French Doors & Double Doors

Timber French and double doors to link home and garden

French and double doors are all about light, access and how the space feels. When they’re done properly, they open up a room and make the transition to outside feel easy. When they’re done badly, they drag on the floor, leak air and water, and become the most annoying doors in the house.

At JM Joinery we manufacture bespoke timber French doors and double doors in our workshop in Callow, Herefordshire. Every set is made to measure, designed around your opening, and built to cope with real-world use and weather.

Supply only, or supply & fit within our installation area.

Why choose JM Joinery French / double doors?

  • Made to measure – built to suit your actual opening, not forced to fit a standard frame.

  • Proper timber construction – engineered sections, decent thickness and proper joints.

  • Weather-conscious detailing – seals, thresholds and hardware chosen to suit exposure.

  • Choice of timbers – from painted softwood to Accoya and hardwood.

  • Supply only or supply & fit – you choose how you want to run the job.

Where they work best

Typical uses for French and double doors:

  • From kitchen, dining or living rooms onto a patio or garden.

  • Between sunrooms / garden rooms and the main house.

  • As internal double doors between two rooms (with or without glazing).

  • As balcony or first-floor doors, with appropriate guarding.

We can work from a new opening or replace tired PVC/aluminium doors with timber that actually suits the property.

Styles & layouts

We can match existing doors or design from scratch. Options include:

  • Traditional French doors

    • Slimmer sections, glazing bars if required, classic proportions.

  • Contemporary double doors

    • Cleaner lines, larger panes of glass, minimal or no glazing bars.

  • With side lights / fanlights

    • To fill larger openings and pull more light into the room.

  • Boarded lower panels

    • Solid bottom, glazed top for privacy with light.

You choose open-in or open-out (subject to space and weather exposure), and we’ll advise what makes most sense.

Timber options

We’ll recommend materials based on exposure, finish and budget:

  • Accoya – very stable and ideal for exposed elevations or dark colours.

  • Hardwoods (e.g. oak or others) – for a more natural timber look.

  • Quality softwood – for painted doors where budget matters but you still want proper joinery.

All sourced from suppliers that promote sustainable forest management.

Glazing & performance

Glazing is a big part of how French doors look and perform:

  • Double glazing as standard (toughened safety glass where required).

  • Low-E and warm-edge units to improve thermal performance.

  • Laminated glass available for added security or low-level panes.

  • Obscure glass in bathrooms, utility rooms or overlooked elevations.

  • Glazing bars – traditional, slim or none, depending on the look you want.

We can provide U-value information on glazed door sets if needed for building control or specs.

Security & hardware

We don’t skimp on hardware. Typical setup includes:

  • Multi-point locking on the main leaf, with secure keeps into the frame.

  • Top and bottom shoot bolts on the slave leaf.

  • Hinges sized for the weight of the doors and usage.

  • Modern or traditional handle sets to suit the property style.

If you have specific security concerns (isolated locations, rental properties etc.), say so when you enquire and we’ll spec hardware accordingly.

Thresholds & weathering

The bottom detail makes or breaks French doors:

  • Low thresholds for easy access and minimal step.

  • More robust external thresholds for very exposed sites.

  • Full perimeter weather seals to reduce draughts and water ingress.

We’ll look at photos of the step/floor detail and advise what’s realistic so you don’t end up with a lovely door and a poor threshold arrangement.

Internal double doors

The same approach applies indoors, minus the weather:

  • Glazed double doors between hall and living/dining rooms.

  • Full-height or extra-wide doors for open-plan spaces that still need separation.

  • Matching architraves and trims to tie in with your other internal joinery.

You get the same made-to-measure approach, just without the external sealing requirements.

Supply Only or Supply & Fit

Supply Only

  • Ideal if you have your own builder/fitter or are outside our usual fitting radius.

  • Doorsets supplied with frames, glazing, hardware and seals – ready to install.

  • Collection from our workshop in Callow, HR2 8BP (delivery can be discussed).

Supply & Fit

  • Available within roughly an hour’s drive of our workshop.

  • Removal of existing doors and frames as agreed.

  • New French/double doors installed, adjusted and sealed correctly.

For bigger openings with side lights/fanlights, using our fitting service usually makes life easier.

What we need to quote

To price your French or double doors sensibly, it helps if you can send:

  • Approximate opening size (width x height).

  • Photos of inside and outside around the opening.

  • Whether the doors are replacing existing or going into a new opening.

  • A rough idea of style – traditional with bars, or more modern with large panes.

  • Whether you want supply only or supply & fit, and your postcode.

We’ll then come back with a clear, itemised quote and realistic lead time.

Ready to plan French or double doors?

If you’re looking to open up a room, get more light in, or replace old PVC/aluminium units:

  • Use the Get in touch form

  • Attach photos and any sketches or inspiration images

  • Tell us how you use the space and how you want the doors to function

We’ll give you straight advice, practical options and a price that reflects the job – no sales fluff.