Bifolds or sliding doors (4500mm opening)
Discussion
We're having an extension built at the moment and we were set on Bifold doors, but then someone mentioned sliding doors instead.
I do like the look of sliding doors as when they are closed they just allow so much more light in. However on the summer days you may have them open, the sliders just don't offer quite the same clear opening.
It's a 4500mm opening from our kitchen/family room onto the garden (nothing special garden wise, standard square).
I don't believe there's much in the pricing and sliding doors do seem to be more 'in' than bifolds at the moment. Thoughts appreciated as we're trying to get on order this week!
Viva Sliding Doors Guide (helpful little video's showing opening sequence, we're looking at 3 pane - Right, centre and left sliding)
I do like the look of sliding doors as when they are closed they just allow so much more light in. However on the summer days you may have them open, the sliders just don't offer quite the same clear opening.
It's a 4500mm opening from our kitchen/family room onto the garden (nothing special garden wise, standard square).
I don't believe there's much in the pricing and sliding doors do seem to be more 'in' than bifolds at the moment. Thoughts appreciated as we're trying to get on order this week!
Viva Sliding Doors Guide (helpful little video's showing opening sequence, we're looking at 3 pane - Right, centre and left sliding)
Edited by morrisk1 on Wednesday 24th August 21:47
We have just had some sliding ones from these guys;
http://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/sliding-doors
6000mm opening
Logic was we are in Manchester where the sun rarely shines, the sliding look better closed than bifolds in my opinion (less frame to look at) and they'll spend more time closed than open!
On the rare days the sun does come out we have a 4 metre opening as they are 3 x 2m panes that stack onto each other.
Great service from those guys too BTW, highly recommended!
http://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/sliding-doors
6000mm opening
Logic was we are in Manchester where the sun rarely shines, the sliding look better closed than bifolds in my opinion (less frame to look at) and they'll spend more time closed than open!
On the rare days the sun does come out we have a 4 metre opening as they are 3 x 2m panes that stack onto each other.
Great service from those guys too BTW, highly recommended!
simong800 said:
We have just had some sliding ones from these guys;
http://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/sliding-doors
6000mm opening
Logic was we are in Manchester where the sun rarely shines, the sliding look better closed than bifolds in my opinion (less frame to look at) and they'll spend more time closed than open!
On the rare days the sun does come out we have a 4 metre opening as they are 3 x 2m panes that stack onto each other.
Great service from those guys too BTW, highly recommended!
Thanks - I have their site open at the moment. We're sorted on supplier as we have a trade contact. I am leaning towards sliding too, mainly for the exact point you've highlighted.http://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/sliding-doors
6000mm opening
Logic was we are in Manchester where the sun rarely shines, the sliding look better closed than bifolds in my opinion (less frame to look at) and they'll spend more time closed than open!
On the rare days the sun does come out we have a 4 metre opening as they are 3 x 2m panes that stack onto each other.
Great service from those guys too BTW, highly recommended!
Avoid Expressbifolds at all costs, horrendous company with appalling installation and awful customer services when you complain. I had to have them back at least three times to correct the installation, each time they used different bodge job techniques. They even initially refused to send me the certificate/declaration of performance claiming they didn't know what one was????
Edited by LeadFarmer on Friday 26th August 13:45
Why not try frameless glass bifold doors?
http://www.fgc.co.uk/frameless-bifolding-doors/
I looked at these but they could not do the height of door I wanted so went with normal bifolds.
http://www.fgc.co.uk/frameless-bifolding-doors/
I looked at these but they could not do the height of door I wanted so went with normal bifolds.
Just to balance things.....
We have a sunroom with two sets of 3.8 bifold doors on to the garden. We considered sliders but wanted the ability to "fully" open up.
Yes, they stack either end, but we went for wide panes (only 4 panes per set) to minimise the vertical lines, so only 4 panels each end, and we do love them!
Ours were http://www.warmcore.co.uk, fitted by a local company. Only minor irritation is the 4 locks are all different keys!
Sounds like you are set on the sliders, so go for it!
We have a sunroom with two sets of 3.8 bifold doors on to the garden. We considered sliders but wanted the ability to "fully" open up.
Yes, they stack either end, but we went for wide panes (only 4 panes per set) to minimise the vertical lines, so only 4 panels each end, and we do love them!
Ours were http://www.warmcore.co.uk, fitted by a local company. Only minor irritation is the 4 locks are all different keys!
Sounds like you are set on the sliders, so go for it!
Ive had both.
When I built my last place I wanted the cleanest look when closed so went sliding
In my latest place, which is a converted barn, I have bi-folds as they look right on the house.
If your house style is not a factor, and nor is having the whole side open, I would get sliders. They are far easier to operate and give marginally better views out. But if you want the whole side of your house to be open to the garden, then bi-folds are the way to go.
When I built my last place I wanted the cleanest look when closed so went sliding
In my latest place, which is a converted barn, I have bi-folds as they look right on the house.
If your house style is not a factor, and nor is having the whole side open, I would get sliders. They are far easier to operate and give marginally better views out. But if you want the whole side of your house to be open to the garden, then bi-folds are the way to go.
simong800 said:
We have just had some sliding ones from these guys;
http://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/sliding-doors
6000mm opening
Logic was we are in Manchester where the sun rarely shines, the sliding look better closed than bifolds in my opinion (less frame to look at) and they'll spend more time closed than open!
On the rare days the sun does come out we have a 4 metre opening as they are 3 x 2m panes that stack onto each other.
Great service from those guys too BTW, highly recommended!
Didn't use the above lot, but we have a 9m wide overall done in four panes sliding, so centre two slide back flush with the outer pair so a 4.5m opening. We likewise agreed that for the 364 days of the year when the sun isn't out, we can enjoy the view warm inside.http://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/sliding-doors
6000mm opening
Logic was we are in Manchester where the sun rarely shines, the sliding look better closed than bifolds in my opinion (less frame to look at) and they'll spend more time closed than open!
On the rare days the sun does come out we have a 4 metre opening as they are 3 x 2m panes that stack onto each other.
Great service from those guys too BTW, highly recommended!
Just curious;
With Bifolds you are effectively able to 'open' a single pane as if it were a door. Given our intermittent summers, this seems like an advantage over a sliding door.
Is this the case or are there any other differences or other conveniences/advantages of sliding over bifold?
With Bifolds you are effectively able to 'open' a single pane as if it were a door. Given our intermittent summers, this seems like an advantage over a sliding door.
Is this the case or are there any other differences or other conveniences/advantages of sliding over bifold?
razor11 said:
Just curious;
With Bifolds you are effectively able to 'open' a single pane as if it were a door. Given our intermittent summers, this seems like an advantage over a sliding door.
Is this the case or are there any other differences or other conveniences/advantages of sliding over bifold?
Yes you can open the end pane only like a conventional door on bi-folds. However, when I had sliders it was no different as you simply slid it as wide as a door and walked out With Bifolds you are effectively able to 'open' a single pane as if it were a door. Given our intermittent summers, this seems like an advantage over a sliding door.
Is this the case or are there any other differences or other conveniences/advantages of sliding over bifold?
The main difference is when they are closed you get more unobstructed views with sliders (less dividing bars) but when they are open you get a bigger open aperture with bi-folds (unless you have clever behind the wall, or inside the wall. sliders.
I love the simplicity and easier operation of sliders but they are not always the right fit for the property.
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