Bi-fold Doors, Patio Doors or French Doors?
Which option is best for me and my home?
When looking at the different types of doors that are available for a renovation project, it is a big decision to make as it will affect how you use the space in your home and garden.
Bi-fold, French and Patio doors undoubtedly offer a better view of the garden when compared to windows, so these are often the most popular choice. After deciding on having new doors installed, the next step is to choose which type of doors you want.
The three options are:
Bi-folding doors – These doors feature multiple leaves that concertina back to fully open up the aperture.
Patio doors – Patio doors tend to be made up of two or more large panes of glass, one of which slides behind the other.
French doors – Traditional patio doors that are often found in older properties; these usually comprise of two doors which both open out into your garden or outside space.
View – All three door options offer an enhanced view when compared to windows, but bi-fold and patio doors will provide a wider view than French doors as they usually just comprise of two doors.
Bi-folding doors and patio doors can replace an entire wall of your home with glass, creating an unprecedented view of your garden. There are pros and cons to both folding and sliding doors when it comes to the view. Folding doors are made up of a number of different door leafs and although these frames are narrow (especially those manufactured from aluminium), they can break the view up when the doors are not folded back. They do, however, offer the huge advantage of opening up the whole side or back of your house when they are fully open and folded back for the best possible view. In contrast, patio doors provide an interrupted view even when fully open because one door slides behind the other when open, meaning you can never fully open up your home to your garden.
Aesthetics and Property Types – French doors tend to be best suited to older properties as there is a greater variation in frames and glass styles available, meaning they can be adapted to work with traditional features such as sash windows. The doors can include lead or Georgian design or can be fitted with plain glass for a more modern look.
Although often associated with modern properties, bi-fold doors are becoming increasingly popular in being fitted in traditional properties or on extensions to period properties. Folding doors have sleek, slim sight lines and have the unique advantage of allowing the home to be completely opened up so there is no barrier between the inside and the out of your home, effectively creating a ‘third’ living space, so will complement either modern or traditional homes. The main aesthetic downside with patio doors is that they can’t open out completely so the space between the inside and outside of your home will always be partially restricted.
Configuration French doors are a configuration of two doors and can be hung to open outwards or inwards, so you can choose an option to suit your preference. They can be installed into bay windows and can also be fitted with adjacent windows or fixed panes. Bi-fold doors offer the most flexibility in terms of available configurations; they can have a different number of door leaves and can be designed to all open in one direction, to open in the middle or in multiple other configurations to suit your preference. Although the doors do take up some space when they are folded back, they can be designed to fold back inside or outside the home, depending on the space you have available. Bi-fold doors can be installed in bays and corner areas, which means they can be made to fit most home layouts and requirements. Patio doors also offer different configuration options, as one door can slide behind the other or you can have two doors which open in the centre and slide out over fixed panes.
Threshold – There is a big difference between the frames of each of these doors but it’s in the details where the differences really reveal themselves. French patio doors tend not to be flush to the ground, as they are really just a regular door but with two leafs instead of one. The frame therefore creates a step which could present a tripping hazard and can break up the feeling of bringing the outdoors indoors by creating a barrier. Sliding doors also have a similar issue as they are not usually available on flush tracks and instead, the frame creates a lip on the floor and again, this can break up the sensation of an uninterrupted space. Bi-fold doors are the only choice that offer a level threshold option which means the floor levels inside and outside the home are equal and the track is nearly flush to the floor. The key advantage of this is that it removes any trip hazards and creates a seamless transition between the outdoors and indoors which is further enhanced by ensuring the flooring on both sides of the doors is similar.
At WINDOW WISE Our wide range of beautiful doors allows you to choose a product that meets your own unique requirements, providing you with security, style, and elegance… there really is something to suit every home.