Bi-folding doors - Any Recommendations?

[V8RX7]

JJM said:

I am currently looking at options for my extension for a 6m set of sliding doors.

Does anyone have any experience of Grabex? I'm looking at their Raynaers range of doors.

Thanks,

JJM

I have 8m Raynaers - they have been fine (apart from condensation which they all seem to suffer from) they aren't hard to fit so I don't suppose the supplier makes much difference.

The only reason I didn't fit myself was the risk / cost of breaking a pane of glass.

[Bebop Beru]

Appreciate this is bumping an ancient thread but wondering how some of these ones are still doing a few years later.

Looking myself now and have had a quote from expressbifolds and it seems rather….steep.

[Diderot]

Bebop Beru said:

Appreciate this is bumping an ancient thread but wondering how some of these ones are still doing a few years later.

Looking myself now and have had a quote from expressbifolds and it seems rather….steep.

Not sure where our builder sourced ours from, but we have 3 x 3.5 metre doors and a 4 metre run of bifold in aluminium on our kitchen extension. 3 years in and no issues whatever. IIRC the doors were about £3k fitted each inc VAT.

[scenario8]

scenario8 said:

We went with Express and had them installed as part of a wider, but quite un-PH renovation project. They were very efficient in the early and survey stages, I can't really comment on the day of the installation as I was absent but my builder whose opinion I trust said they were quick, efficient, professional and clean. They contacted me after the event to make sure I was happy. Building regs certificate came through in January. All good.

The only "problem" I have is that I've opened them twice since they were installed so I can't give much of an opinion on living with them on a day to day basis. They seemed well engineered but let's be honest I can't really tell much yet. They look nice and keep the wind and the rain out is about all I can say since the install really.

They were dearer than some providers, less than others, but a combination of many factors including their relatively local showroom meant I was happy to choose them and I don't yet regret it.

Best of luck with what you choose to do.

All these years in (9 years. Where does it go?) and our doors (used several times a day as our wfh office is a garden office at the end of the, er, garden, accessed through our bifolds) seem to work without issue. Zero maintenance in all this time. That reflects well on the doors but terribly on me!

https://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/

Others have less respect for the brand but from memory this is as much to do with installation teams as the product.

Best of luck.

[Ranger 6]

We’ve sold the house and just finishing renovations on another.

The bi-folds were as good as new when we moved, however when we looked at doors for our new kitchen it would appear the company has gone. I don’t know if the German supplier is still in the market.

Gone for sliding doors though this time due to a well established wisteria.

[-Pete-]

It’s now over 12 years since we had our Origin sliding folding doors fitted, and they’re used every day and are still as good as new. Two 3 panel 3m doors cost £6K+VAT installed at the time, we’ve never had any problems with them, they’re beautifully engineered.

[Wozy68]

Bebop Beru said:

Appreciate this is bumping an ancient thread but wondering how some of these ones are still doing a few years later.

Looking myself now and have had a quote from expressbifolds and it seems rather….steep.

Autumn 2022 I had 1 x 4metre wide x 2.5m three pane sliders and 1 x 3.4 x 2.5m three pane sliders installed by express bifolds.
Initially quoted £16.8. I played the waiting game and it ended up at £13.5K.
They have a fantastic showroom up in Leeds and the install team that fitted mine were great. The product seems good too.
Origin quoted £30K including installation (The cost of installation was £3.5K which was utterly laughable) . I had a good look at them at my nearest showroom and I honestly couldn’t work out why they were near double the price of anyone else’s.

[Minsky]

Agree that the showroom for Express BiFolds is great. The prices aren't as competitive for us (maybe a geography thing). You also have to be careful as some stuff is in house and the better quality stuff is Schüco.

We are currently looking at a 6 mtr sliding door, 1.2 glass door (single bifold really), steel front door and a load of triple glazed windows.

Thus far ID Systems seem the best balance of quality and cost. The bifold they fitted to my gym annex (3mtrs and around £6.5K) is superb. Kloeber are coming in around 30% more expensive (they use wood and aluminium in the profile)

I found this a helpful guide website:

https://www.aluminiumtradesupply.co.uk/10441/best-...

For me the critical bits are U Values (without the cheating), longevity (I need marine paint) and quality of profile/handles. running gear. Exposed gaskets are not great.

Currently I am plumping for ID Systems (they have a superb example of what they can achieve in Salthouse and Clay) but if anyone is reading this that supplies good quality triple glazed windows and can fit in Norfolk then I am open to getting other quotes before we push the button in a few weeks time.