Understanding French door threshold options
Alexandra works in the marketing department, and in 2014, bought her first house, which turned out to be somewhat of a ‘project’. Since then, the whole house has needed renovating, which has helped her gain a knowledge of basic DIY, decorating and making the best of a small space.
When supplying French doors to customers, the materials of the doors will have an overall impact on the function, reliability, and operation of the entranceway. Aluminium French doors provide excellent durability, a long-lifespan, sleek and stylish looks and exceptional security. When you help customers choose their perfect aluminium doors, one thing you'll need to discuss with them is the threshold options that are available and share advice on which is right for them.
Here, we show you the different French door threshold options we have available and outline the benefits of each to help you give your customers useful advice.
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Read the key benefits of choosing to supply aluminium French doors.
Find out the importance of threshold options when it comes to choosing French doors to supply.
Read the different threshold options of Origin French Doors.
Read our guide to advising customers on the different threshold options.
Find out more about Origin French Doors.
Read the key benefits of supplying Origin French Doors.
Benefits of supplying aluminium French doors
Aluminium is a fantastic material for French doors because it is extremely lightweight while also being highly durable. The doors offer excellent longevity, strength and security while remaining light enough to operate easily. Plus, they're incredibly low maintenance because aluminium is resilient to rust, corrosion, rot and warping. Aluminium doors can last for decades which makes them an eco-friendly choice, and when the time finally does come for them to be replaced, the aluminium can be fully recycled, helping boost your and your customers environmental credentials.
The strong nature of aluminium makes it an excellent material for housing large glass panels. We're able to achieve incredibly slim frames/ sightlines and create extensive entranceways to maximise the view from the doors, allowing as much natural light as possible to stream into the home. Plus, the chic, contemporary appearance of aluminium French doors will allow them to enhance a property's kerb appeal compared to uPVC.
Although aluminium is a metal and therefore an efficient conductor of heat, our aluminium French doors are thermally broken and come with a sophisticated polyamide break. They’re also manufactured with advanced weather tight seals, all of which minimises heat loss and draughts and maximises energy efficiency and keeping the internal temperature in and outside elements out. Triple glazing can also be specified on our French doors to further improve thermal efficiency.
Read more about our guide to supplying aluminium French doors here.
Why are threshold options important?
Thresholds play an important role in user safety as well as the overall look, finish and weathertightness of a door. If a threshold is able to be recessed into the floor and keep a property effectively waterproof, the lower the risk of tripping when stepping through the doorway. Plus, a low threshold more seamlessly connects indoor and outdoor spaces to create a sense of continuity and openness.
However, every external door threshold also plays a part in weatherproofing a property. Thresholds help to keep wind and rain out of the house and create a secure seal when the doors are closed. For this reason, you need to explain to your customers the importance of striking a balance between safety, style and practicality when choosing a threshold for a French door.
Origin French Door threshold options
Our weathered thresholds are designed to offer exceptional rates of weather protection on exterior doors. This threshold option can be recessed/ sunk into the floor to leave a 14mm upstand, which minimises tripping hazards while ensuring the elements are kept outside.
Our non-weathered thresholds are just 50mm high, which allows them to provide a flush walkway between rooms. However, they do not provide the same level of weather protection as the weathered option.
Our mobility thresholds are just 20mm high and can provide optimum accessibility to wheelchair users or those who use walking aids. When helping a customer choose the right option, you need to provide advice on accessibility, take into account the different designs and weather protection.
Find out more about the different Origin French Door systems here.
Advising customers on threshold options
When advising customers on which French door threshold to choose, it's important to explain the benefits of each option. Weathered thresholds tend to be the most popular external patio door threshold because they provide optimal protection against wind and rain. This tends to be a priority for most homeowners.
If aesthetics are deemed very important to your customers, the non-weathered threshold might be a preferable option. This will give customers a completely flush transition through the doors, but it should be made clear that full weather protection will not be guaranteed if the French doors are set to be used externally. If the patio area is sheltered and wind and rain rarely drive straight towards the doors, the non-weathered low threshold may be suitable. Alternatively, if the doors are set to connect two internal spaces, such as a conservatory and a living room, a non-weathered threshold is suitable and a fantastic choice for achieving that open and seamless look.
If accessibility is a priority for your customers, the mobility threshold is likely to be the right choice. If someone living in the property, or a frequent visitor to the property, uses a wheelchair or walking aid, accessibility will probably be prioritised over weatherproofing. Similarly, if anyone who will frequently be using the door has mobility or balance problems that put them at increased risk of falling or tripping, the mobility threshold could be a great choice.
Origin French Door options
In addition to thresholds, your customers will have a wide range of choices available when it comes to the design and functionality of their Origin aluminium French doors. There are two different systems to choose from - OB-72 and OB-49, with the latter offering enhanced views with individual sash sightlines as slim as 49mm. Customers can also opt to have their French doors open either inwards or outwards.
View the OB-49 and OB-72 specification file here for more information.
Your customers can choose over 150 RAL colours, with the option for dual colours should they want different colours on the interior frame and exterior frame. We also have a wide variety of handle styles and colours to choose from, including rose gold, black, white and stainless steel.
Considering working with Origin? Find out more about becoming a trade partner here.
The benefits of being a supplier of Origin aluminium French doors
Origin aluminium French doors are made in Britain and come with a guarantee of up to 20-years. We use premium quality aluminium to ensure the doors are strong, durable and secure, and high-quality hardware and door lock accessories are on offer for a stylish finish. When you supply Origin Doors, you can rest assured you'll be providing your customers with a premium product that is reliable, dependable, and built to last for decades. Plus, we offer unbeatably fast lead times to give you peace of mind that you can provide an efficient installation service and schedule your projects with confidence.
We also provide ongoing training and support to our trade customers to ensure our exceptional standards are maintained right throughout the installation process. This means that when you choose Origin as your aluminium windows and doors supplier, you can rest assured that you'll be armed with exceptional knowledge of our product range and all the support you need to deliver a high-quality service to your customers.
If you're looking for reliable, quality aluminium French doors to supply to your customers, speak to the experts at Origin.