Detroit French Patio Doors

Popular Local Trends & Styles

• Cape Cod Style

  Nearly 25 percent of homes in the Detroit area were built in the suburban boom of the 1950s where Cape Cod style was the craze. French patio doors stick to this simple, modest architectural style where there was little decorative detail. White French doors with square grille patterns match the look of a quintessential Cape Cod home.

• French Doors With Screens

  Patio screen doors are a popular addition to sliding glass doors. They’re also available on French patio doors that swing inward. Available as sliding screens or screen doors that swing out, French door screens¹ let you open up your home to the outdoors while helping to protect against insects. High-transparency screens are made with fine fabric so they don’t take away from the elegant look of your French patio doors.

• Modern Doors

  Modern is a trend in both new houses and renovations of historic homes. Modern French patio doors mix a traditional material, wood, with contemporary style. Frames are slimmer, sightlines are cleaner and hardware is angular and minimalist. When surrounded by windows, modern style French doors can create a wall of glass that floods your home with sunlight.

• Outswing French Doors

  French patio doors provide design flexibility. You can choose to have one or two doors open and have them swing inward or outward. In Detroit, the preference leans toward French patio doors that operate on an outswing. They open up more space for decor and traffic inside your home. With the addition of between-the-glass blinds, double outswing French doors provide a clear, wide opening to your patio.

¹Warning: Use caution when children or pets are around open windows and doors. Screens are not designed to retain children or pets.

Product Lines

• Architect Series® - Traditional
• Architect Series® - Contemporary
• Pella® Reserve™ - Traditional
• Pella® Reserve™ - Contemporary
• Pella® Lifestyles Series

Recommended Customizations¹

In an area heavy on Cape Cod-style homes, grilles can unify the look between your French patio doors and windows. They’re also a great fit for Colonial, Victorian and other traditional styles found in Detroit. For a more modern look, go without grilles and opt for minimalist French door hardware instead of curved, decorative shapes. Find more customizations here.

¹Not all customizations are available in all Pella product lines.

Detroit Climate Recommendations

With Lake Michigan due west, Lake Huron to the north and Lake Erie directly southeast, Detroit’s climate is heavily influenced by the Great Lakes. In winter, temps regularly fall below freezing and moderate snowfall develops off the lakes. Come spring and summer, that lake effect brings thunderstorms to the Detroit area. With the variable weather patterns, protecting your French patio doors is important.

Why Choose Pella?

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Frequently Asked Questions

•   What factory-prefinished stain and paint colors are available on Pella products?

  • Wood Windows and Patio Doors – Wood interiors offer more design flexibility — windows and patio doors can be stained or painted to match your decor.  Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's wood products.

    As part of Pella Corporation’s commitment to environmentally-friendly practices, we use Water-Based Green Chemistry. Our factory-applied stain is water-based, which significantly decreases the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted into the air.

    Fiberglass Windows and Patio Doors – Available in colors offering the quality look of painted wood — including a dual-color option. Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's fiberglass products.

    Vinyl Windows and Patio Doors – Pella's unique vinyl formula is performance-tested for excellent weathering, durability, and color retention. Solid- and Dual-Color frames are available. Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's vinyl products.

    Fiberglass and Steel Entry Doors – You'll save time and finishing costs when your entry door arrives prefinished in your choice of paint or stain color that will look beautiful for years. Explore interior and exterior finish options for Pella's fiberglass and steel entry doors.

•   What general maintenance is required for my Pella windows and patio doors?

  • Pella recommends you inspect your windows and patio doors at least annually as part of a home checkup. Maintenance can prolong the life of your Pella windows and doors and will help ensure maximum warranty coverage.
    
    As needed, clean, repaint or restain your windows and patio doors, and recaulk around them to help maintain optimal performance. Also, be sure to regularly check for leaks and improper drainage above or around vents and sprinkler systems that may subject your windows and patio doors to prolonged water exposure.
    
    Review the Maintenance section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about how to properly maintain the interior and exterior of your Pella windows and patio doors.

•   How do I choose the right paint or stain for my wood windows and doors?

  • Stained Wood Interior Finish – Pella strongly recommends the use of a good-quality pre-stain wood conditioner before staining Pella windows and patio doors to reduce the possibility of a blotchy-looking, uneven finish. Ask your paint or finishing professional to recommend a pre-stain wood conditioner, a stain and a finishing coat that are compatible.
    
    Painted Wood Interior Finish – The most important consideration to make when choosing your paint is good blocking resistance — the ability of a paint to resist sticking. Failure to use a high-quality paint with good blocking resistance may result in a window or door that sticks shut, even after the paint has dried. Ask your qualified paint professional to recommend a paint with good blocking resistance. Don't simply rely on a paint's price or brand name in making your selection. Expensive paint may not necessarily offer good blocking resistance. Also, ask your paint professional to recommend a wood primer and paint that are compatible and whether sanding is required between coats of paint.

    Explore the factory pre-finish options available for Pella's wood products.

•   Which Pella doors are available with SmartKey® Technology?

  • SmartKey Technology is available, and comes standard, on Pella's fiberglass and steel entry doors.  Architect Series® sliding, French and hinged patio doors with hardware from the Rustic, Classic or Modern Collection will have SmartKey Technology.

    Learn more about Pella's hardware collections and how to use SmartKey Technology.

•   Where can I get paint or stain to match the interior and exterior of my Pella products?

  • Paints and stains for Pella products are available in quarts and gallons via special order through Lowe's stores or your local Pella Window and Door Showroom. You will need to provide the color of the paint or stain that you need to place an order.

    Or you may take the color or stain desired along with the substrate you are trying to match to your local Sherwin-Williams® or home improvement store and have them custom match the color.

    If you don't have a Pella paint chip or just need a small bottle of touch up paint or stain for dings and scratches, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877) 473-5527 for further assistance.

    Be sure to consult with your local paint or finish store representative or professional to help address your specific finishing needs and review the Finishing section of your Pella Owner's Manual for details about how to properly finish your Pella products.

•   How do I clean my Pella windows and patio doors? What can I use to clean them?

  • Clean the interior and exterior frame surfaces with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Stubborn stains and deposits may be removed with mineral spirits. Or Pine-Sol® can be applied with a clean, dry cloth or towel. Do not use abrasives. Do not scrape or use tools that might damage the surface. Should you need it, touch-up paint is available at the Pella Window and Door Showroom nearest you.

    Clean the window sill using the brush attachment on a vacuum and vacuum off any debris.

    It is normal for water to accumulate in the sill and track. On products with weep holes, the water is intended to drain to the outside via the drainage or "weep" holes.

    • To clean the weep (drainage) system, check to make sure that the weep holes are clear of obstruction (dirt, sand, or building materials).
    • To clean the weep holes, use a small, soft brush to clear the opening. Weep holes may be located both inside and outside the window in the bottom of the frame. If the window is "stacked," there may be weep holes between the units.

    WARNINGS:

    • Do not use abrasive or caustic solvents as they may damage your windows or patio doors.
    • Do not scrape or use tools that might damage the surface. 
    • Do not power-wash.

    Review the Cleaning section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about how to properly clean your Pella windows and patio doors.

•   How do I clean and restore shine to the handles and hardware on my windows and doors?

  • A soft cloth and mild cleaner may be used on most Pella hardware finishes. 

    Living finish Oil-Rubbed Bronze hardware will develop its own unique patina with use, care and handling. Simply wipe the hardware with a soft cloth so as not to damage the finish. The changing of color on the hardware is not a warranty issue.

    The solid brass hardware used on some previous vintages of Pella wood hinged (French) patio doors has a clear protective coating to prevent tarnishing. Download instructions to care for solid brass hardware.

    For additional information about how to properly care for your Pella windows and doors, refer to the Cleaning section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual.  

    For further assistance, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877)-473-5527.

•   How do I lock and unlock my French patio door with a Multipoint Locking System?

  • Turn the thumbturn lock inside or use the key outside to unlock the door.  To open the door, grasp the handle and push down, then operate the door.

    To engage the multipoint lock, close the door and lift up the handle. To lock the door so that it requires a key to unlock it from the outside, either turn the keylock on the exterior or turn the thumbturn lock on the inside with the handle raised. Test the door to make sure it is locked.

    Watch how to lock and unlock your French patio door with Multipoint Locking System.

•   How do I lock and unlock my French patio door with a Flushbolt Locking System?

  • If your French patio door has two panels, and one panel has a nonoperable handle, the main panel locks and unlocks like the Multipoint Locking System:

    • Turn the thumbturn lock inside or use the key outside to unlock the door.  To open the door, grasp the handle and push down, then operate the door.
    • To engage the multipoint lock, close the door and lift up the handle. 
    • To lock the door so that it requires a key to unlock it from the outside, either turn the keylock on the exterior or turn the thumbturn lock on the inside with the handle raised. Test the door to make sure it is locked.

    The stationary panel locks and unlocks with flushbolts at the top and bottom of the panel. To disengage these flushbolts, find the black levers located on the strike plate and push the levers in, then up or down. There are small icons on the strike plate to denote the locked or unlocked position.