If your home has a great view or garden you want enjoy this to the full. One way is to install Bifold doors. These doors comprise a surround frame with a glass panel. Another name for these doors can be sliding and folding or multi fold doors. The doors are set in line to basically form a wall of doors that slide open to one side or to both sides.
Traditionally, as the name suggests, bi fold doors come in a pair opening to the side. A double pair of sliding doors could be used meeting in the middle. One set would open to one side while the other would open to the opposite side.
Nowadays the number of doors in these systems is not limited to two or four. The systems can also incorporate an odd numbers of doors. An end door in this instance would operate like a traditional swinging door which is quite useful for access in and out without the need to open all of the doors.
Can you imagine the amount of light that will penetrate into the living space with these doors installed? When the bi fold doors are fully opened your living space extends out into the garden or deck area. A major advantage with these doors is the extent of the useable opening when the doors are fully opened. This can be a much as 90% of the overall structural opening. A 100% opening is possible by parking the stacked doors into a recess. This adds cost to the installation therefore the normal accepted opening is 90%. Compare the useable opening to sliding patio doors. The maximum opening in this instance is about 66% due to the sliding and parking arrangement of the doors.
These doors run on a track system both mounted in the floor and overhead. The Bifold door track at the threshold can be flush, fitted with the inner and outer floor level the same. This avoids the need to step over an up stand sill, however careful detailing required to ensure that the whole system is weather tight at this point. The Bifold door hardware used in the running gear is usually made from stainless steel, offering a smooth graceful sliding motion.
You have a choice when it comes to the materials used in the construction of the Bifold door systems, and these are:
- Aluminium
- Wood
- Composite
- PVC
Aluminium
The aluminium framing offers a slim profile allowing maximum glass areas in the door system. The frame incorporates a thermal break, using a material called “polyamide”, which helps in reducing heat loss through the frame sections. Also, with thermal resistance glazing the whole package combines the latest insulation properties.
Aluminium provides a virtually maintenance free service over the life of the doors and looks fantastic. White and black tend to be the standard colours held by the suppliers, however if this is not what you want there is a range boasting 200 colors to choose from.
Wood
Wood being a natural material is very appealing. These wooden doors are very elegant with a choice of colours available to choose from.
These days wooden frames are made from thin strips of wood, usually 3 strips glued together to form the framing. Modern machining allows the insertion of weather stripping systems into the frames making the whole package completely weather tight. Aluminium is the usually the material for the fittings and components allowing these doors to operate.
Composite
If you want the durability of aluminium but also the look and feel of natural wood then there is a composite version available by some manufacturers. This involves using aluminium cladding on the outside over wood frames exposed internally. A number of wood species is possible matching existing decor as required.
The composite arrangement is perfect, offering a contemporary image on the outside with the warm feeling of wood internally.
PVC
Doors made using PVC could be an option but many of the manufacturers have stopped using this material to concentrate on the other materials that offer a more stable product.
These doors can also be used internally and are quite often found in closets. Bifold closet doors offer a great advantage compared to traditional swinging doors as they take up less space to operate. So if space is tight, a Bifold closet door arrangement is the ideal solution.