At Cheltenham Glass and Glazing we are often approached by customers that want to replace their patio doors and more often than not the request is made for bi-fold doors to be installed in their place.
But we want to challenge the trend. This article looks at the rise in popularity of the double glazed bi-fold door, presents their pitfalls and offers our opinion on an alternative glazing solution.
Bi-fold doors have been used in various forms for many years as a way of opening up spaces in homes. In the 1970s they were often used in pantries and hallways, laundry rooms and bathrooms where there wasn’t room to use a traditional door.
The last decade has seen a huge rise in the popularity of double glazed bi-fold doors as homeowners have opened up their homes to join seamlessly with outside spaces, usually at the rear of their property.
A recent survey in the UK discovered that almost 60% of homeowners who replace their patio doors choose bi-fold doors rather than sliding patio doors.
Bifold doors have become a highly desirable feature in homes across the UK. As window installers in Cheltenham and the surrounding Gloucestershire area we have seen a huge rise in the number of bi-fold door installations in recent years. Some of the reasons that they have become so popular are that they:
As with most products, there are a number of disadvantages to bi-fold doors that we think customers in Cheltenham and the wider Gloucestershire area should be aware of before deciding to install them in their homes.
A major factor when any home improvements are being planned is the budget. Bi-fold doors are notoriously expensive and cost considerably more than sliding or patio doors, especially when an entire wall area is being glazed.
When bi-fold doors are open (or folded) they need a lot of space in which to stack the panels. The doors can fold inside or outside, but people often underestimate the amount of space required.
As with all double glazing there is an element of maintenance required to ensure that your bi-fold doors continue to operate smoothly. Bi-fold doors have lots of moving parts which will need regular maintenance. Frame material can also affect how well the doors operate overtime as they may suffer the effects of weathering, especially if the bi-fold doors fold outside.
Bi-fold panels are very heavy which will limit how large the panels can be. There needs to be sufficient frame to support the weight of each panel when the doors are open. Therefore, there will be more frame visible which can obstruct views and will restrict light entering the room. Aluminium frames can be more slender than uPVC but they are even more expensive.
Bi-fold doors are installed flush to ground level as part of their aesthetic appeal. If there are any issues with drainage, excess water could become an issue, either directly through flooding or where strong winds blow standing water into the home.
The number of frames in a bi-fold door can lead to heat loss from a home as frames are not as insulating as the glazed panels. This can lead to increased energy bills.
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Over recent years, sliding patio doors have suffered a significant decline in popularity and are often seen as the poor relation of their bi-fold cousins.
But here at Cheltenham Glass and Glazing we want to champion the humble sliding door and suggest that they might be a better solution for many of our customers.
Remember that list of pitfalls of bi-fold doors. Let’s look at it again, this time from the perspective of the humble sliding patio door…you might just be surprised!
Sliding doors are significantly cheaper than bi-fold doors. They still operated on a track like a bi-fold but don’t have all the expensive folding hinge mechanisms. This means that they have a much simpler construction.
You’ll still get the same high-quality materials and workmanship but at a fraction of the cost. If your budget is tight (or if you just don’t like to spend more than you need to) then sliding patio doors will help to bring your project in at a much better price.
Because they don’t need room to accommodate folded panels, sliding patio doors are especially good in spaces where a wide opening is wanted but where space is restricted. The panels slide behind each other so don’t encroach into your room or outside area.
Due to their simpler construction, sliding doors have fewer moving parts that will require maintenance. The track will of course need to be kept clean to ensure that the doors can slide freely but that is the same for any track-based system. Simply put, sliding doors are easier to use than bi-fold doors and are simpler to look after.
Another win here! Sliding doors can have less frame than bi-fold doors. Because the panels are always supported on their track, they can be wider than folding doors. This means that there is less frame overall and more glass to enjoy the view of your garden or outside space.
If the track of your sliding door is set at ground level, then there will be the same risk of flooding as with bi-fold doors. However, sliding doors are traditionally set within a slightly raised frame, or just above ground level above a property’s damp proof course. Therefore, there is little or no risk of flooding.
Sliding doors score another point here. Because there is less frame and more glazing the thermal efficiency of sliding doors is superior to that of bi-fold doors. Sliding doors have less gaps than bi-fold designs because they don’t need multiple folding panels. This means there will be less heat loss and better insulation for your home overall.
In addition to these considerations, modern sliding doors also bring all the other benefits that are attributed to bi-fold doors. They connect indoor and outdoor spaces and even allow more natural light into homes because they have less frames.
We would also argue that sliding doors are just as versatile as bi-folds, with a wide range of choice when it comes to configuration and frame colour etc.
So, there you have it, we’ve presented the pros and cons of bi-fold doors and looked at sliding doors from the same points.
Bi-fold doors are certainly stylish and do make a big difference to many home renovation projects, but they aren’t the only answer.
Sliding patio doors are a superb alternative to bi-fold doors. Opting for a sliding door will still achieve that sleek and modern look that you want for your home.
Sliding doors can offer all the benefits of bi-fold doors at a fraction of the cost. They also have the added advantage of allowing more natural light into your home, having better sightlines through larger panes of glass and are better for your home energy costs.
We would urge anyone who is thinking of installing new patio doors at their home not to rule out sliding doors. They’re a great alternative which we highly recommend!
Contact Cheltenham Glass and Glazing on 01242 238887 or make an online enquiry here – your next home improvement could just be a call away.
Providing fast, friendly advice and fitting, based on over 10 years experience in the glass fitting industry, our staff take pride in delivering the best possible service to all our customers. So, if you are looking for the best aluminium and UPVC windows & doors Cheltenham has to offer, contact Cheltenham Glass and Glazing today.
01242 238 887
Brookwell, Shurdington Road Cheltenham, GL51 4UA