French & Double Doors

French & Double Doors in Fountainebleau, FL | Winslow Windows & Doors

French doors bring something to a home that sliding glass simply can’t: a true, wide-open connection between inside and out. In Fountainebleau, where afternoons slide into breezy evenings and outdoor living is part of the deal, paired impact-rated French doors are one of the most requested openings we install. Winslow Windows & Doors has been fitting these doors across Fountainebleau and surrounding Miami-Dade neighborhoods for years, and every installation follows the same discipline: level, plumb, square, sealed, and built to hold up when a storm rolls through. Call (727) 620-6983 to talk through your project or schedule a free on-site measurement.

Call (727) 620-6983

Product Overview - French & Double Doors

French and double doors are paired door panels that swing open from the center, hinged at each side of the rough opening. The version we supply and install in Fountainebleau is the impact-rated profile: two doors with laminated glass in every lite, engineered for Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. What you get is the classic look of symmetrical sightlines, the practical function of wide-open access to a patio or terrace, and the structural integrity of multi-point locking hardware at the top, bottom, and center of the active panel.

In hurricane-prone construction, the engineering underneath the look matters more than the look itself. These doors are built on aluminum or vinyl frames, depending on the configuration and exposure. The frames carry reinforced meeting stiles, heavy-duty hinges rated for the panel weight, and interlocking astragals that seal the two panels against each other when closed. The laminated glass in each lite is the real workhorse: a PVB interlayer inside every pane holds the glass in the frame under impact, which keeps wind, water, and flying debris on the outside where they belong.

Architecturally, French doors fit Florida homes naturally. We see them on ranch-style houses in Fountainebleau’s older sections, on Mediterranean-inspired builds with stucco exteriors, and on newer coastal-modern properties where clean lines and large glass openings are the central design idea. The profile works equally well as a front entry feature or as a rear opening onto a lanai or pool deck.

Technical Specifications

• Frame materials: Aluminum or vinyl, selected by exposure and configuration
• Maximum size: Up to 96 inches wide across the paired opening
• Glass options: Laminated impact glass with PVB interlayer, Low-E insulated glass, tinted glass, clear glass
• Finish options: White, almond, bronze, black, tan
• Hardware: Multi-point locking system on the active panel, flush bolts on the secondary panel
• Sill options: Standard raised sill or flush sill configurations, matched to the application

Every door we quote is configured to the specific opening, exposure, and wind zone of the home it’s going into. We don’t sell a one-size-fits-all unit and hope it works. The specs above are the starting point we work from when we sit down with a Fountainebleau homeowner.

Hurricane & Compliance Performance

Laminated Impact Glass
Each lite in these doors carries a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer sandwiched inside the glass. When something hits the glass under storm conditions, the glass may crack but it stays adhered to the interlayer, keeping the opening sealed against wind and water entry. That’s the fundamental protection a Fountainebleau home needs during hurricane season.

Miami-Dade NOA / Florida Product Approval
The door configurations we sell carry Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) and Florida Product Approval numbers, issued per configuration. These are not blanket certifications applied to a whole catalog. Each size, glass package, and frame combination holds its own approval documentation, which we verify on your specific quote before anything is ordered.

FBC / HVHZ Compliance
The doors are engineered to Florida Building Code (FBC) High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements. That matters in Fountainebleau because Miami-Dade County enforces HVHZ standards more strictly than anywhere else in the state. The engineering work is already done; the approval paperwork just needs to match your specific opening.

TAS 201 / TAS 202 / TAS 203 Testing Context
HVHZ-rated products are tested under a specific protocol family. TAS 201 covers large-missile impact testing, meaning the door is struck with a projectile and must hold. TAS 202 covers cyclic wind-pressure loading, which simulates the repeated buffeting of a hurricane. TAS 203 covers forced-entry resistance. These three tests together are what separate a real impact door from a decorative one.

Design Pressure Matched to Your Wind Zone
We match design pressures to your wind zone, up to +/-100, never higher. What that means in plain terms: the door is rated for the actual wind load your home’s location requires, not under-rated and not over-engineered to pad a number. We look at the property, confirm the wind zone, and specify accordingly.

Energy Performance Options
Low-E and insulated glass options are available for homeowners who want the impact protection plus better thermal performance. In Fountainebleau, where air conditioning runs most months of the year, a Low-E insulated package on a west-facing door can make a meaningful difference in heat gain through the glass, without changing the look of the door.

Color & Glass Options

The finish choices we offer are white, almond, bronze, black, and tan. Each has a place in Fountainebleau’s housing stock. White and almond read classic on older Florida ranch homes and stucco exteriors. Bronze works well on Mediterranean-style homes with terracotta roofs and warm exterior palettes. Black has become the go-to for modern farmhouse and coastal-contemporary builds. Tan splits the difference and tends to disappear against sandy exterior tones.

On the glass side, you’re choosing between four options. Clear laminated impact glass gives you the truest view and is what most homeowners picture when they think of French doors. Tinted glass cuts glare and adds a degree of privacy, useful when the doors face a street or a close neighbor. Low-E insulated glass adds thermal performance and is the choice when the opening gets heavy afternoon sun. We walk every Fountainebleau homeowner through the trade-offs during the estimate, because the right glass depends on which way the door faces and how the room behind it gets used.

Installation by Winslow Windows & Doors in Fountainebleau

An impact-rated French door is only as good as the hole it’s put into. That’s not an exaggeration. A Miami-Dade NOA approval covers the product; the installation determines whether the system actually performs. We’ve corrected too many botched installs in Fountainebleau where the door itself was fine but the rough opening wasn’t flashed properly or the frame wasn’t set level and square. The result is a door that binds, leaks, or simply doesn’t lock when it matters.

Our installation process begins with a pre-install inspection of the rough opening, the surrounding wall condition, and the existing flashing. We set the frame level, plumb, and square. We use AAMA 812 low-expansion foam perimeter sealant around the frame, then apply the finish trim and sealants according to AAMA 2400 and 2410 installation practice. After the doors are hung and adjusted, we run a water test on the sill and side jambs, then walk the finished opening with you before we clean up and leave the site.

Permitting is part of the conversation in Fountainebleau. Miami-Dade County’s HVHZ jurisdiction means product approval submittals are standard for door replacement permits. We know what the building department here wants to see, and we’ll have the documentation ready for your permit package. Coastal exposure and wind zone dictate the design pressure on your unit, so we confirm those details before you commit to a configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions - French & Double Doors

What wind zone or design pressure is the French & Double Doors rated for?
The door is matched to your wind zone with design pressures up to +/-100, never higher. We confirm your specific property’s wind zone during the estimate and order the configuration that satisfies what Fountainebleau and Miami-Dade County require for your location. Call (727) 620-6983 and we’ll look up your address while you’re on the phone.

What is the lead time on a French and double door order?
Lead time depends on the configuration, glass package, and finish color you select. Standard configurations in popular finishes move faster; custom sizing or non-stock glass can extend the wait. We give you a production timeline in writing when we quote the job, and we don’t schedule installation until the doors physically arrive at our shop. Call (727) 620-6983 for current lead times on the configuration you’re considering.

Does my permit require a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval submittal?
Yes, in virtually every Fountainebleau door replacement that involves a structural opening, the building department will want the NOA or Florida Product Approval documentation for the specific configuration you’re installing. We provide that documentation with your quote and include it in your permit package. Call (727) 620-6983 if you want to know exactly what your project will require.

Can I customize the size or configuration of a French and double door?
Up to a point, yes. The maximum width for the paired opening is 96 inches, and within that limit there’s flexibility on panel proportions, active-side placement, and hardware finish. What can’t change are the engineered combinations of glass, frame, and size that carry the NOA approval. We’ll show you what’s available in your size range and wind zone. Call (727) 620-6983 to go over your opening dimensions.

How do I maintain the frame and the hardware?
Wash the frame with mild soap and water, nothing abrasive. Keep the track and sill clear of sand and debris, which in Fountainebleau means a quick clean after any windy stretch. Lubricate hinges and the multi-point locking points twice a year. If a lite ever cracks, don’t ignore it; the laminated glass is doing structural work even when cracked, but a cracked panel needs to be addressed before the next storm season starts. Call (727) 620-6983 if you notice anything that feels off.

Get a Quote - French & Double Doors in Fountainebleau

If you’re ready to replace an existing opening or add French doors to a new build in Fountainebleau, start with a free on-site measurement. We’ll walk the opening, check the exposure, and give you a written line-item quote with the exact configuration, approval documentation, and installation scope. Call (727) 620-6983 to schedule your estimate.

Written by the team at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Fountainebleau and Miami-Dade County with hurricane-impact windows and doors.