The Ultimate Exterior French Door Buyer's Guide

Exterior French doors combine a glazed design with everyday access to a patio, garden or entrance. Before choosing a style, confirm the complete assembly size, swing, hardware and suitability for the opening. A label such as 72x80 is a starting point for discussion, not a substitute for the manufacturer’s drawing.

Explore USABD steel doors and use this checklist to prepare an accurate order. Confirm current availability for the exact size and swing rather than assuming a particular configuration is stocked.

Confirm what the advertised size measures

Door leaf size, outside frame dimensions, rough opening and clear passage are different measurements. Ask which one the listed size represents. Do not assume a 72x80 assembly contains two finished 36-inch leaves or creates a 72-inch clear opening.

Record opening width and height at several points, finished wall thickness and floor levels. Have the installer check the opening’s condition and compare the measurements with the chosen assembly drawing.

Use the specified rough-opening allowance. Adding a universal inch to the frame dimensions can result in an unsuitable opening. Review threshold height, finished flooring and the required jamb depth together before construction or ordering.

Our French door sizing guide provides related planning questions.

Draw the swing rather than relying on a label

Inswing doors open into the room; outswing doors open toward the exterior. Compare both with furniture, circulation, screens, railings, planters and the available landing. Draw the actual leaf arcs and hardware projections rather than using a generic square-foot clearance estimate.

Discuss exposure to wind, rain and possible snow accumulation with the project team. Neither swing direction guarantees security, weather resistance or unobstructed exit in every situation. Confirm the configuration is appropriate for the opening and project requirements.

Handing terminology can vary between suppliers. Approve a drawing that identifies the viewing side, hinge positions, swing direction and active leaf. Include your installer in this check before placing the order.

Understand how the two leaves meet and lock

The active leaf is normally the door used for routine access. Confirm whether and how the other leaf opens, how it is secured and the resulting usable passage when one or both leaves are open.

Ask the supplier to show any astragal, meeting-stile detail, flush bolts or fixed mullion on the drawing. Do not use “astragal” as a synonym for a fixed center post. Confirm what remains in the opening when the doors are open.

Review the lock preparation and included hardware. A multipoint lock, particular hinge security feature or handle set should not be assumed standard. Request compatibility confirmation before purchasing separate locks or handles.

See our double steel door hardware guide for the details to discuss.

Review glass and documented performance together

Choose the desired view, privacy and glass pattern, then request the specification for that exact configuration. Decorative glass appearance does not establish insulation, impact resistance or security performance.

Ask for the relevant assembly documentation when energy, air, water or structural performance matters to the project. Do not transfer a result from a different door size, glass package or frame construction.

The National Fenestration Rating Council provides independent energy-performance certification for windows and doors. Confirm whether a claimed rating applies to the selected product; this is not a claim that every USABD door has that certification.

Review required glazing and opening performance with the project professional before approval. Steel construction alone is not a fire rating, hurricane rating or guarantee against condensation.

Coordinate the threshold and wall connection

Obtain the manufacturer’s instructions before scheduling work. Have the installer plan support, anchoring, alignment, flashing and sealing for the exact door and wall construction.

Include the threshold, drainage path and transition to interior and exterior floor levels. A square opening alone does not make an installation watertight. Coordinate the door with the wall’s water-management details and avoid obstructing specified drainage provisions.

Review handling and access arrangements for delivery, including unloading and storage. Inspect the assembly before permanent installation and confirm the process for reporting damage or discrepancies.

Start with our steel door technical resources and verify which instructions apply to the model you are ordering.

Follow the care instructions for the selected finish

Confirm the supplied finish and permitted cleaning products. Do not assume every factory coating can be repainted with the same preparation or paint. Ask about approved touch-up methods and warranty implications before making changes.

Inspect seals, drainage areas and hardware as directed by the manufacturer. Use only the specified lubricant where needed; applying a generic lubricant everywhere is not a maintenance plan.

If the door begins binding or failing to latch, have the cause assessed before changing hardware or trimming components. Keep the model, finish and hardware records for future service.

Compare a complete, written quote

• Exact model, assembly dimensions and required rough opening.
• Swing, handing, active leaf and approved drawing.
• Glass, finish, threshold and jamb details.
• Included locks, handles and other hardware.
• Required performance documentation and installation instructions.
• Delivery, unloading, installation scope and lead time.

Send USA Builders Depot your measurements, opening photographs and preferred design. Showroom visits are by appointment only. For a made-to-order project, explore custom doors and review the final specifications carefully: custom doors and windows are non-returnable. Eligible in-stock returns are subject to a 25% restocking fee; review the current return policy and order terms before purchase.