Bifold doors are now forming part of virtually all newly built home extensions. They allow for a seamless merge between the new living space and the garden, due to their ability to open up large unobstructed openings.
Since there has been an increased demand for bi-fold doors in Sydney during the recent past, the number and types of such door systems have also grown substantially. As a result, the situation poses a challenging decision-making moment when a consumer wants to purchase these doors.
Folding sliding doors are now widely available in a wide variety of finishes and materials. The three most popular are the hardwood, uPVC, and thermally broken aluminium.
The decision of making the best choice for your bifold door is very critical. You shouldn’t base it solely on cost (check bifold doors price guide). Naturally, your budget will influence your buying decision.
Although, there are other factors that you will need to take seriously when purchasing these doors. Such factors include:
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Thermal Performance.
All bifold door installations are expected to comply with building regulations. Hence, it is critical to ensure that the door you are about to purchase meets your local authority standards of current building regulations.
Such calculations will be based on the profile design and dimensions together with the specification of the double glazing so as to determine the overall U-value performance.
It is also critical to consider the security of the door. In general folding doors are characterized by high-security locking system feature. Although, there is still some bifold doors that use flag and face fixed hinges.
Such door systems can pose a possible security threat by allowing the hinges to be easily removed from outside even when the door is closed. Only go for the doors that have fully concealed hinge and gearing systems.
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Glass Sight Lines.
The glass sightlines is also an important consideration when purchasing the bifold door. These re the sight width or line of the door profiles between each panel of the bifold door. Such lines will affect the visible glass area that is available when you have closed the door.
In most cases, these doors are designed with some dedicated profiles to reduce these sightlines. The case is different for most uPVC and timber bifold doors since most of them use chunky, wide profiles that exhibit broad lines that can ultimately spoil your view.
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Bottom Rolling or Top Hung.
The bottom rolling bifold doors are not only the popular alternative but also cost effective. The effectiveness comes from the fact that most of the door weight is carried at the ground level.
The top hung folding door weights are suspended from the lintel. Hence, there might be a need for upgrading the lintel such that to offer the required stability and strength.
Flush thresholds are the popularly used option more so when it comes to internal bifold doors installations. Although, they might at times fail to be practical in other instances and hence call for the use of a conventionally raised threshold.
Their heights can vary considerably where some uPVC bifold door thresholds are exceeding 125mm. Those high “step over” threshold can pose as an accessibility issue for children and older people. Look for thresholds that are as low as 50mm.
Whether you have decided to purchase hardwood, uPVC, or aluminium bifold door, you should strongly consider the above factors. With them, you will be assured of security and the best value for your money!