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Impact Doors

Impact French Doors

In-swing and out-swing impact French doors in Kendall and Miami-Dade: large-missile-rated, multi-point locked, and set to seal tight. The look you want, engineered for wind-driven rain and hurricane pressure.

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In-Swing or Out-Swing

Out-swing favored for storms

Both-Operable or One-Fixed

Configured to your opening

Multi-Point Locking

Even compression, tight seal

Set to Seal

Weather-tightness is install quality

The Look, Done Right

French Doors That Actually Stay Sealed

French doors are about the look and the wide, gracious opening, but in Miami-Dade they still have to survive wind-driven rain and hurricane pressure. The good news: that's achievable. The catch: on a French door, weather-tightness is almost entirely about installation quality, not just the product.

Diagram of a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance showing its five key fields and what to check on each.
Check the NOA covers the exact door and configuration. Open full size

Out-swing vs. in-swing is the first decision. For storm performance, out-swing generally has an edge: wind pressure pushes the door tighter against its seal and stops. In-swing leans more on its locking and stops. Both can be Large Missile rated; if exposure is your priority and the layout allows, out-swing is often the better call.

You can run both leaves operable for the full opening, or one fixed with flush bolts for a solid strike point and simpler sealing. Either way, multi-point locking draws the doors evenly against the weatherstripping, and the astragal where they meet has to seal, which comes down to setting the frame square and adjusting patiently.

French Door At a Glance

Swing
Out-swing (storm-favored) or in-swing
Operation
Both-operable or active/fixed
Locking
Multi-point + flush bolts on fixed leaf
Seal
Even compression + sealed astragal
Weather-tightness
Driven by install quality
Total timeline
~6–10 weeks incl. manufacturing

Why we talk so much about the install

You can buy the best-rated impact French door made and still get leaks and binding if it's set poorly. The frame has to be square and level, the multi-point hardware has to draw both leaves evenly into the weatherstripping, the astragal has to seal, and the sill pan has to be flashed. A great product installed carelessly will disappoint; a properly rated product set carefully stays tight for years. On French doors more than any other, the install is the product.

Step by Step

How a French Door Runs

Assess the opening

We measure and talk through in-swing vs. out-swing and both-operable vs. fixed against your layout and storm exposure.

Configure & estimate

Swing, operation, finish, and hardware: line-item, naming the approved unit and its NOA.

Permit & order

Permit filed with approval numbers; the custom unit goes into manufacturing.

Set square & level

Frame set, shimmed, and anchored to NOA spec: the step that determines whether it ever leaks.

Adjust & seal

Multi-point hardware adjusted for even compression; astragal and weatherstripping checked; sill pan flashed.

Inspect & document

County inspection and a closeout package with the approval paperwork.

Common Questions

French Door FAQ

Are out-swing French doors better than in-swing for storms?+
For storm performance, out-swing generally has an edge: hurricane wind pressure pushes an out-swing door tighter against its weatherstripping and frame stops, which helps it seal and resist blowing open. An in-swing door relies more on its locking and stops to resist that same pressure. Both can be Large Missile Impact rated and both work well when installed correctly — but if storm exposure is your priority and the layout allows it, out-swing is often the better call. We'll walk through your specific opening.
Can I have both doors open, or is one fixed?+
Either. A both-operable (active/active) pair lets you open the full width, which is great for patios and entertaining. An active/fixed configuration keeps one leaf stationary with a flush bolt, which gives the active door a solid strike point and can simplify weather-sealing. The right choice depends on how you use the opening and how wide it is — there's no single right answer, and we'll lay out the trade-offs.
How are French doors kept weather-tight?+
Weather-tightness on a French door is almost entirely about installation quality. The frame has to be set square and level, the multi-point locking has to draw both leaves evenly against the weatherstripping, and the astragal (the meeting point between the two doors) has to seal properly. A great product set poorly will leak; a properly rated product installed carefully stays tight. That's why we set, shim, and adjust patiently, and why the install — not just the product — is what you're really buying.
Do impact French doors have multi-point locking?+
Yes — that's central to how they resist both wind and forced entry. The active leaf locks into the frame at the head, jamb, and sill, and on an active/fixed pair the stationary leaf is held by flush bolts top and bottom. Spreading the holding force across multiple points is what keeps the doors closed under hurricane pressure and resists prying.
Will French doors leak in heavy rain?+
Not when they're installed right. South Florida throws wind-driven rain at every opening, and a properly set impact French door with even multi-point compression and a sealed astragal handles it. Leaks almost always trace back to a frame that wasn't set square, hardware that wasn't adjusted to draw the doors tight, or a sill pan that wasn't flashed. We address all three as part of the install.
How long does an impact French door project take?+
On-site, usually a day to a couple of days per opening. Total timeline is roughly 6 to 10 weeks with manufacturing lead time on the custom-sized, approved unit. We'll give you a real schedule and tell you up front whether in-swing or out-swing suits your opening.

The Look, Without the Leaks

Free French door estimate that weighs out-swing against in-swing for your exposure, and a careful install that keeps the doors sealed for years.

Request a Free Estimate → Call (954) 546-4161
Call (954) 546-4161