Convenience and security – why install a bi-fold door?
What makes internal or external bi-fold doors so unique is the way they open and close: internal or external bi-fold doors consist of multiple leaves (each consisting of an oak or spruce casement and a glazed panel) which fold together like a concertina. This offers a number of benefits over normal slide doors:
- They can cover a wider area.
- You can open the door only partially or completely.
- Feel safe with increased burglary protection.
This makes them a safe option for porches, gardens and balconies.
The most convenient thing about external or internal bifold doors is that you can open them either completely – to move large objects through, for example – or you can only open a couple of segments if all you want to do is let in some fresh air.
Folding leaves glide along their guide rails effortlessly, making folding patio doors much easier to operate than you'd think based on their sheer size. And the best thing is that the oak leaves require much less space when they're opened. Where a large tilting door may require lots of space around the leaves to swing open, bifolding door leaves fit neatly together when opened.
Bifold doors differ from normal slide door sets in terms of insulation. Since bifold doors consist of multiple individual oak segments with glazed inserts, the frame makes up a larger surface area compared to doors consisting of only one sliding leaf. Since modern clear glass inserts insulate even better than solid wood (spruce, oak, etc.), this means the overall thermal efficiency of bifold doors tends to be slightly minimised compared to other types of sliding exterior or internal doors made from the same material.
So if you'd like to install a bifold door in your home, make sure you maximise its insulation values by choosing top-grade wood (spruce, oak, etc.) or multi-chamber uPVC profiles. You can also improve the thermal efficiency of your oak bifold doors by using three-pane glass panels or insulated spacers. Keep in mind that bifold doors (especially with large sizes) need to be adjusted properly so the seals between the frame and the leaves seal tightly.
Only ever rely on high-quality seals, as no amount of re-adjusting will prevent bad seals from leaking warmth to the outside. At windows24.com, we take special care to only use highly advanced seals to manufacture our bifold doors. We also provide you with clear instructions on how to adjust and re-adjust the leaves without outside help.