Are you renovating your home? Do you want to have a seamless link between your outdoors and indoors? A bifold door will help you achieve this. With the variety of bifold doors for sale, how will you know which one to choose? Worry not; this article will guide you appropriately.
Consider the following factors:
- Safety
No one wants to lose sleep over safety. This is a top priority for your household. With bifold doors, you need not worry. There are many security systems you can use for your bifold door. Some of these systems are child-proof locks, drop bolts, and deadbolts. It’s also best to incorporate locking cylinders in your locks. These cylinders prevent break-ins by lock picking or drilling.
As you consider security, you also need to look at how your glazing has been installed. Your provider should install them in a manner that makes it difficult to pull out to prevent burglary and break-ins. The brand of your locks matters as well. It’s advisable to buy high-quality brands and purchase from vendors you can trust, such as Ali-Fold Ltd in Bexleyheath.
On security, it’s also good to note that there are safety standards your locking system should have. Your vendor or provider should assist you in identifying this. A lock that has meets minimal safety standards provides enough security in your home.
- Design
There are many bifold door designs to choose from, depending on various factors.
First, it depends on what supports the door’s weight. Here, the choice is either a top-hung or a bottom-rolling bifold door. A top-hung door’s weight is supported from the top door frame, whereas a bottom-rolling door is supported at the bottom of the door. The top-hung works well if your lintel or beams are strong enough to hold the door weight, in addition to supporting your building. However, if the lintel isn’t strong enough, the bottom-rolling should be your go-to.
The other aspect is based on weather-proofing, and the choice is between a weathered or non-weathered threshold. A weathered door threshold has a small lip that you step over as you walk in or out, with a weather-tight seal that prevents water from the outside, especially rain, from getting indoors. On the other hand, a non-weathered threshold has no lip, and if there is one, it is very small. It is not weather-tight.
Select a weathered threshold if it’s an external door and the non-weathered one for internal doors. However, you can still install a non-weathered bifold door if your external area has a shade and isn’t directly exposed to harsh weather.
- Space
Regarding width, if your door space is limited, you need to select a door with fewer folds. However, with a wider door space, you have the luxury of selecting many folds, including those of complex designs. Your door space height also determines the height of your bifold doors. There are options for floor-to-ceiling door heights.
The space in the room you’re installing the bifold doors also determines your bifold door type. If the space is large, you can opt for doors that fold inward. Where space is limited, get bi-fold doors that open outward to leave as much room indoors as possible, enabling free movement and avoiding accidents.
- Door Frame
Most of a bifold door’s surface area is glass, so you need to factor in the type of frame to choose. Bifold door frames can be made from various materials, such as aluminium and UPVC.
An aluminium door frame is strong, requires less framing size, and requires little maintenance. Its strength depends on the quality of aluminium used; it’s better to use premium grade with the highest purity percentage. With a pure grade, the frame’s quality isn’t compromised.
The aluminium frame should be your preferred choice if you’re looking for more glass and less framing and if you want to achieve an elegant modern look in your space.
UPVC has the same performance characteristics as aluminium frames. The differentiating factor is that you need wider frames for UPVC. They are usually cheaper than aluminium frames too. UPVC framing should also be your choice if your home is old-styled; it blends with this theme perfectly.
A wooden bifold door frame is also an option. This frame is ideal if you want to achieve a natural or rustic look. With wood, you need to be careful about choosing the type. Engineered wood should be your go-to choice compared to natural wood. Engineered wood is much stronger, has minimal deteriorating factors like warping, and lasts longer. However, it’s good to note that a lot of maintenance is required with a wooden frame. You have to regularly varnish, stain, and paint to increase its durability and restore its aesthetic features.
- Insulating Properties
You also need to consider insulation when choosing bifold doors, since you don’t want them to contribute to heat loss or gain in your home. Here, the main aspect to consider is the insulation property of your door’s frame and glazing. You can get this information by looking at the u-value of your material. U-value refers to the thermal transmittance of the item.
Different frame materials have varying insulating properties. Wood, a warm material, offers the best thermal insulation, while UPVC, made of plastic, leads to less heat gain or loss. On the other hand, aluminium has fewer insulation properties because it’s a conductive material. You can still achieve insulation with aluminium if you thermal break the frames. Thermal breaking involves inserting material between the aluminium frames to break the contact of the two metallic frames, preventing heat loss or gain.
You can increase your door’s insulation properties by double or triple glazing its glass component. Therefore, the insulation property of your bifold door is the u-value of your door frames and glazing combined. The lower the u-value, the more insulation your door offers, leading to a more energy-efficient home.
It’s essential to know your u-value since some states have set minimum standards for the u-value of any given door. Your door choice should conform to the minimum standards; otherwise, you might be forced to redo works should there be an inspection.
Conclusion
As seen, there are many factors to consider as you choose the right bifold doors for your home. To ensure you settle on the best one for your needs, consider all the factors together; no aspect is superior to the other if you want an efficiently functioning door. By doing this, you won’t regret your decision several years down the line.
