--- title: "French Doors in Dallas: Clad Wood, Steel and Bertrand" description: "Compare French doors from Sun Windows and Bertrand with Jada steel door pairs: swing, materials, glass, locks, sills, and French versus sliding doors." url: https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/doors/french-doors publisher: Honey Rock Window and Door phone: +1-214-484-9982 quote: https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/contact-us --- ![Black steel French doors with glass panels in a bedroom](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/steel-french-doors-bedroom-01.CeSsO8gA_245gCm.avif) # French doors: clad wood, steel pairs and more Honey Rock works with Sun Windows, Bertrand and Jada, whose French doors and steel door pairs swing open to full-width, glass-filled openings. A French door is a pair of hinged glass doors that open from the center. Honey Rock works with Sun Windows (True French clad wood), Bertrand (PVC and wood French doors for the US market) and Jada (steel door pairs). Choose them over sliders when you want a wide, clear opening. Two panels, both open A true French door lets you open both leaves for a wide, clear passage. Three makers Sun offers True French in clad wood, Bertrand makes PVC and wood French doors, and Jada builds steel door pairs. In or out Both swings exist. Inswing is harder to seal at the sill, and outswing needs clear space outside. French or sliding French doors give the widest opening. Sliding doors save floor space and need no swing room. ## Who makes it - [![Sun Windows](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/partner-sun-windows-ink.aVeqbc43_2lJ9Dn.webp)](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners/sun-windows) USA Clad Wood True French Door Sun says its in-swing and out-swing doors are available in a traditional True French configuration. It is a two-panel door with a main operating panel and a passive panel that can be released to open fully. [About Sun Windows](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners/sun-windows) - [![Bertrand](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/partner-bertrand-ink.DiJRDCOf_2jE80R.webp)](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners/bertrand) French doors Bertrand says its French doors are designed exclusively for the US market. They come in single-sash, double-sash, outward-opening and inward-opening versions, in PVC and wood. [About Bertrand](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners/bertrand) - [![Jada](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/partner-jada-ink.Cm1WhRu4_Z1XCK0H.webp)](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners/jada) Steel swing doors, door pairs Jada does not use the phrase French door. Its inswing and outswing steel doors come as single doors or door pairs, with multi-point locking installed. [About Jada](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners/jada) ## What is a French door? A French door is a pair of hinged doors, mostly glass, that meet in the middle. Both leaves can open for a wide passage. It is the classic way to connect a room to a terrace, a garden or a pool deck. It gives the widest clear opening of any swing door. Honey Rock Window and Door works with three manufacturers that offer this kind of door. Sun Windows (Owensboro, Kentucky) makes a True French door in clad wood. Bertrand (Luzino, Poland) makes French doors in PVC and wood. Jada (Grass Valley, California) builds steel swing doors that come as pairs. See the [partners page](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/our-partners) for each maker. The [glossary entry for a French door](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/french-door) has the short definition. ## How do French doors open? French doors swing on side hinges, in or out. One leaf is active and carries the main lock. The other is passive and is held by bolts or a locking mechanism until you release it. Release it, and both leaves open as one wide passage. Sun describes its True French door as a two-panel door where “one panel being the main operating panel while the second panel can be unlatched and opened to expand access through the door opening.” The passive panel has head and foot shoot bolts, which a handle on that panel releases. Bertrand takes a different route. Its double-sash door has a movable mullion, so both sashes can open at once. Bertrand says that, unlike traditional European designs where the passive sash is held with angle bolts, its system uses a handle. Lifting the handle adds locking points. Jada’s steel door pairs use multi-point locking into the inactive door. The inactive door also locks into the head and the sill with concealed flip latching. ## Which swing is right, inswing or outswing? Pick the swing for your weather and your floor plan. Inswing keeps hinges and hardware inside and suits covered openings. Outswing seals tighter against wind-driven rain but needs open space outside. Both are common for French doors. Jada states that inswing doors are “difficult to weather seal at the sill” and suggests them where the opening has protection from extreme weather. It gives an example: an inswing pair works well as a bedroom door pair to reach a shallow balcony. For outswing, Jada says the higher the wind blows, the tighter the door seals against its weatherstrip. Sun offers both. Bertrand lists inward-opening and outward-opening doors. Read about the [sill](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/sill) before you choose, and see our [custom entry doors](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/custom-entry-doors) pillar for more on swing, sills and locks. ## Where do French doors fit in a home? French doors fit where you want a formal, symmetrical opening: a dining room onto a terrace, a primary suite onto a balcony, a study onto a courtyard. They also work as a double entry door. They suit traditional and transitional homes, and steel pairs suit modern ones. Plan for the swing arc. Furniture, railings, screens and planters can block a leaf. Each leaf needs a clear arc, and an outswing pair needs clear space outside. Ask for a plan view of the swing before you order. On a west-facing wall in Texas, plan the glass first. Read the [energy-efficient windows pillar](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/energy-efficient-windows-texas) and the guide on [SHGC and U-factor for Texas](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/guides/shgc-and-u-factor-for-texas). ![Steel glass doors opening onto trees](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/steel-glass-doors-balcony-01.C8HOX2aM_Z1KWV9k.avif) ## What materials and glass can French doors have? Your choices depend on the maker. Sun builds clad wood with an extruded aluminum exterior and a clear pine interior. Bertrand makes PVC and wood versions. Jada makes thermally broken steel. Glass is insulated in each case. Maker Product Material Notes from the maker Sun Windows USA Clad Wood True French Door Aluminum-clad wood Tempered insulated glass, Low-E, argon fill, Duralite spacer, multi-point latching Bertrand French doors PVC and wood Single-sash and double-sash, inward and outward opening, movable mullion Jada Steel swing doors (door pairs) Thermally broken steel Narrow sightline profiles, multi-point locking installed Sun’s clad-wood doors can be stained or painted inside. Its exterior is aluminum with a powder coat finish. Bertrand says it plans to add aluminum French doors later, and it makes no date promise on the page. Ask what is in production today. Jada’s steel profiles give very narrow sightlines, so the glass carries the look. Jada offers levers and knobs from Rocky Mountain Hardware or Sun Valley Bronze as standard. For divided lites, Jada says simulated divided lites “give a similar appearance as TDL yet they rate better.” Read about [steel windows and doors](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/steel-windows-and-doors) and [thermally broken steel](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/thermally-broken-steel). For glass safety, read the glossary entry on [tempered glass](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/tempered-glass). Sun lists tempered insulated glass among its door features. ![A tall black steel glass door in a living room](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/steel-glass-door-living-portrait-01.CtVikEI-_Z14V6qR.avif) ## Should I choose French doors or sliding doors? Choose French doors for the widest clear opening and a traditional look, and when you can spare the swing room. Choose sliding doors when floor space is tight or furniture sits near the opening. Compare the sill, the exposure and how you will use the door. Question French doors Sliding doors How wide is the opening? Widest, when both leaves open Less than full width on a standard slider, since panels overlap Floor space Needs swing room inside or outside No swing room Sill and weather Inswing is hard to seal; outswing seals tighter in wind Jada’s bottom-roll track can use a continuous drain Look Classic, framed in panels Large glass panels with fewer frame lines Panels offered Two leaves Sun offers two, three or four panels; others vary Suits Formal openings, entries, symmetry Wide views, tight rooms Sun’s sliding doors come as two-panel, three-panel or four-panel units. Jada’s bottom-roll sliders use a track with a continuous drain. If you want a very wide opening with no swing, look at [sliding and lift-and-slide doors](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/sliding-and-lift-slide-doors) and [folding doors](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/folding-doors). If you want a dramatic single panel, see [pivot doors](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/pivot-doors). ## What should I ask before I order French doors? Ask about the parts that fail first: the sill, the locks and the glass. Get the answers in writing, with drawings. Honey Rock publishes no lead times, prices or door ratings, so ask for them during your quote. - Which swing, in or out, suits my exposure and floor plan? - What is the sill and threshold height, and how does it meet my floor? - How does the passive leaf lock, and how many locking points does the pair have? - What are the NFRC U-factor and SHGC for my exact glass? - What are the finish, handle and hardware options, and what is extra? - What is the maximum size in my configuration? Jada publishes no maximum door sizes on the pages we read. - What does the maker warrant for this product line? - Is my home in a Landmark or conservation district? Dallas says Certificates of Appropriateness are required before exterior work on Landmarks and in Landmark districts. Read [windows in Dallas historic districts](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/guides/windows-in-dallas-historic-districts). ## Next step Tell Honey Rock about the opening, the swing you prefer and the look you want. See the [doors overview](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/doors), then [start your project](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/contact-us) or call (214) 484-9982. ## Questions people ask ### Should I choose French doors or sliding doors? Choose French doors if you want the widest clear opening and a classic look, and you have room for the swing. Choose sliding doors if floor space is tight or the door opens onto a patio with furniture near it. Think about the sill, the weather exposure and how often you will open both leaves. ### Do French doors swing in or out? Both are available. Sun offers In-Swing and Out-Swing versions of its True French door, and Bertrand lists outward-opening and inward-opening doors. Jada says inswing doors are hard to seal at the sill, while outswing doors seal tighter as the wind rises. Match the swing to your exposure and floor plan. ### What is a true French door? It is a two-panel door where both panels can open. Sun explains that one panel is the main operating panel, and the second, passive panel has shoot bolts at the head and foot. A handle releases them so the second panel opens fully for a wide passage. ### Does Jada make French doors? Jada's pages do not use the words French door. Its steel swing doors come as single doors or pairs, with multi-point locking into the inactive door of a pair. If you want the steel look of a French door, ask about Jada steel door pairs and review the drawings. ### Are French doors secure and energy efficient? Look at the locks and the glass. Jada, Sun and Bertrand each describe multi-point locking. Sun's True French has Low-E insulated glass, argon fill and a Duralite spacer. Ask for NFRC numbers for your exact door, since Honey Rock publishes no door ratings. ### Can French doors go in a historic home? Sometimes. Dallas requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work on Landmarks and in Landmark districts. Conservation districts use a Work Review Form. Ask the city before you order, as of November 2026, and read our guide to windows in Dallas historic districts. ## Terms on this page - [SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient)](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/shgc) - [Thermally broken steel](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/thermally-broken-steel) - [Tempered glass](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/tempered-glass) - [Aluminum-clad](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/aluminum-clad) - [French door](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/french-door) - [Sightline](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/sightline) - [U-factor](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/u-factor) - [Mullion](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/mullion) - [Sash](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/sash) - [Sill](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/sill) ## Sources 1. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 2. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (operation)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 3. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (features)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 4. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (glass)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 5. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (spacer)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 6. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (latching)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 7. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (insulated glass)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 8. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (tempered)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 9. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (finish)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 10. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood True French Patio Door (interior)](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-french.html) 11. [Sun Windows: Hinged and Swinging Doors](https://www.sunwindows.com/hinged-swing-doors.html) 12. [Sun Windows: Clad Wood Sliding Door](https://www.sunwindows.com/cladwood-door-sliding.html) 13. [Bertrand: French doors](https://windowsbertrand.com/offer/french-doors) 14. [Bertrand: French doors (configurations)](https://windowsbertrand.com/offer/french-doors) 15. [Bertrand: French doors (materials)](https://windowsbertrand.com/offer/french-doors) 16. [Bertrand: French doors (aluminum plan)](https://windowsbertrand.com/offer/french-doors) 17. [Bertrand: French doors (mullion)](https://windowsbertrand.com/offer/french-doors) 18. [Bertrand: French doors (locking)](https://windowsbertrand.com/offer/french-doors) 19. [Jada Windows: Steel Outswing Doors (door pairs)](https://jada.com/products/swing/outswing-door) 20. [Jada Windows: Steel Outswing Doors (weather)](https://jada.com/products/swing/outswing-door) 21. [Jada Windows: Steel Inswing Doors (sill)](https://jada.com/products/swing/inswing-door) 22. [Jada Windows: Steel Inswing Doors (locking)](https://jada.com/products/swing/inswing-door) 23. [Jada Windows: Steel Inswing Doors (bedroom pair)](https://jada.com/products/swing/inswing-door) 24. [Jada Windows: Swing products](https://jada.com/products/swing) 25. [Jada Windows: Hardware](https://jada.com/features/hardware) 26. [Jada Windows: Energy Values (divided lites)](https://jada.com/features/energy-values) 27. [Jada Windows: Bottom Roll Slider](https://jada.com/products/slide/bottom-roll-slider) 28. [City of Dallas: Historic Preservation Applications and Forms](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/Pages/Applications.aspx) Product facts come from each maker’s own published pages, checked on November 5, 2026. Makers change their lines, so confirm details for your project with Honey Rock Window and Door. ## More doors - [Steel windows and doorsThin thermally broken steel frames for windows, French doors and glass walls.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/steel-windows-and-doors) - [Pivot doorsOversized doors that turn on a floor pivot instead of side hinges.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/pivot-doors) - [Sliding and lift-and-slide doorsLarge glass panels that glide open, from two-panel sliders to whole walls.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/sliding-and-lift-slide-doors) - [Folding doorsPanels that fold and stack to one side to open a room to the patio.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/folding-doors) ![A modern home with wide glass doors lit warm at dusk beside a pool](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/dusk-modern-home-pool-01.CeePxgPr_Z2giQin.webp) ## Let’s frame your view. Send your plans or a few photos of the openings. We will help you choose the system, the brand and the glass. [Start your project](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/contact-us)[or call (214) 484-9982](tel:+1-214-484-9982)