Impact French Doors Miami: Hurricane-Rated Double Swing Doors
Classic double-swing elegance meets Category 5 hurricane engineering. Connect your living spaces to the outdoors without compromising protection.
French doors have been a staple of South Florida architecture for decades. Their classic double-swing design creates a wide, elegant opening that connects interior living spaces to patios, balconies, and outdoor entertaining areas. In the hurricane-prone Miami market, impact-rated French doors let you preserve that timeless aesthetic while meeting the strictest building code requirements in the country. You get the beauty of a traditional French door and the structural performance of a tested, approved hurricane protection system.
This guide covers everything Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County homeowners need to know about impact French doors: how they work, why outswing configurations outperform inswing during hurricanes, what they cost, and how to choose the right product and installer for your home.
How Impact French Doors Work
Impact French doors consist of two hinged door panels mounted on opposite sides of a door frame, swinging open from the center to create a wide, unobstructed opening. Each panel contains laminated impact-resistant glass set into a reinforced stile-and-rail frame. The laminated glass is constructed from two panes of tempered or heat-strengthened glass bonded to a PVB or SGP interlayer. When debris strikes the glass, the interlayer holds the broken fragments in place, maintaining the seal of the building envelope even after the outer pane has fractured.
The critical engineering challenge with French doors is the center meeting point. Where the two panels come together, a vertical member called the astragal bridges the gap. The astragal must create a wind-tight and water-tight seal while also allowing both panels to open and close smoothly. In impact-rated French doors, the astragal incorporates compression weatherstripping and interlocking profiles that engage when the doors are closed, preventing wind-driven rain and pressure from penetrating the junction.
Both panels are secured with multi-point locking hardware. In a typical configuration, one panel is designated as the "active" panel (the one you open first for everyday use) and the other is the "inactive" panel (which is typically kept closed and secured with flush bolts at the top and bottom of the frame). Some premium designs make both panels fully active, meaning either panel can be opened independently without first releasing the other. Multi-point locks on the active panel engage at three or more points along the frame when the handle is turned, distributing the wind load and providing strong resistance against both hurricane forces and forced entry.
Benefits of Impact French Doors
Impact French doors combine architectural elegance with serious structural performance for South Florida homeowners.
Wide, Unobstructed Opening
When both panels are open, French doors provide a wider clear opening than a single door or slider for the same rough opening. No center post or track to obstruct the view or passage.
Permanent Hurricane Protection
Like all impact doors, French doors are always ready. There is no deployment, no storage, and no last-minute scramble before a storm.
Insurance Premium Reduction
Impact French doors qualify for the opening protection credit on your wind mitigation inspection. Combined with protection on all other openings, you qualify for the maximum windstorm discount.
Enhanced Security
Multi-point locks on both panels combined with laminated glass make impact French doors highly resistant to forced entry, dramatically superior to standard French doors.
Noise Reduction
Laminated glass construction provides excellent sound attenuation. French doors opening to a busy pool deck, street, or courtyard significantly reduce noise transmission.
UV Protection
The interlayer in the laminated glass blocks over 99 percent of UV radiation, protecting interior furnishings, artwork, and flooring from sun damage and fading.
Energy Efficiency
Multi-point locks and compression weatherstripping create a tight seal. Combined with Low-E glass, this keeps conditioned air inside and solar heat outside for lower electricity bills.
Elegant Sightlines
Narrower stiles than sliding glass doors mean more visible glass area. The refined appearance complements Mediterranean, colonial, contemporary, and transitional styles.
Classic Elegance Meets Hurricane Engineering
French doors are at their best when the opening serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose — patios, balconies, master bedrooms, pool access, and formal living rooms all benefit from the wide, refined opening that defines the French door experience.
Best Applications for Impact French Doors
French doors are at their best when the opening serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose. The most popular applications in South Florida homes include:
- Patio access from living or dining rooms: The classic use case. French doors create an elegant connection between the main living area and an outdoor patio or terrace. When open, they extend the entertaining space and invite the outdoors in.
- Balcony access: In condominiums and multi-story homes, French doors provide a grand entrance to the balcony. The wide opening and elegant proportions feel more luxurious than a sliding door in the same space.
- Master bedroom exits: Many South Florida homes feature a French door leading from the master bedroom to a private patio, garden, or pool area. The combination of natural light, ventilation when open, and refined appearance makes French doors a popular choice for this application.
- Pool access: French doors can serve as the primary connection between the home and pool area. Their wide opening is especially convenient for pool parties and outdoor entertaining.
- Formal living rooms and studies: In homes with formal living rooms, libraries, or home offices, French doors add an architectural distinction that a sliding door or standard hinged door cannot match.
One important consideration: French doors require swing clearance on the side they open toward. For outswing doors, this means the patio or balcony must have sufficient depth that furniture, planters, grills, and other items do not obstruct the swing path. If swing clearance is limited, an impact sliding glass door may be a more practical choice because the panels slide parallel to the wall and require no clearance space. For very wide openings, impact patio doors with multi-slide or bi-fold configurations offer another space-efficient alternative.
Impact Rating and Code Compliance
Impact French doors installed in Miami-Dade and Broward County must comply with the HVHZ provisions of the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023).
Frame Material and Hardware Options
The frame material and hardware determine appearance, durability, and performance.
Aluminum Frames
Pros
- Excellent structural rigidity for two swinging panels
- Narrow stiles for maximum glass area
- Wide range of powder-coat colors
- Thermally broken profiles available
Cons
- Higher cost than standard options
- Conducts heat without thermal break
Best for: Most impact French door installations, especially where refined aesthetics and structural performance are priorities
Fiberglass & Wood-Clad
Pros
- Replicates the look of traditional wood French doors
- Excellent thermal insulation
- Wood interior for warmth with weather-resistant exterior
- Does not rot, warp, or delaminate
Cons
- Premium pricing
- More limited product availability
Best for: Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and Pinecrest homes where architectural character and wood aesthetics are a priority
Hardware and Locking Systems
The hardware on impact French doors is more complex than on a single-panel door because both panels must be secured independently. Key hardware components include:
- Multi-point lock on the active panel: Engages at three or more points along the door edge when the handle is turned, securing the active panel to the frame and astragal simultaneously.
- Flush bolts on the inactive panel: Shoot bolts at the top and bottom of the inactive panel engage into the head and sill of the frame, locking the panel in place. On designs where both panels are fully active, each panel has its own multi-point lock.
- Astragal: The vertical member where the two panels meet. Impact-rated astragals use interlocking profiles and compression weatherstripping to create a wind and water barrier at the center junction. The astragal may be attached to the inactive panel (overlapping astragal) or recessed between the panels (flush astragal), depending on the product design.
- Hinges: Heavy-duty stainless steel or corrosion-resistant hinges rated for the weight of laminated glass panels. Most impact French doors use three or four hinges per panel, depending on panel height and weight.
- Handlesets: Available in a range of styles from contemporary lever designs to traditional knob-and-plate configurations. Finishes include brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, and polished chrome.
Decorative Options
- Internal grilles: Grille patterns placed between the laminated glass layers simulate the look of divided lites without creating external cleaning challenges. Colonial, prairie, and custom patterns are available.
- Internal blinds: Miniature blinds or shades sealed between the glass layers provide adjustable light control and privacy. Because the blinds are enclosed within the glass unit, they never collect dust and cannot be damaged by wind or pets.
- Sidelites: Narrow impact-rated glass panels flanking the French door pair add light and visual width to the opening.
- Transoms: An impact-rated glass panel above the French doors adds height and natural light to the opening, creating a more dramatic architectural statement.
Cost Range for Impact French Doors in Miami
Impact French doors carry a higher price point than standard sliding glass doors or single entry doors because they involve two fully framed, hinged, and locked panels. Here are typical installed price ranges for the Miami-Dade and Broward County market:
Standard Aluminum Pair (5–6ft opening)
Premium Aluminum Pair (6–8ft opening)
French Doors + Sidelites
French Doors + Sidelites & Transom
Most expansive configuration
Fiberglass or Wood-Clad Pair
Premium materials
These ranges include the door panels, frame, astragal, hardware, standard installation, and permit fees. Factors that increase cost include decorative glass or internal grilles, internal blinds, premium finishes, oversized panels, non-standard heights, and structural modifications to the rough opening.
When comparing the cost of French doors to impact sliding glass doors, keep in mind that French doors typically cost more for a comparable opening width. However, the aesthetic and functional differences are significant: French doors offer a wider unobstructed opening when both panels are swung wide, an elegant visual character, and a more traditional architectural feel. The choice often comes down to design preference, available clearance space, and budget. For a detailed cost comparison across all impact door types, see our cost guide.
What to Look for When Buying Impact French Doors
French doors require careful product selection and precise installation. Here are the most important factors to evaluate:
Impact French doors are one of the most rewarding upgrades you can make to a South Florida home. They combine the elegance of a classic architectural element with the structural protection your property demands. When paired with impact entry doors, sliding glass doors, and impact windows across all your home's openings, you achieve complete hurricane protection and qualify for the maximum available insurance savings.
Ready to Protect Your Miami Home?
National Glass & Construction has been installing impact-resistant doors and windows across South Florida for over 35 years. Get your free, no-obligation estimate today.