Hey all. . .
I'm in the planning phase of installing patio doors and wanted to ask what the generally accepted rough opening should be for a 5-foot wide set of French doors.
I know that ultimately, I'll have to follow the manufactuer's instructions, but I'm really just looking for a general number so I can make some sketches and determine other features to include in my renovation.
Thanks!
Kelly
I'm assuming you mean SWINGING French 5' patio doors and not SLIDING French 5' patio doors. There are two common rough opening widths: 5'0" or 5'2-3/4". Here's why:
Many manufacturers make a so-called 5' French door in which the rough opening is exactly 5'0" wide - but that means that the opening is 5'0", the door frame is approx. 4'11-1/4" and the doors are about 2'4" each.
The other way it's done is to have true 2'6" doors. So doing the math, the two 2'6" doors equal 5'0", plus another 1-1/2" for the frame, plus usually 1/2" or so for the astragal (it can vary), plus about 3/4" for the rough opening spacing = a rough opening of 5'2-3/4".
Again it can vary by an inch or so with some manufacturers.
As for the height, it also varies by manufacturer, but the common R.O. heights usually tend to be 6'8-1/2" (which is a shorter retrofit height for existing aluminum patio doors), 6'10" to 6'10-1/2" (these are the most common), and 8' to 8'2".
Many manufacturers make a so-called 5' French door in which the rough opening is exactly 5'0" wide - but that means that the opening is 5'0", the door frame is approx. 4'11-1/4" and the doors are about 2'4" each.
The other way it's done is to have true 2'6" doors. So doing the math, the two 2'6" doors equal 5'0", plus another 1-1/2" for the frame, plus usually 1/2" or so for the astragal (it can vary), plus about 3/4" for the rough opening spacing = a rough opening of 5'2-3/4".
Again it can vary by an inch or so with some manufacturers.
As for the height, it also varies by manufacturer, but the common R.O. heights usually tend to be 6'8-1/2" (which is a shorter retrofit height for existing aluminum patio doors), 6'10" to 6'10-1/2" (these are the most common), and 8' to 8'2".
Post a reply as Anonymous
Related Discussions
Patio Doors
Hello all. We moved into a 25 year old house in August. Over the wonderfully "warm" Wisconsin winter, we discovered that the patio...
1
answers
7 months by BV022302
Patio Doors
How do I level patio doors? They sag in the middle where they close. Where the doors come together in the middle the crack gets wide...
0
answersabout 2 years by BV017867
Patio Doors
I have been looking at patio / French doors, sidelies and transomes, and the quality is all over the board. The guys with the big na...
0
answersover 15 years by rbtexas1
Patio Doors
How do I level patio doors? They sag in the middle where they close. Where the doors come together in the middle they are closer at ...
0
answersabout 2 years by BV017866
