Bifold doors are heavy hitters in modern home design, but they can also come with a heavy price tag. So, are bifold doors worth the hype? Snorkels on, we’re going on a deep dive! 

Bifolds – What’s great about them?

Bifold doors offer indoor to outdoor living in a way that sliding and french doors simply can’t match. Bifold doors can open fully, even around corners if engineered correctly, leaving entire aspects of a room open. The panes stack back onto each other neatly, leaving your garden or patio free to enjoy, completely unobstructed. 

This feature, during warmer months, can completely transform the way you use your living space. In the winter you have the natural light and garden views, but in the summer, bifold doors come into their own, giving you an instant extension. If you have a patio or deck, bifolds are perfect for that seamless alfresco dining experience, instantly extending your kitchen or living room into the outdoors.

Bifold doors also have plenty of options when it comes to making them your own. They come in three standard colours – black, anthracite grey and white, but you can choose any RAL colour if you want something a little different. There are also plenty of options when it comes to the calibration of your bifold doors – you can have them fold inside or outside your property – great if space is an issue – and you can have them open from one side or open from the middle. Just ask your installer about the options available to you. 

Are Bifold doors energy efficient?

Yes! Because of government legislation on new buildings and extensions, bifold doors have to be energy efficient. Even in recent years, the required u-Value (This is the rate of transfer of heat through a structure – think energy efficiency rating – and the lower it is the better it is) has decreased from 1.8 W/m2K to 1.4 W/m2K on all extensions and renovation projects. Because of this, all bifold doors from reputable companies will be energy efficient and include a thermal breaking system to stop the cold weather from getting in and the warmth of your home from getting out.

Any drawbacks?

Bifold doors are an investment, and they need to be installed by someone who knows what they are doing! Everything needs to fit absolutely perfectly, and if one door pane goes wrong, the whole thing can stop functioning as it should. 

The measuring-up process alone can be complex and in-depth, and there are limitations to be aware of. For example, in order to fold back on itself properly (leaving your door space completely clear) you must have an odd number of panes. You can have bifolds with an even number of panes, but you will always have one pane fixed into place that cannot fold back. There are size limitations, too. Panes tend to have a maximum width of 1.2 metres and maximum height of 2.5 metres.

Want bifold doors for your home?

If you are based in the Norfolk or Suffolk area, contact us for a no-obligation quote or to chat about your options. Visit our bifold doors page to try our instant cost calculator, too!