip instead of sliding past brush seals. The trade-off is swing space, which is why planning the swing, the furniture layout and the winter snow line is half the job before anything is ordered.
We fit French doors to the realities of local homes: raised decks off main-floor kitchens, walkout basements with patio stones at grade, and backyard patios where snow drifts against the sill all winter long. Every install includes a flashed sill pan, a properly adjusted multi-point lock, and our 20-year parts and labour warranty. We are licensed, insured and WSIB covered, with a 4.5-star rating from 31 Google reviews.
- Since 1986Four decades in Waterloo Region
- 20-Year WarrantyParts and labour, in writing
- Licensed & WSIBFully insured crews
- ENERGY STARRated windows and doors
- SAWDAC MemberIndustry association
French Doors and Garden Doors Explained
The two names get used loosely, but the difference matters when you are choosing hardware and planning furniture. Both are hinged patio doors, which sets them apart from the sliders on our exterior doors overview.
- Common widths: about 5 and 6 feet, with custom sizes available.
- Heights: standard 6 foot 8 inch units, plus 8-foot options for higher ceilings.
- Frame materials: fibreglass, steel, vinyl, and wood with aluminum or vinyl cladding on the exterior.
Garden Doors
A garden door usually pairs one hinged operating panel with one fixed panel, although some makers use the term for any hinged patio door. You get the French door look with simpler locking and a slightly lower price.
Swing Direction and Space Planning
In-swing doors open into the room. Each panel needs clear floor space roughly equal to its width, so a 6-foot French door needs about 3 feet kept free of tables and chairs.
Out-swing doors open onto the deck, which saves interior space, and wind pressure pushes the panels harder against their weatherstrip. They need security hinges with non-removable pins, and the deck must stay clear to use them.
Snow is the local deciding factor. On a low deck or patio where snow drifts or rarely gets shovelled, an out-swing door can be blocked for weeks, so in-swing is usually safer for a main winter exit.
A French door on an upper floor with no deck beyond it needs a proper guard or Juliet railing across the opening. The Ontario Building Code requires guards where the drop exceeds 600 mm, and we flag this during the measure.
Multi-Point Locks and Astragals
Where the two panels meet, an astragal on the inactive panel covers the gap and carries the weatherstrip that both panels seal against. A poorly adjusted astragal is the most common source of drafts and water on French doors.
A multi-point lock drives bolts or hooks into the head and sill as well as the centre strike, pulling the active panel tight along its full height. The inactive panel is held by flush bolts or a multi-point mechanism of its own.
We set an even gap between the panels and fine-tune the strikes so the doors latch with light pressure. A small hinge or strike adjustment after the first change of season is normal as the house moves.
Glass, Grilles and Built-In Blinds
Because French doors are mostly glass, the glass package decides how warm the room feels. We recommend low-E double glazing at minimum and triple glazing for north-facing or oversized units, with argon fill and warm-edge spacers.
Grilles can be simulated divided lites fixed to both faces, or grilles sealed between the panes for easy cleaning. Blinds between the glass give privacy with no cords, no dust and nothing for pets to damage.
For a deck that bakes in afternoon sun, a low-E coating tuned to reduce solar heat gain keeps the room from overheating. On a north-facing wall, where solar gain matters less, the focus shifts to the lowest possible heat loss.
This page covers exterior French doors. If you are also thinking about interior French doors between rooms, mention it when you request a quote.
Replacing a Slider With French Doors
Most 6-foot sliding patio doors can be swapped for a 6-foot French or garden door in the same rough opening. The job covers removing the slider, checking the sill and subfloor, installing a new sill pan, and trimming the new frame inside and out.
Framing changes come in when the new unit needs a different height, when the old slider sat on rotted framing, or when you want a wider opening. Widening means a new header and, in Kitchener, a building permit, which our permits and heritage guide explains.
If your slider only needs rollers, a lock or a new track, sliding glass door repair may be the better spend. If you would rather stay with a slider, our sliding patio door installation service covers new units.
- Check the sill height: a French door sill sits differently from a slider track, so we confirm the new unit clears flooring inside and decking outside.
- Flash before setting: a sloped sill pan with end dams goes in first, tied into the house wrap so water drains to the exterior.
- Support the hinge side: long screws through each hinge into the framing keep a heavy glass panel from sagging.
- Seal and trim: low-expansion foam and interior air sealing, then new casing inside and aluminum capping or trim outside.
What French Doors Cost
These are typical 2026 installed prices in Waterloo Region, including removal, sill pan, insulation, interior casing and disposal. Frame material, glass, grilles or blinds, hardware finish and any framing repairs move the price.
Want airflow without bugs? A retractable screen suits French doors well, and our screen door options cover single and double units. For a broader look at pricing, see our window and door cost guide.
| French door project | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| Garden door, one operating panel, same opening | $3,500 to $6,000 |
| French door, 5 to 6 feet, vinyl or steel frame | $4,000 to $6,500 |
| French door, fibreglass or clad wood frame | $5,500 to $8,500 |
| Slider to French door swap, same opening | $4,500 to $8,500 |
| Widened opening with new header | Add $2,000 to $5,000, plus permit |
More Doors Services
- Entry Door ReplacementFront door replacement across Kitchener-Waterloo: steel, fibreglass or wood entry doors with sidelights, multi-point locks and a 20-year warranty.
- Steel Entry DoorsSteel entry doors installed in Kitchener-Waterloo: insulated, secure and affordable, with glass inserts and colours to suit your home.
- Fiberglass Entry DoorsFibreglass entry doors that won't dent, rust or warp, installed across Kitchener-Waterloo.
- Wood Entry DoorsWood entry doors, solid or engineered, installed in Kitchener-Waterloo.
- Sliding Glass DoorsSliding patio doors installed across Kitchener-Waterloo.
- Screen DoorsScreen doors, retractable screens and storm doors installed across Kitchener-Waterloo.
French Door FAQs
Are French doors energy efficient?
Modern French doors are far better than older units, especially with low-E glass, insulated frames, compression weatherstrip and a multi-point lock. Because they are mostly glass they will never match an insulated wall, but a well-sealed hinged door typically leaks less air than a sliding door of similar quality. The sill and astragal installation decides most of the real-world result.
What is the difference between French doors and garden doors?
French doors have two operating panels that open together to clear the full width. Garden doors usually have one operating panel beside a fixed one, which is simpler to lock and a little less expensive. Both are hinged, unlike a sliding patio door.
Can French doors swing out in Canada?
Yes. Out-swing French doors work well here and resist wind-driven rain because pressure pushes them closed. They need security hinges, a sill designed for out-swing, and a deck you keep clear, since drifting snow can block them.
Can you replace a sliding patio door with French doors?
Usually, yes. A standard 6-foot slider can typically be replaced by a 6-foot French or garden door in the same opening, although you give up some floor space to the swing. If the opening needs widening or the framing is rotted, the job grows and may need a permit.
Get a French Door Quote
Book an on-site measure and we will plan the swing, check your sill and framing, and send a written quote for French or garden doors.
Call or text226-806-0597- Monday to Saturday: 7:00am to 9:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 5:00pm - 47 Bridge Street East, Kitchener, ON N2K 1J7