Folding Sliding Doors
The tremendous growth in demand for sliding folding doors over the last two to three years has led to a rapid increase in the choice of door systems available to the consumer. Also known as bi-folding doors, bi-folding doors, multi-folding doors and accordion doors, they are better known as folding sliding doors due to the opening action itself. This type of door can provide unobstructed openings up to 6 meters and sometimes more, as the panels simply fold, slide and stack neatly on one or both sides of the opening.
Sliding bi-fold doors are an ideal replacement for existing sliding or French patio doors where they can literally transform the existing opening and open the room to the outdoors. This type of bi-folding door is becoming the most sought after door style for new construction and home additions, while also proving to be a popular upgrade option for homeowners adding a conservatory to their property due to his ability to seamlessly merge the new conservatory with the garden effectively. bringing the outside inside.
Although the original concept of a folding sliding door dates back over 100 years, when they were often used to enclose small storage areas, today’s folding sliding doors are designed to be high performance, energy efficient patio doors. utilizing the latest innovative insulation features in both the door and glazing. building.
Not only do the sliding bi-fold doors allow for wider, unobstructed openings, but the increased glass area allows large streams of natural light to enter the home from the outside, which during the colder months will provide efficient use of energy gain. solar to minimize heating costs. Doors are available in a variety of materials including wood, aluminum and PVC-u along with a variety of colors and finishes that will enhance any home.
WOOD
You can choose from a number of engineered wood bi-fold sliding doors, including soft or hard woods such as Meranti and European oak. Wood is typically engineered or laminated to ensure it is structurally resistant to warping or twisting and doors are typically available with a factory applied translucent tint or RAL colored paint finish.
As wood is a natural insulator, wooden folding sliding doors offer the most energy efficient solution when combined with high performance double glazing offering U-values as low as 1.4.
Wood bi-fold doors generally provide slim sight lines, as the individual door panels are typically hinged to each other without the use of additional mullions between each panel, and thus maximize visible glass areas.
Wood is a sustainable natural material that is very energy efficient, but will require regular maintenance over the life of the door to maintain its stained or painted finish.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum folding sliding doors are typically made from strong and durable thermally broken aluminum profiles that have been specifically designed for this purpose. These systems have been used for several years in both domestic and commercial installations such as restaurants and hotels.
Most systems use bottom rolling gears so all the weight is carried at the bottom with guide rollers at the top and the panels are often connected to sliding and floating struts which help ensure the door operates smoothly. hassle and effortless.
Aluminum is a popular choice for this type of bi-fold door as it is virtually maintenance free, strong and looks good. Aluminum folding sliding doors are available in over 200 different RAL paint finishes which can usually be specified in your choice of matt, silk or gloss finish. It is also possible to specify dual colors with a different color internally and externally.
UPVC
Also known as plastic or PVC-u folding sliding doors, this type of door is relatively new to the market compared to aluminum or wood. Due to its comparatively low cost, uPVC door manufacturers have been quick to adapt their existing uPVC door profiles to create bi-folding doors in response to a growing market that required a more affordable bi-folding door system. uPVC bi-fold sliding doors can be substantially cheaper than their aluminum or wood counterparts, but there is often a trade-off in design elements that can sometimes compromise product quality.
Adapting wide and bulky uPVC steel reinforced profiles that were originally designed for traditional hinged exterior doors meant that sight lines to the glass were greatly reduced and the doors used ugly faced fixed hinges and exposed gears which also sometimes represented a safety hazard.
However, some manufacturers have begun to introduce the next generation of uPVC bi-fold doors using thinner profiles and hidden gears that compare favorably to wood and aluminum. Heavy steel profile reinforcement is starting to be replaced by lighter but stronger recycled composite material that is also much more energy efficient.