The look you want, the protection you need
French doors — two doors meeting in the middle, full glass, classic proportions — are the prettiest way to open a home to a patio or pool deck. They're also, in their old form, a storm liability: lots of glass, a center seam, and hardware that was never designed for hurricane pressure. Impact French doors keep the look and fix the engineering.
How they're built for storms
Each door carries laminated impact glass, and the pair locks together with a multi-point locking system — bolts at the top, middle, and bottom that tie both doors and the frame into one rigid unit. The center meeting stile (the seam between the doors) is reinforced, because that's where wind pressure concentrates. When locked, the two doors behave as one strong panel.
Inswing vs. outswing
Outswing doors are generally better for hurricanes — wind pressure pushes them tighter against the frame instead of trying to blow them in. They're also better for Florida's driving rain, since the weatherstripping compresses under pressure. Inswing doors suit situations where exterior space is tight. We'll recommend the right swing for your opening and explain the trade-offs.
Where French doors shine
Master bedroom to patio. Living room to pool deck. Dining room to lanai. Anywhere you want a wide, elegant opening that also needs to disappear in daily use — open both doors and the room flows outside. With impact glass, that openness doesn't come with storm-season worry.