French Doors
The classic garden door — fitted with the care the opening deserves
We have been fitting French doors across South Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire since 2003. Every installation is FENSA registered and carried out by our own team, not subcontractors.
French doors fitted across South Bucks and East Berkshire
Not every opening needs a wide-folding system. Some need a door that simply works well and looks right.
French doors are two hinged panels, meeting in the centre and opening outward or inward on a standard hinge mechanism. There is no track, no folding system, and no mechanical complexity beyond a door that swings. That simplicity is the point. For openings where the proportions are modest, for period properties where a multi-panel folding system would look out of scale, and for homeowners who want good garden access without the cost and complexity of bi-fold doors, French doors remain the most considered choice. They suit Edwardian and Victorian properties across Windsor, Beaconsfield and the older streets of Gerrards Cross as well as they suit contemporary rear extensions.
Most people considering French doors are either replacing an existing set that has deteriorated — old timber that is rotting at the base, or uPVC that has lost its seal and lets in draughts — or they are fitting garden access into a new extension or conservatory opening where the proportions and character of the property favour a hinged door over a folding system. The decision between French doors, bi-fold doors and patio doors is one we discuss honestly at every home visit, because the right answer depends on the specific opening, the room layout, the budget, and how the door will actually be used. If a different door type would serve you better, we will say so.
Why it matters
What well-fitted French doors bring to your home
Security
A multi-point locking system that engages the full frame
A French door locked correctly at multiple points along the frame is considerably more resistant to forced entry than a single-latch mechanism. The slave panel is fixed top and bottom independently of the master, which means attempting to force it open requires defeating multiple independent points simultaneously. The cylinder is the most commonly attacked component in any hinged door, which is why we specify anti-snap cylinders as standard. For homeowners with side-return access or rear gardens that are not visible from the street — common across detached and semi-detached properties throughout the South Bucks area — a properly specified French door provides meaningful security without sacrificing any of the garden access the door is installed to give.
Light
Substantially more glass into the room than a standard door
French doors with full-height glazed panels admit significantly more natural light than a solid rear door, and the wide glazed area — particularly when combined with side panels — can change how a ground-floor room reads at all times of day, not only when the doors are open. For rear-facing reception rooms and kitchen-diners that have previously had limited garden connection, a well-proportioned French door opening improves the relationship between the inside of the room and the garden behind it without requiring the structural work that a wider bi-fold opening would involve.
Character
A door type that suits a wide range of property ages and styles
French doors have been used in domestic architecture across South Buckinghamshire for over a century — they are as appropriate on an Edwardian semi in Windsor as on a 1970s detached in Stoke Poges or a modern rear extension in Burnham. The proportions, the symmetry, and the simplicity of a hinged two-panel door translate well across very different architectural contexts. Unlike bi-fold doors, which carry a strong contemporary association, French doors do not read as a style statement — they read as a door. That neutrality is, for many homeowners, precisely the point.
Simplicity
No track, no rollers, no folding mechanism to maintain
French doors have fewer moving parts than either bi-fold or sliding patio systems. There is no bottom track to clean, no rollers to adjust, and no folding mechanism to maintain over time. The hinge is the primary mechanical element, and on a well-specified door it will last for many years without attention. The multi-point locking mechanism engages and disengages with a single handle action. For homeowners who value the lowest possible long-term maintenance burden — and for anyone replacing a tired timber door in a property they intend to hold and enjoy rather than renovate and sell — this simplicity has genuine practical value.
Our work
French doors fitted across South Bucks and East Berkshire
White French doors with side panels · Chalfont St Giles
01 / 06Materials
Aluminium or uPVC — the right frame for your property
French doors are available in both aluminium and uPVC. The choice affects the visual appearance, the long-term maintenance requirement, and the thermal performance of the installation. We discuss both options during the visit.
Premium Choice
Aluminium French Doors
Aluminium French doors offer slimmer sightlines than uPVC, a wider choice of colours including any RAL powder-coat finish, and a more refined appearance suited to both period properties and contemporary extensions. Thermally broken aluminium profiles perform well against current building regulations and maintain their shape without expansion or contraction across temperature changes. The finish is powder-coated and does not require repainting. For properties in Ascot, Beaconsfield Old Town and the larger detached homes of Stoke Poges and Fulmer, aluminium French doors sit particularly well alongside other aluminium glazing elements — roof lanterns, bi-folds, or aluminium casement windows — giving the rear elevation a coherent, well-considered appearance.
Best for
Practical Choice
uPVC French Doors
uPVC French doors are a cost-effective and thermally capable option for a straightforward garden access opening. They are available in white, grey, black, and a range of woodgrain effect finishes — which suits period properties in conservation areas where a timber-look frame is preferred or required by the local authority. uPVC does not corrode, does not need painting, and requires very little maintenance beyond cleaning. The profiles are slightly wider than aluminium, which means marginally less glass area for the same overall frame size — in practice, the difference is small and rarely decisive. For straightforward replacements in properties across Slough, Burnham and Iver, uPVC French doors provide reliable performance at a proportionate cost.
Best for
What to consider
The decisions that determine how your French doors look and work
French doors involve fewer moving parts than bi-fold or patio systems, but the same decisions about glazing, colour, and threshold need to be made carefully. We go through all of this during the home visit.
01
Inward or outward opening
French doors can be configured to open either inward or outward. Outward opening is more common for rear garden doors — it keeps the floor space inside the room clear when the doors are open and works better with standard threshold designs. Inward opening suits situations where there is no outdoor landing or where the external ground level is uneven. The choice also affects how the doors interact with other elements in the room — furniture, flooring, and the swing clearance required when the doors are fully open. We assess this during the home visit and confirm the right configuration for your specific opening before any work is agreed.
Practical note
Outward-opening doors require a clear external landing or hard surface — a gravel bed or an uneven patio directly against the door can obstruct the swing.
02
Glazing specification
The glazing in French doors affects both thermal performance and the quality of light in the room behind them. Standard double-glazed units in thermally efficient low-emissivity glass perform comfortably within current building regulations. For rear aspects that receive direct afternoon sun, solar control glass — which reduces heat gain without significantly affecting light transmission — can improve year-round comfort in the room. Obscured or patterned glass can be specified for the lower panel if privacy is a consideration, though it is less common on rear garden doors than on side access or conservatory openings.
Practical note
All glazing we supply meets the safety and thermal standards required by current building regulations as standard.
03
Side panels and over-door lights
French doors can be framed with fixed glazed side panels — one or both sides — and over-door lights to fill a larger opening while keeping the operable part of the door at a standard width. This is particularly useful where an existing opening is wider or taller than a standard two-panel door configuration but where bi-fold doors would not be appropriate. On Edwardian properties throughout Gerrards Cross, Windsor and Beaconsfield Old Town, adding side panels that match the proportions of the existing fenestration is often a more sympathetic solution than enlarging the opening for a wider folding system.
Practical note
Side panels are structural elements — they are assessed as part of the opening, not fitted as an afterthought. We specify them at the same time as the door during the survey.
04
Hardware and locking
French doors are secured by a multi-point locking mechanism that engages the frame at the top, middle, and bottom when the handle is lifted and turned. The master panel locks in this way; the slave panel uses shoot bolts into the head and sill. Handle finish — chrome, brushed nickel, black, or gold — is chosen to suit the door colour and the existing door furniture in the property. The cylinder on the master panel is the primary security point: we specify anti-snap cylinders as standard on all our external door installations, not as an optional upgrade.
Practical note
If you plan to add a smart lock or key safe to the door, let us know before the visit so we can advise on compatibility with the locking system we specify.
Reviews
What your neighbours are saying
Real reviews from homeowners across South Bucks and East Berkshire. Every one verified through Google.
I had a new window fitted, Joe and Bob behaved in a professional manner at all times and the work was done to a high standard. I would have no hesitation in using Alpha Windows again. Joe and Bob came again today and fitted a new door on my garage. A very professional finish.
Stuart Jones
Gerrards Cross
Having used Alpha Windows in our school in Gerrards Cross, we found their experience and ability to work around the schedule very helpful. The managers and owner have been great with communication and very personable. Installers resolved issues quickly and the end result has helped with heat retainment and aesthetics. Great experience.
Chris Ohanians
Gerrards Cross
They replaced all the windows in our 3-bed house. Very good service and competitive prices. Good communication and very happy with the windows.
Kiran Arhestey
Windsor
Alpha Windows are brilliant. Great customer service, great windows, competitively priced and superbly fitted. Their fitter is so good and diligent that he managed to fit the replacement windows with barely any disruption to the plaster. I don't even need to repaint around the aperture. Highly recommend.
Nathan Turner
Ascot
New lantern installed, great job. Victoria in the office, Joe overseeing everything and Jack installing made the whole process a pleasure. Would recommend to anyone.
Martin Rosen
Stoke Poges
We used this company for our patio doors, their communication and service was great. We are really happy with the work completed and love our new doors.
Lauren Willcox
Iver
Common questions
What homeowners ask us about French doors
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The most useful questions to ask are: how wide is the opening, how is the room behind it used, and what does the character of the property suggest? French doors suit openings up to approximately two metres wide particularly well — wider than this, and the case for a bi-fold or patio system becomes stronger. They are the natural choice for period properties where a multi-panel folding system would look disproportionate, for openings into conservatories or orangeries where the door will operate alongside other glazed elements, and for situations where simplicity and reliability are valued more than maximising the width of the opening. We discuss all of this during the home visit and will give you an honest recommendation.
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A well-specified and correctly installed French door should not be draughty. The points of vulnerability are the seals between the two panels in the centre of the opening, the perimeter seal between the frame and the door, and the threshold at the base. All of these are addressed by the product specification — compression seals around the frame perimeter and a correctly fitted threshold — and by the quality of the installation. If your current French doors are draughty, the cause is almost always one of these three areas, and it is often addressable without full replacement. We will assess this honestly during the visit.
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Replacing existing French doors like-for-like — same size, same position — does not normally require planning permission. Enlarging the opening, changing the material in a conservation area, or working on a listed building will involve additional requirements. Parts of Windsor, Beaconsfield Old Town, and several village centres within the South Bucks area have conservation area designation, and Buckinghamshire Council requires planning approval for material changes in these locations. We identify what applies to your property during the home visit and advise on how to proceed before any work is agreed.
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A standard French door installation — replacing an existing door in an existing opening — is typically completed in a single day. Where the opening requires any structural work, or where side panels or an over-door light are being added, the work may extend to two days. We give you a clear, realistic timeline during the quoting process and confirm the installation date only once everything is agreed in writing.
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For most window and door replacements, no. Like-for-like replacements fall under permitted development rights and require no planning permission. If your property is in a conservation area — parts of Windsor and Beaconsfield Old Town, for example — or if it's listed, there may be restrictions on colour, style, or material. We know the local areas well and will flag anything relevant during your visit.
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Yes. FENSA registration means every installation we complete is certified to meet current building regulations, and the work is registered with your local authority automatically. This is important if you ever sell your home — solicitors will ask for it. You don't need to do anything; we handle the registration on your behalf.
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Our installations come with a 10-year guarantee as standard, covering both frames and sealed glazing units. Combined with FENSA registration and our full public liability insurance, you're protected throughout the installation and long after completion.
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Yes. We remove all old frames and glass and dispose of them responsibly. We also leave your home clean and tidy at the end of every job — it's part of how we work, not an optional extra.
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We don't consider a job complete until you're satisfied. If something isn't right, tell us and we'll fix it. Our reputation in South Bucks has been built over 20 years — we have every reason to make sure you're happy.
The process
What happens from first contact to finished installation
Get in touch
Tell us what you are thinking
Fill in the short form below or give us a call on 01753 663663. There is no obligation and no sales process triggered by making contact — just let us know what you are considering and we will take it from there.
We visit your home
A proper look at your property
We visit at a time that suits you — usually within a few days. We measure every opening, assess what is there, and talk through your options honestly. We bring samples so decisions can be made against your actual property in natural light.
Your written quote
Clear costs, no surprises
We follow up with a written quote that covers everything involved. No hidden charges, no items that appear later. There is no pressure to decide on the day and no uninvited follow-up calls. You take as long as you need.
Installation
Done properly, left tidy
Our fitters work through each opening one at a time so your home is never left exposed. Furniture and flooring are protected throughout. Old frames are removed and disposed of. Before we leave, everything is tested and you are walked through the result.
Free no-obligation quote
Get a free quote for your French doors
Tell us about your opening and what you are looking to achieve. We will be in touch within one working day to arrange a visit at a time that suits you — no obligation, no automated calls, just a straightforward conversation about what will work for your property.
What to expect
No pressure, no obligation
We'll never chase you or push for a decision on the day.
We visit your home personally
Every property is different — we measure properly before quoting.
Clear, itemised quote — no hidden costs
A written quote with everything included. Take as long as you need.
Your details stay private
We'll never share your details or add you to a mailing list.