Bi-folding doors - Any Recommendations?
Discussion
mdw said:
Has anyone fitted Schuco bifolds and got any opinions of their system. http://www.schueco.com/web/uk/architekten/fenster_...
I fitted a Schuco system, we have nothing but trouble. The system may be ok but The fitters where useless. Its been almost 3 years and they still have not finished the job.Very interesting reading, I'm currently toying with the idea of installing bifolds in my bungalow. My issues is its in a quiet area (retired people) but I've made it open plan and modern so its failing to attract the right buyers atm. I'm taking it off the market until next year (not worried about selling) and was thinking about taking out a large window (2.3 metres by 2m)and replacing with bifold to open onto new decking.
It's more modern again, but I think it will be really nice as I have to live there for a while, but depends on costs. Anyway, I'm rambling but I've emailed Solarfold for now and will try a few others, cost is key as I've already spent a little too much for a good return.
Again depends on price but I can fit myself, just would have the hassle of BR to sort though.
It's more modern again, but I think it will be really nice as I have to live there for a while, but depends on costs. Anyway, I'm rambling but I've emailed Solarfold for now and will try a few others, cost is key as I've already spent a little too much for a good return.
Again depends on price but I can fit myself, just would have the hassle of BR to sort though.
+1 for Solarfold, they have just been to mine for a second time on the next phase of my renovation and their work is great. If you part pay a deposit on a credit card e.g. £10 then the whole transaction is covered by Section 75 insurance for peace of mind.
Whoever you use, make sure you can do this. Firms can go bust and pop up in new premises a month later. Do proper due diligence, look at how long the company has been in business and who the directors are i.e. not an employee "fitter" who's been put up as a stooge and also then posts fake endorsements on websites and Facebook. How keen are they on getting the deposit transferred by Bank Transfer. Even being offered a tour of the factory is no real comfort either as the stock and tooling can be owned by defensive Ltd companies to prevent recovery of assets.
Whoever you use, make sure you can do this. Firms can go bust and pop up in new premises a month later. Do proper due diligence, look at how long the company has been in business and who the directors are i.e. not an employee "fitter" who's been put up as a stooge and also then posts fake endorsements on websites and Facebook. How keen are they on getting the deposit transferred by Bank Transfer. Even being offered a tour of the factory is no real comfort either as the stock and tooling can be owned by defensive Ltd companies to prevent recovery of assets.
ON Our extension (creating a large Kitchen, dinning room, family room 55m2)we currently have a 6.3 metres hole to fill with doors of some description. We were fixed on the idea of bi-folds until we visited the Ideal Homes exhibition and changed our minds after looking at the Express systems and have now gone for the patio doors. (at first I thought old school but they are making a big come back and have moved on a lot) The system we are going for are a 4 door system of which one is fixed and the other 3 slide behind the fixed panel.
Our areas of thought were around
1) Bifolds have an easy access door like a traditional door sliding patio's don't
2) We chose aluminium because the uPVC was way too chunky, creating far too much frame blocking the view.
3) We chose the Patio system because its less frame on show when closed (which will be 90% of the time in the UK due to our weather.
4) We chose a floor fit with a step or a sill. People don'r realise how much of a trip hazzard they are. your builder can sink them to floor level. we have a minute lip of 5-10mm and an ACU drain on the exterior.
5) Our existing windows are all uPVC redwood effect exterior white interior. However the aluminium can can powdered coated brown and white but it doesn't llok right in our opinion and we have chosen a very dark Grey.Black. It looks much more neutral .
6) Patios are have much less framework on show than Bi-folds.
Our areas of thought were around
1) Bifolds have an easy access door like a traditional door sliding patio's don't
2) We chose aluminium because the uPVC was way too chunky, creating far too much frame blocking the view.
3) We chose the Patio system because its less frame on show when closed (which will be 90% of the time in the UK due to our weather.
4) We chose a floor fit with a step or a sill. People don'r realise how much of a trip hazzard they are. your builder can sink them to floor level. we have a minute lip of 5-10mm and an ACU drain on the exterior.
5) Our existing windows are all uPVC redwood effect exterior white interior. However the aluminium can can powdered coated brown and white but it doesn't llok right in our opinion and we have chosen a very dark Grey.Black. It looks much more neutral .
6) Patios are have much less framework on show than Bi-folds.
I'll mention them again because 3.5 years later we're still really happy with Origin sliding folding doors. We're sitting out on the decking now, virtually no step between our kitchen floor and the decking, they can do 1M wide or more per panel, we paid around £1K/metre +VAT and they've been worth every penny.
Turbo5 said:
ON Our extension (creating a large Kitchen, dinning room, family room 55m2)we currently have a 6.3 metres hole to fill with doors of some description. We were fixed on the idea of bi-folds until we visited the Ideal Homes exhibition and changed our minds after looking at the Express systems and have now gone for the patio doors. (at first I thought old school but they are making a big come back and have moved on a lot) The system we are going for are a 4 door system of which one is fixed and the other 3 slide behind the fixed panel.
Our areas of thought were around
1) Bifolds have an easy access door like a traditional door sliding patio's don't
2) We chose aluminium because the uPVC was way too chunky, creating far too much frame blocking the view.
3) We chose the Patio system because its less frame on show when closed (which will be 90% of the time in the UK due to our weather.
4) We chose a floor fit with a step or a sill. People don'r realise how much of a trip hazzard they are. your builder can sink them to floor level. we have a minute lip of 5-10mm and an ACU drain on the exterior.
5) Our existing windows are all uPVC redwood effect exterior white interior. However the aluminium can can powdered coated brown and white but it doesn't llok right in our opinion and we have chosen a very dark Grey.Black. It looks much more neutral .
6) Patios are have much less framework on show than Bi-folds.
You went to the express showroom and this was your conclusion?Our areas of thought were around
1) Bifolds have an easy access door like a traditional door sliding patio's don't
2) We chose aluminium because the uPVC was way too chunky, creating far too much frame blocking the view.
3) We chose the Patio system because its less frame on show when closed (which will be 90% of the time in the UK due to our weather.
4) We chose a floor fit with a step or a sill. People don'r realise how much of a trip hazzard they are. your builder can sink them to floor level. we have a minute lip of 5-10mm and an ACU drain on the exterior.
5) Our existing windows are all uPVC redwood effect exterior white interior. However the aluminium can can powdered coated brown and white but it doesn't llok right in our opinion and we have chosen a very dark Grey.Black. It looks much more neutral .
6) Patios are have much less framework on show than Bi-folds.
We have a four panel bifold from them and no single access door - their premium bifold door has very little alu on view when closed and your point 6 is the same as point 3!
In fairness point 2 is pretty similar to 3 and 6, too. I don't really understand point 4 but I don't see how the situation would or could be any different with a sliding patio system or a folding sliding system. The same for point 5. Point 1 doesn't need to apply if you don't want it to.
Still, horses for courses and all that. I hope Turbo5 is happy with their chosen set up and their happiness is all that matters I suppose.
Still, horses for courses and all that. I hope Turbo5 is happy with their chosen set up and their happiness is all that matters I suppose.
Thanks for the replies, I have been following this post with interest and also spoken to people with sliding doors and also people with Bi-folds, We visited a few manufacturers and searched the internet. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, it's just down to personal choice and whatever suits your needs best.
For us, (the wife) we have changed our minds from the initial idea of bi-folds to the sliding doors. for the reasons I gave above.
For us, (the wife) we have changed our minds from the initial idea of bi-folds to the sliding doors. for the reasons I gave above.
scenario8 said:
In fairness point 2 is pretty similar to 3 and 6, too. I don't really understand point 4 but I don't see how the situation would or could be any different with a sliding patio system or a folding sliding system. The same for point 5. Point 1 doesn't need to apply if you don't want it to.
Still, horses for courses and all that. I hope Turbo5 is happy with their chosen set up and their happiness is all that matters I suppose.
Yeah I don't get that at all - a 10mm lip is still a lip to trip on the lip for a trip. Our doors have no lip at all, the floor runs out flush from interior tile to exterior decking, the track for the windows is sunk entirely.Still, horses for courses and all that. I hope Turbo5 is happy with their chosen set up and their happiness is all that matters I suppose.
We have just paid this for 3 bi-folding doors:
3 panel £3,631
5 Panel £4,873
3 panel £3,631
Total - £12,135
Aluminium built. included in these prices is £1,500 we are paying to have them painted in 2 colours, painswick grey on external and white on the internal sides of the bifolds.
This was from a company called - KentBlaxill
3 panel £3,631
5 Panel £4,873
3 panel £3,631
Total - £12,135
Aluminium built. included in these prices is £1,500 we are paying to have them painted in 2 colours, painswick grey on external and white on the internal sides of the bifolds.
This was from a company called - KentBlaxill
Ive just ordered a 3 leaf set of bifold from Expressbifolds, costing approx £3,700. I visited their showroom in Leeds which was impressive. To be honest, I view all companies in this line of work as potential sharks, but I chose Express based on recommendation. There are horror stories for all of the different suppliers. Im expecting to be getting them fitted in December. Only time will tell.
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