Symmetry, proportion and grandeur
The Renaissance was under way in Italy. Symmetry, proportion and grandeur were becoming especially important, and a matching pair of doors suited that look perfectly.
French doors for a warmer, wider welcome to your home
French doors are simply two doors, hinged on either side and meeting in the middle and we love them for their timeless look, versatility and ability to create a beautiful wide opening.
They bring in natural light, connect your rooms while letting you close them off, and are often more affordable than the alternatives.
Compared to sliders, stackers or bifolds, French doors can also be a more affordable way to create a generous opening, while giving your home a much more classic feel.
They’re perfect for both exterior and interior applications- connecting living spaces to patios, decks and gardens, creating beautiful front or side entries, or connecting interior spaces such as dining rooms, family rooms, playrooms and home offices while still providing the option for separation.
As seen in
French Door Inspiration
See through French door setups from our own projects and our customers' homes.
Three Easy Ways to Get Your French Doors
1. Choose your door style
We have a beautiful range of external doors to suit your home and personal style. Find the ones you love and make them yours!
2. How do you want to receive your doors?
Option 1 | Loose Doors
You'll receive two separate doors, ready for your carpenter to hang together as a beautiful pair of French doors.
Option 2 | Add loose jambs (with mushroom stop or rebate)
Jambs are the timber frame the door hangs in.
We supply them as loose lengths of timber, ready for your builder to cut to length, build into a frame, and hang the door from.
Rebate or mushroom stop?
A rebate is a groove cut into the meeting edges of your two doors so they overlap and seal together neatly when closed.
A mushroom stop is a separate timber length fitted to the meeting edge instead, so the doors close against something rather than each other.
Option 3 | Pre-hung
We supply your doors pre-hung together in a frame, ready for installation.
3. Receive and install your doors
Once your doors are installed, all that’s left to do is enjoy your beautiful new French doors! We can’t wait to see how they look in your home.
Why people choose our doors
#1 Rated Award-Winning Supplier
Warehouse-Direct Pricing
Shipped Australia Wide
Premium Solid Hardwood Construction
WHERE THEY COME FROM
A short history
Tall windows for light
Electric light didn't exist yet. Practical bulbs only arrived around 1879 to 1880. So Italian architects built tall, nearly full-height windows to bring natural daylight into a building.
Glass was expensive, so those tall openings were divided into small panes separated by glazing bars, also called muntins. That is why traditional French doors have glazing bars.
Glass was expensive, so those tall openings were divided into small panes separated by glazing bars, also called muntins. That is why traditional French doors have glazing bars.
The window becomes a door
French armies fought in Italy, and French architects were introduced to the style. They are credited with the next step: turning those full-height windows into doors, so you could step out onto a balcony. The French call it a porte-fenêtre, a "door-window".
Still a favourite
The style spread across the world, and it is still popular today for similar reasons. French doors let in plenty of natural light, and they divide spaces, both indoors and out.
Are French doors the same as double doors?
French doors
Defined by their glass. That comes straight from the history: tall windows made to let in light, divided into small panes, then turned into doors.
Double doors
A general term for any pair of doors. They can be solid timber, part glass or all glass.
Double doors is the umbrella term. French doors are the glazed kind.
FAQs
What are French doors?
French doors are simply two doors, hinged on either side and meeting in the middle.
Compared to sliders, stackers or bifolds, French doors can also be a more affordable way to create a generous opening, while giving your home a much more classic feel.
Can I use French doors inside my home?
Yes! They’re perfect for both exterior and interior applications- connecting living spaces to patios, decks and gardens, creating beautiful front or side entries, or connecting interior spaces such as dining rooms, family rooms, playrooms and home offices while still providing the option for separation.
How do I get French doors from you?
Buy two of our doors and have your carpenter hang them together in a French door configuration or we can supply your doors pre-hung together in a frame, ready for installation.
What does pre-hung mean?
A pre-hung door is supplied already installed within a frame.
Pre-hung doors are commonly used in new builds or full door replacements and can simplify installation.
Can I paint or stain the doors?
Our external doors are available in two finish options:
- Pre-Primed - Ready for painting, and
- Natural Timber - Ready for staining, oiling or painting
Timber Options
- Meranti (Standard Range)
All of our standard, off-the-shelf external doors are manufactured from Meranti. Meranti is a premium, durable hardwood commonly used in Australian joinery, with a warm, neutral colour tone that is well suited to both painted and stained finishes. However, Meranti doors should be installed with adequate overhead protection and should not be fully exposed to the elements. For fully exposed environments, we recommend selecting an alternative timber via a custom order. - American Oak
A popular choice for its beautiful grain, character and lighter blonde tones. American Oak must be installed in a fully protected position with no direct sun exposure and is not suitable for exposed locations. - Other Hardwoods (Custom Orders)
For doors exposed to higher levels of sun, wind or weather, we recommend custom manufacturing in a more suitable hardwood.
Rose Gum is typically used for our custom external doors, which are manufactured locally. Rose Gum is a dense Australian hardwood that offers excellent strength and durability and may be better suited to higher-exposure environments when correctly specified and maintained.
Depending on availability, it may also be possible to manufacture doors in Blackbutt, Tasmanian Oak, Spotted Gum or other suitable hardwoods by request.
Please refer to our Exposure Table for guidance on timber selection and protection requirements.
Care & Finishing
All external timber doors must be sealed on all six sides prior to installation.
Timber is a natural material. Movement, expansion and contraction are normal characteristics of solid timber doors.
Very dark paint colours (including black) are not recommended for sun-exposed doors, as darker colours absorb more heat and may increase timber movement, coating failure and the risk of warping.
Is hardware included?
Handles and hinges are not included with your door - they’re sold separately and fitted by your carpenter during installation.
We stock a wide range of handles to suit every style, plus the hinges you’ll need for installation.
👉 Shop handles and hinges here
How many hinges do I need?
For 2040mm high doors:
- Doors up to 920mm wide need 3 hinges.
- Doors over 1000mm wide need 4 hinges.
For 2340mm high doors:
- Doors up to 920mm wide need 4 hinges.
- Doors over 1000mm wide need 5 hinges.
For stable doors:
- All stable doors need 4 hinges.
Do you ship Australia wide?
Yes, we ship Australia wide, and you’re also welcome to pick up from our warehouse. Email us at doors@frontporchproperties.com.au for an accurate shipping quote.
Do you offer installation?
We do not offer installation services directly.
Any qualified carpenter or licensed builder can install our doors. If you are located in Brisbane, we may be able to recommend a local installer.
Order Your French Doors in 3 Easy Steps
01
Pick your doors
Choose the French doors that suit your home and project.
02
Choose how they arrive
Select the supply option that works best for your installation.
03
Order online
Order your doors online and get your project underway.
STEP 2
Choose how you want to receive your doors
Tap an option to see what’s included.
YOU GET
Two loose doors, ready for your carpenter to hang together as a pair.
BEST FOR
Hanging into an existing frame, or when your carpenter is supplying the timber and building a new frame.
We can also rebate the doors or supply a mushroom stop.
YOU GET
Your doors plus timber jambs (the frame the doors hang in). The jambs arrive as lengths of timber, not cut to size.
BEST FOR
Builders who want to cut the jambs to length, build the frame and hang the doors themselves.
We can also rebate the doors or supply a mushroom stop.
YOU GET
Your doors pre-hung together in a frame, with a mushroom stop installed.
BEST FOR
The quickest install. It arrives ready to go in.