Bifold Doors

Looking to let more natural light into your home? If you’ve got a beautiful yard and want to admire the view from your kitchen, sunroom, or indoor pool, bi-fold patio doors are a fantastic pick. They’re also excellent for upscale commercial properties.

Bifold doors feature a space-saving design that perfectly suits modern architecture. If you’ve never seen a bi-fold door before, think of it as a glass wall that you can open as you please. Installing a bifold door is a wonderful way to keep warmth in your home while keeping intruders out.

Purchasing bi-fold doors is a smart investment for your property. Not only do bifold doors improve your living space, but they can also boost the value of your home.

Below, learn about the perks of external and internal bifold doors in the UK, options for materials, and how the installation process works. You will also learn about bi-fold doors compared to other types of doors, plus some maintenance tips for your new doors.

Benefits of Bifold Doors

Why consider bi-fold doors for your home? These gorgeous doors offer many perks over the standard variety. Here’s why you’ll adore your new bi-fold doors for internal or external use:

Space Optimisation

Bi-fold doors are a fabulous choice if you live in a home that’s on the smaller side. They offer a space-saving design that can make your home feel larger than it really is. Compared to traditional hinged doors that swing outwards or French doors that have two door panels instead of one, bi-fold doors simply fold away and take up less space.

Indoor-Outdoor Living

How would you like to gaze out at your garden while sipping your morning coffee on the patio? Bifold doors fold open to allow you to view nature from the comfort of your home. With bi-fold doors, you can let the fresh air in since they have a wider door opening than hinged patio doors.

Natural Light

Bifold doors allow ample natural light to enter your home, thanks to the fold-away design. If your home feels too dark and dreary for your liking, installing bi-fold doors is a wonderful way to brighten things up. Compared to smaller doors that aren’t as convenient to open, these doors can even slash your energy bills. With all that natural light during daytime hours, there’s no need to flick on a lamp to find your way around your home.

Versatility

Bifold doors are far more flexible than standard hinged doors. You can open them to any width within the frame. They offer more configuration possibilities than sliding doors or hinged doors, so you can choose to open them partially to let in the breeze while still maintaining privacy.

Customisability

Bifold doors are available in a nearly endless array of styles and colours. Do you like the classic look of cedar, walnut, or mahogany? Or perhaps you’d like to go bold with brightly painted red, yellow, or blue bifold doors. Whichever style you fancy, you can have it with bifold doors.

Energy Efficiency Features

If you’re concerned that bi-fold doors will increase your energy bills, there’s no need to worry. Bifold doors feature double-paned glass, which is known for its impressive energy efficiency.

Double Glazing

Unlike single-paned glass, double-pane bi-fold doors feature two layers of glass with an air buffer in between. This gap is commonly filled with an inert gas, such as argon, xenon, or krypton, which boosts the glass’s resistance to energy transfer. Argon is the most common gas used in double-pane panels, while krypton is preferred for triple-pane panels as it performs best between very tight gaps. Xenon features very good insulating properties but isn’t commonly used for residential applications.

Glass energy efficiency is measured in R-values. Single-pane glass has an R-value of 0.9. Two-pane glass filled with one-half inch of air has an R-value of 2.084. Double-paned glass coated with a low-E (low emissivity) insulating film and filled with argon boasts an R-value of 3.846.

Thermal Breaks

Bi-fold doors also feature insulated thermal breaks, which serve as a continuous barrier between the inside and outside of your home. Thermal breaks keep your home warm in the winter and pleasantly cool during the summer.

Moisture Resistance

Additionally, double-pane glass includes a desiccant to ward off moisture, which keeps your glass fog-free. This is the very same desiccant you might find in a package of food or a pair of new shoes.

Reduced Energy Bills

If you’re used to living with traditional single-pane glass, which can be very draughty, double-pane bi-fold doors will be a serious upgrade for your home. You could potentially slash your energy bills by 20% or even more.

Materials for Bifold Doors

Bifold patio doors are available in a wide variety of materials. While you may be tempted by aluminium doors that boast better durability, you might be surprised to learn that natural wood doors offer many of the same benefits. Can’t decide? Learn about the perks of each material below:

Pine Bifold Doors

Pine is an excellent choice if you’re on a budget. This wood features a light-brown, almost yellowish hue with a natural wood grain that adds visual interest to the door. Engineered pine can last for decades with good maintenance and restaining.

Wood vs. Aluminium Bifold Patio Doors

Aluminium may be more lightweight than wood, but it is less energy efficient and doesn’t offer the rustic, attractive appearance of natural wood for bifold doors in the UK. In the long term, wood is often a better investment.

Wood vs. uPVC Bifold Patio Doors

uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) is another alternative to painted timber. However, this material is less durable than wood, so we recommend avoiding it for your bi-fold doors. Natural wood offers better durability.

Wooden windows have long been valued for their excellent sound and thermal insulation, are characterised by exclusiveness and tightness and also help to create a comfortable micro-climate at home. The benefits of quality wooden bi-fold doors are worth it for many homeowners.

Styles and Configurations

Want to customise your bifold doors for interior or exterior placement? Please check our online calculator. If you do not know what type of bi-fold doors will be best for your environment, our qualified specialists will be more than happy to assist you when making the right decision.

Number of Panels

If you have a smaller home, you may opt for two-panel bifold doors or small bi-fold doors with three panels. Larger homes can accommodate bi-fold doors with six panels or even more. These multi-panel designs are more suitable for bi-fold doors for external use, but depending on your available space, they may work for interior bifold doors as well. Bifold doors cost more with more panels incorporated.

Design Options

You’re also not limited to installing bi fold doors along a straight wall. You can install corner bi-fold doors in the corners of your home for a truly unique look.

You can choose either inward- or outward-opening bifold doors. Most people choose outward-facing doors so that the panels don’t take up extra space inside their homes. This also helps to ensure that the doors don’t drip water inside your home after it rains.

You can select one panel to serve as a master door. This panel operates independently of others, allowing you to go in and out without needing to open all of the panels at once.

A few configuration options for external bifold doors include:

2-2-0, which you must open using a single handle on the inside of the door.

4-1-3 with a master door that allows access from both sides.

4-2-2 with a pair of bifolds on one pane. This configuration does not allow external access.

6-3-3, which is set up as two three-panes with both internal and external handles.

Bifold doors offer a chance to let your creativity go wild and your personality shine. You can choose textured glass for an interesting look or frosted glass for more privacy, and your options for paint colours and stains are nearly endless.

Installation Process

Installing bi-fold doors is nothing like installing a traditional door, and professional installation is the best option.

Professional Installation

You’ll need a perfectly level floor, a header with enough strength to support assembly, and a sufficiently plumb wall.

Your door contractors will install a sill pan to ward off moisture buildup, as well as liquid flashing. Liquid flashing usually cures within a few hours but can take longer if it’s cold outside, as it often is in our climate.

Next, the installers will check the opening with a dry line. If the opening is off by even a fraction of an inch, your doors won’t close correctly.

Now comes the frame assembly, which should not be taken apart as the direction and sequence are unique to your specific doors. After installing the frame, installers must apply sealant behind it. Failing to do so could void your warranty.

At long last, it’s time to hang the doors. It’s best to have several people help with this step.

Bifold Door Installation Timeframe

Needless to say, bi-fold door installation is a process best left to professionals, even if you’re a DIY type. The process is quite complicated, and a single mistake means your doors may not fit or open properly. Plus, if you damage something during installation, the warranty probably won’t cover it. That means you could potentially lose thousands of dollars, which will certainly set your project back big time.

Professionals can also install bi-fold door systems much more quickly than the average homeowner. Installation can take a few days for two- or three-panel doors, and a bit longer for doors with more panels or complex setups. WoodBee has its own FENSA-registered professionals, so you can rest assured.

Security Features

You may think that bi-fold patio doors are less secure than other types of doors, such as solid wood doors, but this isn’t so. You can add a multi-point locking system consisting of a long strip that bolts into the side of the door. This system locks at multiple points along the frame, hence the name.

Multi-Point Locking System

Most break-ins occur when burglars try to pry the door from its frame at the lock area. Multi-point locking systems defeat such attempts by protecting the door’s weak points. These are located at the top, centre, and bottom of the door.

High-Quality Hardware

Bi-fold doors are also made with robust hardware, such as ultra-tough steel, that can stand up to even the most determined break-in attempts. If a burglar tries to attack your deadbolt or pry the door off its frame, they won’t have much luck.

You can also outfit your doors with shatter-resistant glass. Depending on the thickness, this glass can completely prevent intrusion or delay it long enough for you to contact the police or ward off the intruder.

Bifold Doors vs. Other Door Types

Bi-fold doors are a fantastic pick for many homeowners, but are they right for you? Here’s how they stack up against other types of doors:

Bifold Doors vs. French Doors

French doors swing outward, which means you must step back to open them. These doors are easy to install, especially if you already have hinged doors leading to your patio, but they take up more space than bi-fold doors.

Since the bifold doors fold onto themselves instead of opening outward, they have lower exterior clearance than French doors. If you have a small patio or just want a door that doesn’t take up too much space while open, bi-fold doors are a good option.

In short, if you want to fully enjoy nature’s splendour, bi-fold doors are the best choice. They also provide ultra-tough security and impressive energy savings. Plus, you can customise your bi-fold doors with many different configurations, colours, and styles.

Bifold Doors vs. Sliding Doors

Sliding doors are a similar option as they feature two or more panes of glass and a unique design that is different from traditional hinged doors. The main difference is that sliding doors don’t provide a full opening, as one door must slide back against the other, which means one pane always stays visible.

With a bi-fold patio door, on the other hand, you can fold the door onto itself, leaving the entire door frame open to the outdoors.

Maintenance Tips

For maintenance, keep the following in mind:

Only use gentle cleaners to remove fingerprints and stains from your door’s glass. Do not use a razor blade or other sharp object to remove debris, as doing so can permanently scratch the glass.

Use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe away dust and debris. Clean exterior clad surfaces with mild soap and warm water.

To clean seals and tracks, use a vacuum cleaner hose attachment. Keeping tracks clean ensures that your doors close properly.

Periodically use a silicone spray to keep tracks lubricated. Lubrication allows your doors to open smoothly.

People who live near the sea should periodically wipe down all surfaces with fresh water to get rid of saltwater deposits that have built up on the doors.

Bifold Doors Offer Timeless Charm for Your Home

Bifold doors are a wonderful choice for UK homeowners. Just imagine taking in the beauty of the British countryside or your manicured garden without ever having to leave your living room. These doors allow plenty of natural light into your home, which can lift your mood and help you feel refreshed.

Bifold doors also offer security that’s second to none, thanks to multi-point locking systems and nearly impenetrable hardware. If you live in the city and are concerned about burglars, you have nothing to worry about with super-tough bi-fold doors shielding your home.

Got sky-high energy bills? Bifold patio doors feature double-pane glass and insulation, which helps keep your heating and cooling costs to a minimum. Your home will stay perfectly cool in the summer and toasty warm during winter.

Bi-fold doors give you the opportunity to show off your unique style. Whether you prefer classic stately wood or sleek and modern metal, bi-fold doors are a perfect fit for any home.

If you’re sold on the perks of bi-fold doors and would like to add them to your home. For an instant quote for “bi-fold doors near me,” check our online calculator, or reach out to WoodBeeLtd for a free quote on your project today.

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