HVHZ-rated as a complete door assembly
Impact French doors pass TAS 201/202/203 as a sealed unit — frame, hinges, multi-point lock, center astragal, and threshold included. Sidelites and transoms are tested in the same composition.
Service · French Doors
Impact French Door Installation in South Florida
Impact French doors deliver the traditional architectural aesthetic of hinged double doors with the structural performance of HVHZ-rated impact glazing. SafeGuard installs in-swing and out-swing French doors with sidelite + transom configurations under FL DBPR CGC1532033. Miami-Dade NOA across the assembly, full permit pathway, in-house crews — never subcontracted.
Last updated May 2026Reviewed by Aldo Dellamano, FL CGC1532033
Call (954) 408-4000or fill out the form for a free estimate
- Hinged double doorsConfigurationIn-swing or out-swing
- Up to 175 mphWind ratingSame HVHZ standard as impact windows
- AvailableSidelites + transomsArchitectural symmetric configurations
- CGC1532033License of recordFL DBPR Certified General Contractor
Reviews
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Traditional architectural aesthetic
Why French doors fit Mediterranean + Spanish-Revival architecture
Permit pulled under our license
We file under FL DBPR CGC1532033 and stay the responsible party from sealed plans through final inspection. No subcontracted permit-puller workarounds.
5 manufacturer lines + architect-grade options
PGT, CGI, ES Windows, CWS, and Eco for standard French doors; CGI Sentinel + ES Windows Elite for premium architectural with sidelite + transom compositions.
At a Glance
Impact French door — key facts
- Configuration
- Hinged double doors (one or both operating)
- Swing direction
- In-swing · out-swing · double-active · single-active
- Sidelites + transom
- Available — symmetric architectural configurations
- Frame materials
- Aluminum · fiberglass · vinyl · steel-reinforced
- Manufacturers
- PGT · CGI · ES Windows · CWS · Eco
- Wind rating
- Up to 175 mph design wind
- Code approval
- Miami-Dade NOA + Florida Product Approval
- Glass options
- Clear · tinted · Low-E · obscure · grilles-between-glass
- Cost band
- $5,000-$12,000 per pair
- Lead time
- 4-8 weeks (stock) · 8-12 weeks (custom)
TL;DR
Impact French doors are hinged double doors — typically two doors that meet at a center post or astragal — designed to deliver a traditional architectural aesthetic with HVHZ-rated impact performance. They're the alternative to sliding glass doors when the architectural style calls for the traditional symmetric look (Mediterranean, Spanish-Revival, Colonial Revival, traditional Florida).
French doors are an aesthetic + architectural decision more than a hurricane-protection decision. Both impact French doors and impact sliding glass doors pass HVHZ code, both qualify for the wind-mitigation insurance discount, and both ship in similar opening sizes from the major South Florida manufacturers. The choice is usually between the symmetric double-hinged aesthetic of French doors (better fit for Mediterranean / Spanish-Revival / Colonial-Revival architecture) and the panel-overlap aesthetic of sliders (better fit for contemporary / open-plan modern).
Configuration matters. Standard French doors come in 5-foot (single-active, one operating + one fixed-stationary) and 6-foot (double-active, both operating) widths. Sidelites + transoms expand the architectural composition — sidelites are fixed glass panels flanking the doors, transoms are fixed glass panels above. A complete French door composition with two sidelites + a transom can run 12+ feet wide × 9+ feet tall, which delivers a much more architecturally substantial opening than a standard 6-foot double-active.
Swing direction is the second decision. Out-swing French doors save interior floor space and have stronger weather-tightness in driving rain (the door swings against the weather rather than with it). In-swing French doors save exterior space (no panel projection into the patio or lanai) and are the traditional choice for foyers + entry vestibules. We typically recommend out-swing for back-of-house lanai openings (better wind-driven rain performance) and in-swing for front-entry French doors.
SafeGuard installs French doors from PGT, CGI, ES Windows, CWS, and Eco — same NOA + permit pathway as impact windows + sliding glass doors. Every install goes through the full pathway under FL DBPR CGC1532033.
Impact French doors vs impact sliding glass doors
| French doors | Sliding glass doors | |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Traditional symmetric double-hinged | Contemporary panel-overlap |
| Architecture fit | Mediterranean · Spanish · Colonial Revival | Contemporary · open-plan modern |
| Maximum opening width | ~12 ft (with sidelites + transom) | 32+ ft (multi-slide configurations) |
| Floor-space requirement | Yes — door panel swings into space | No — panels travel within the frame |
| HVHZ wind rating | Up to 175 mph | Up to 175 mph |
| Insurance discount | Yes — same wind-mit credit | Yes — same wind-mit credit |
| Configuration options | Single-active · double-active · sidelite/transom | 2-/3-/4-/6-panel · pocket · corner-meet |
| Cost band | $5,000-$12,000 per pair | $4,000-$15,000 per opening |
French door HVHZ certifications
- PassTAS 201Large-missile impact
- PassTAS 202Cyclic pressure cycles
- PassTAS 203Uniform static pressure
- Up to 175 mphDesign windHVHZ coastal exposure
From our project library
French door installations across South Florida
Real SafeGuard installs from the JobNimbus library — French door pairs + sidelite/transom compositions across the four counties we serve.
Project scope
French door configurations + adjacent door services
Standard French door pair
5-6 ft wide hinged double doors. Single-active or double-active. Most-installed French door configuration.
Learn moreFrench door + sidelites + transom
Architectural-traditional composition — door pair + 2 fixed glass sidelites + fixed glass transom above. 12+ ft wide × 9+ ft tall.
Learn moreOut-swing lanai French doors
Out-swing configuration for back-of-house lanai or pool-deck openings — saves interior floor space + stronger driving-rain performance.
Learn moreImpact sliding glass doors
Contemporary panel-overlap alternative to French doors. 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-panel configurations + pocket + corner-meet.
Learn moreImpact entry doors
Front-entry impact doors — single or double, fiberglass / aluminum / steel frame, multi-point locking, sidelite + transom configurations.
Learn moreImpact patio doors (all categories)
Comprehensive patio door page covering sliding, French, multi-slide, telescoping, and bi-fold configurations.
Learn more
Frequently asked
Impact French doors — common questions
How much do impact French doors cost?
Impact French door installation in South Florida runs $5,000-$12,000 per pair installed depending on size, frame material, glass tier, and any HOA color rules. A standard 6-foot double-active impact French door pair typically lands $5,500-$8,500; the same opening with sidelites + transom runs $9,000-$14,000. Premium architectural configurations (CGI Sentinel, ES Windows Elite) run $15,000-$25,000+. Pricing always includes the door + permit + sealed plans + NOA verification + both rough and final inspections.
Are impact French doors hurricane-rated?
Yes — impact French doors pass the same TAS 201/202/203 HVHZ test protocols as impact windows and impact sliding glass doors. The structural rating applies to the entire assembly: the two door panels, the center post or astragal, the hinges, the multi-point lock, the threshold, and any sidelites or transoms. Miami-Dade NOA is comprehensive across PGT, CGI, ES Windows, CWS, and Eco French door product lines. Wind ratings reach 175 mph design wind on engineered configurations.
Should I get French doors or sliding glass doors?
Mostly an architectural fit + opening size decision. French doors deliver the traditional symmetric hinged-double aesthetic that fits Mediterranean / Spanish-Revival / Colonial-Revival / traditional Florida architecture. Sliding glass doors deliver the contemporary panel-overlap aesthetic that fits modern + open-plan + minimalist. Sliders also handle wider openings (32+ feet on multi-slide configurations vs ~12 feet on French doors with sidelites). Same wind rating + same insurance discount on both.
In-swing or out-swing French doors?
Out-swing for back-of-house lanai or pool-deck openings — saves interior floor space + stronger weather-tightness in driving rain (door swings against the weather). In-swing for front-entry French doors — traditional foyer aesthetic + saves exterior space (no panel projection into the patio). Both directions carry equivalent HVHZ ratings + same NOA + same permit pathway. We recommend out-swing for lanai-facing French doors as the default for South Florida — coastal driving rain performs better when the door swings outward.
Can I get French doors with sidelites and a transom?
Yes — that's the architectural-traditional composition. Sidelites are fixed glass panels flanking the doors; transom is a fixed glass panel above. A complete French door composition (door pair + 2 sidelites + transom) can run 12+ feet wide × 9+ feet tall and delivers a much more substantial architectural opening than a standard 6-foot pair. NOA is comprehensive on the assembly when sidelites + transom are spec'd correctly. Premium architectural product lines (CGI Sentinel, ES Windows Elite) handle the larger compositions cleanly.
How long do impact French doors last?
30+ years on premium aluminum-frame products with proper installation and routine maintenance. The laminated-glass seal is the typical service item — manufacturer warranties cover seal failure for 10-25 years on most products and lifetime on PGT WinGuard. Multi-point locking hardware is the second service item — typically replaced once during the door's lifespan. We service warranty calls in-house through SafeGuard rather than handing off to a manufacturer service contractor.
Ready for impact French doors?
Free in-home estimate that includes the configuration comparison + sidelite/transom options + permit pathway in writing — sealed plans, NOA verification per opening, Notice of Commencement, and inspections.