About FrenchDoors.com
An independent resource helping Orange County homeowners research door options, understand costs, and connect with experienced contractors.
Why we built this
If you've ever tried researching a door installation project in Orange County, you know the problem. You fill out one form on a comparison site, and within minutes your phone is ringing — contractors you've never heard of, all competing for the same job. Those sites sell your contact information to four, five, sometimes more installers at once. Your project becomes a bidding war you never asked for, and the "research" phase turns into a sales gauntlet.
Most homeowners just want to understand what's involved before they talk to anyone. How much should this cost? Do I need a permit in my city? What will my HOA approve? What's actually different between a French door and a sliding patio system? The answers to those questions shouldn't require giving away your phone number first.
FrenchDoors.com is our answer to that problem. We're a small team that saw the gap and built something different: a genuine editorial resource where you can do real research — compare door types, understand real OC cost ranges, navigate local permit and HOA requirements — before you ever talk to a contractor. When you're ready to move forward, we match you with one experienced installer, not a list to sort through.
What we do
Three things, and only three:
Editorial research
Honest, jargon-free guides covering every major door type — French, patio, sliding, bi-fold, multi-slide — along with material comparisons, energy efficiency, and what to realistically expect during installation. Our goal is to make you a more informed buyer before you ever call anyone.
Local OC expertise
We cover 30+ Orange County cities, each with their own permit office, HOA landscape, and neighborhood character. If you live in Newport Beach, Irvine, Mission Viejo, or anywhere else in OC, we have city-specific information about what to expect — costs, timelines, local requirements.
Experienced contractor connection
When you're ready to get a quote, we connect you with one contractor we've independently reviewed — not a list of five. Your project details go to a single licensed, insured installer focused on earning your business, not competing in a bidding war.
How we make money
We believe transparency about this matters, so here it is plainly:
Contractor referral fees. Contractors in our network pay us a referral fee when we connect them with a homeowner's project. We only work with one contractor per project — so if you submit a quote request, exactly one contractor receives your information, and they pay us for that exclusive introduction. We never sell your lead to multiple contractors.
Affiliate commissions. Some pages on this site contain links to products — doors, hardware, locks, and related items — sold on Amazon, Home Depot, and directly through manufacturers like Pella, Andersen, Milgard, JELD-WEN, and Marvin. When you click one of those links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate relationships never influence our editorial recommendations. We recommend products because they're genuinely good choices for OC homeowners — not because of commission rates. You can read our full affiliate disclosure for details on which programs we participate in.
Our standards for contractors
Every contractor we feature has been independently checked before they're ever connected with a homeowner. At a minimum, that means:
- Active California contractor's license, verified through the CSLB license lookup
- General liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage
- Bonded and in good standing — no unresolved disciplinary actions
- California-based with demonstrated experience in Orange County
- A track record of completed residential door installations
We review this information before onboarding any contractor and periodically re-verify active status. We also collect homeowner feedback after completed projects and take it seriously.
Important disclaimer: We review contractor credentials thoroughly, but we do not employ, supervise, direct, or guarantee the work of any contractor listed on this site. All work is performed independently by the contractor, and all contracts are between the homeowner and that contractor directly. FrenchDoors.com is not a party to any installation agreement. See our Terms of Service for the full contractor disclaimer.
Get in touch
Have a question, a correction to flag, a partnership inquiry, or feedback about your experience? We read every message. Head over to our contact page and we'll get back to you within one business day.
If you're a homeowner looking for a contractor quote, that's handled separately — use the Get a Free Quote form to start that process.