Has anyone regretted bi-fold doors?

[Lovingmylife]

Just that really. We are looking into doing some building work and I think I'd love bi-folding doors. We would be sacrificing a wall that currently has worktop space along it but trying to remodel downstairs.

We've just had two sets of bifolds and some patio doors put across our south facing living space. The central set has an odd number and travel door. We've pretty much had the travel door constantly open all day every day so far. The other set of bifolds doesn't have a travel door as it only accesses the end of the patio, so we either have them closed, half open or fully open depending on how warm it is.
The patio doors are are a complete pain as we don't seem to have a good way of securing them and they just swing around all over the place when open. The bifolds feel much more convenient to use.
After a few months the bifolds weren't sliding as easily, but the fitters came out and adjusted everything and they are really smooth now.

No window dressings on any of them as not overlooked, but if we do eventually get anything we'll go for automated roller blinds so don't anticipate issues with them getting in the way.

@PolaDeVeboise if you have an even number, when you want to open the windows you have to open two - because the first two windows open together in a V (like a concertina) rather than out like a door.

Thanks @Borington, that's really helpful and duly noted!

I have bifolds in my house which were here when I bought it. They have 4 panels, 3 which concertina and one which is door opening as it is my back door. I love them as I can have 1, 2 or all panels open, I also have roman blinds, they do not disrupt the function and are purely there for the winter when a wall of glass looks a bit chilly. I do have a South facing garden so it's nice to have them open fully throughout the summer, but as a pp said keeping them clean is a nightmare with small children.

I love mine. We have the same tiles in and out and it is lovely being able to wander in and out especially with young children. We have all our veg and herb beds just outside so they are really easy to access from the kitchen.

HATE MY BIOfold doors - just dust in all the time constantly cleaning the mess. only have one door open - waste of money

sandalwood

I love ours. Honestly thought they’d be used once or twice a year for parties and only went along with it because dh was so keen.

We have them open almost every day of the summer, and entertain much more too. In winter I love the light, and the view of the garden.

But as a pp said - shop around. The difference in quality is huge. And check reviews of the after care service. With all the moving parts they are more likely than sliders to need maintenance

I love ours so much. When we were deciding, I thought we ought to have French doors with fixed side panels for cost reasons, but DH insisted on bifolds, and I'm delighted he did.

They go across the full width of our terraced house and when they are open it's like one single room with the garden. Just glorious.

Love ours. North facing so doesn't make the room hot. Have them open all the time

We have sliding doors, each panel can be larger and have thinner frames so you get more light overall, though obviously the whole thing can’t open up in the same way. I like the “lighter” look much more.

hate mine - such a lot of dust comes in which you do not realise until you look at the floors and blinds. much prefer french doors

does anyone find that gp's are stretching out appointments and the time it takes for a referral. 2 weeks for a telephone appointment and then another 2 weeks for an appointment to see a gp face to face before you can get an x ray and then another 2 weeks to see the results and a referral for a knee replacement when in the past you have had 3 cortosone injections and a athroscopy 5 years ago. i need a new knee and all i want is an x ray and a referral. in order it will take 6 or 7 weeks to get to the referral stage and then how long. in the meantime in serious pain and at danger of a fall as the knee feels unstable

Love ours, we have a South facing garden, no blinds or anything it's fine. When they are fully open they change the house, they are amazing.