French Iron Door vs Traditional Entry Doors: Which Is Better?

The entryways to your home are more important than you might think. In the front, it’s the first thing to greet you when you get home from a long day at work, and in the rear of your home, it adds charm to what is often a place for relaxation, family get-togethers, and time outside.

As such, the doors you choose can significantly impact your overall entryway design, boosting both curb appeal and the value of your home.

French iron doors are a popular option for both front and rear entryways, and if you haven’t seen them yet, they’re worth checking out.

Today, we’re going to explore how the comparison of a French iron door vs traditional entry doors can help you choose the right look and function for your home.

Let’s get started!

What are French Iron Doors

French doors are unique in comparison to the rest of the options on the market. They’re not overly elaborate, but they still exude a sense of luxury and beauty that many other designs can’t match.

The main differentiator between French doors and most other designs is that a French door is a frame fitted with a number of glass panes. The door is mainly glass in terms of its surface area.

French doors can be made of wood, steel, or iron, but since iron is typically the best option in the vast majority of situations, that’s what we’ll be focusing on throughout this guide.

Beyond the many glass panes and unique frame design, French doors also come in single-door and double-door varieties. So, you can find an option that suits any type of main entryway.

However, another standout feature is that French doors are double-hinged.

That means that they can swing open either inward or outward, and that provides a lot of flexibility in designing your spaces and how you use the door. It can help with moving large items in and out, and it’s simply more convenient.

How Traditional Entry Doors Compare

Traditional entry doors are likely something you’re very familiar with. So, we won’t spend too much time on them.

These are the solid wooden or steel doors that you see on most homes; they’re single-hinged, and usually, they’re single doorways.

Already, you can see some key areas where traditional entry doors lag behind French iron doors.

French Iron Doors VS Traditional Entry Doors: Pros and Cons

Now that we’ve covered what each category is, it’s time to see how they stack up when we look at the details more closely.

1. Functionality

The double-hinge feature of French iron doors does a lot more than simply add a bit of flexibility to how you open the door. It can be a major benefit when you’re moving large items in and out of your home.

Especially with double French iron doors that let you use the entirety of the entryway space. This might not be a top concern every day, but when you need it, it helps a lot. You certainly won’t regret having it.

In comparison, a single-hinged traditional door is a bit more limited to work with, and while it’s typically not a big deal, it can be a royal headache when you finally end up needing it.

2. Materials

Both styles of doors can be found in a variety of materials, but we’re going to compare the two most popular options for both.

French iron doors are incredibly strong and low-maintenance. Iron self-lubricates over time when it builds up a patina, and that prevents the squeaking that you get with wooden doors. That same patina also helps prevent rusting if part of the protective powder coating or paint wears off.

As we mentioned, they’re also low-maintenance, requiring only regular cleaning to keep them looking great

In comparison, most traditional doors are made of wood or steel. Wood constantly has a moisture issue, causing it to expand and shrink, and that causes issues such as warping. That can completely ruin the seal around the door and its ability to function as smoothly as it should.

Even steel doors, while highly resistant to rust, can eventually corrode, and they don’t create a patina as they oxidize.

3. Visual Appearance

There are lots of traditional doors that look great. We can’t deny that. However, traditional doors that have a luxurious look to them are typically very elaborate and made out of finer materials.

Thus, they cost a premium compared to lesser doors made of the same material, and that’s before you consider the functionality drawbacks we talked about.

In comparison, French iron doors perfectly pair simple, yet intricate frames with glass panels to create an elegant and luxurious look, whether you’re buying them at the lower end of the price spectrum or the higher end.

Iron doors never go out of style, making them a timeless choice that enhances curb appeal for years to come.

It’s such a simple and elegant design that it’s hard to mess up visually. Of course, higher quality options provide other benefits, but visually, a French iron door is going to look great even if you don’t go with the best option in the lineup.

Traditional doors are usually very plain if you don’t pay a premium.

4. Natural Lighting

Natural lighting is a big deal. It helps you cut back on your energy bill because you don’t have to rely on electricity as much for lighting your home, and it simply looks and feels better than artificial light.

Well, a solid traditional door doesn’t provide any natural lighting, and a French iron door lets plenty of natural light in. Even if you get a traditional door with a windowpane set into it, the glass area is typically so small that the lighting provided is minimal at best.

This extra light is also a great way to refresh your outdoor space by making your interior and exterior feel more connected and open.

French Iron Doors Add Value to Your Home

French iron doors win in most of the categories we’ve covered and plenty more that we didn’t touch on, and they also add more value to your home.

First, while they’re popular, they’re still not as common as traditional doors. So, there’s a sense of uniqueness and luxury to them that buyers will pay more for.

They also make the home look bigger and create an optimal entryway experience with both the visual effect they provide and natural lighting. Their low maintenance requirements make them ideal for buyers.

In addition to their aesthetic and functional benefits, French iron doors provide outstanding front door security, ensuring that your home stays protected while looking beautiful.

Upgrade Your Entryway with French Iron Doors from Luxe Iron Doors

When it comes to the debate of a French iron door vs traditional entry doors, there’s no contest - The former is a clear upgrade for any home’s entryway, offering unmatched style and quality.

At Luxe Iron Doors, we specialize in offering a diverse range of exquisite iron doors to create grand entrances, ornamental and protective iron gates to frame your property, and handcrafted custom railings that deliver timeless detail to both classic and modern homes.