Bi folding doors - site survey or build to agreed measurements

[StripeyGirlInSurrey]

In a quandary!

Most FSD companies say 50-90% of orders are pre-agreed that the builder builds to, as the lead time in most cases is 12 weeks (ali) and most people can't afford the extra time in building schedule to build the opening, site survey, then wait 12 wks.

Our builder is happy to do both, but we are keen to get the inside floor levels flush with the track and the detail-loving technical manager is saying "in an ideal world, we'd build the opening, then survey". I guess this takes the pressure off the builder and onto the FSD company.

Any views welcome, if we order in advance we need to do so next week! Feeling the presure!

It's the day of the folding sliding door - I've just posted on another thread about them. I can't comment on which way is best as we built to fit a set that we bought off-shelf from Express Bifold Doors - it was a mis-specced order and more or less the size we wanted (to about 10cms). But their lead time for bespoke is only 2 weeks and they also have a showroom in Redhill, which I'm guessing is fairly near you, given your user name. Our garden is flush, although we have to step over the lower frame of the door, and didn't seem to cause any complications. Good luck!

Site survey!!!!

We did a site survey and there were still little niggles to get right. Also make very sure it is the door company who do the measuring and not you / your builder.

My builder and architect both had a strong preference to build opening then survey. A friend who supplies doors and used to supply folding sliding doesn't do them any more because there were so many cases where the opening was wrong and it just led to a huge row.

FWIW sometimes the lead times are worst case scenario. We were told 12 weeks initially, but in the end it was nearer 5 or 6, I think. We didn't have to finish everything but the doors - interior floors weren't in for example, although my builder did a mock up of the layers of underfloor heating / tiles so that we could see exactly how high it was above the subfloor that was finished. Ours are flush to outside - no need to step over a track or anything.

Hi, Stripey girl in surrey, As a specialist in this market i can only advise you not to confirm any order until the aperture is formed, most good brands can deliver within three weeks maybe quicker, most mistakes come from people guessing what might be built. pls visit folding door company in chobham for further advice.. hope this helps.