Bi-Fold Doors and Sash Windows

[kmini]

Hi

We are currently undertaking an extension and are planning to put in bi-fold doors. Its a standard south west London victorian and we are happy with bi-fold doors over french doors for light reasons.

We need install two sash windows (planner's requirement). These willl be at the rear and will get very little visibility apart from us & our rear neighbours. I am assuming it is our choice which material we use, though I am double checking this with the planners.

What I would love to know from the knowledgable mumsnetters is:

• What is a reasonable price per window - aluminium/upvc/timber.
• The bifolds are aluminium, therefore what do you think if mix & matching materials. eg aluminium bi-folds and timber windows or aluminium bi-folds and upvc windows. I normally a matchymatchy girl, so I think it would grate on me.
• We colour did you choose for your bi-folds - sandy brown brick to be matched to. Any thoughts?

Any help apprecaited

Marking place.

How big a bifold? I've just popped in softwood bifolds, 2.4m in our extension (in our 1930's semi). They were no more expensive than the uPVC ones and they look amazing. The uPVC ones were a bit mank in my opinion, I don't like the rounded edges. Sadly the budget did not stretch to wooden windows in the rest of the extension, but they do look nice and matchymatchy with the bog standard uPVC windows. I think the aluminium bifolds look lovely in dark grey. If you put in wooden sashes, you could have them painted to match. Not sure if aluminium ones come in white, or even if it would look any good? I haven't seen uPVC sashes that look nice, but maybe you have?

Our timber sash windows cost circa 1,500 GBP each in hardwood, fully painted and installed. A bay counts as 3 windows though! We had quotes that were much more than this though-- 2,500 per window from one company.

I spent a long time looking into sash windows, here are my views.

Aluminum = a few on market - didn't look nice in real life, seemed to be around 15% cheaper than timber, but I didn't look in detail.

Timber = looks the best - beautiful (until you've had 2 winters) you'll need to strip back and paint every couple of years. 1.5-2k per window typically.

UPVC = Quickslide - cheapest I could find, but look ok - you can price these online but circa 500 pounds window, Rehau Heritage/Rosewood similar to Quickslide in terms of quality in my view around 15-20% more expensive, Bygone by masterframe - the nicest UPVC sash windows had them installed last year - they do staff beads as an option, which make them appear more like timber on the inside. Double the price of Quickslide from our quotes but worth it in my view for build quality and look. They also pass most planners in conservation areas - they hype this on their website alot!

Colour - I'd always go for white wood grain/foil in UPVC. However Quickslide did have a really nice farrow and ball french grey on display at the Grand designs show last year.

I'm also recently started looking at Bi Fold doors. There are sooo many. What I know so far is that UPVC are sh*t! Wood wont last and will buckle so aluminum is generally the best way to go. I'll watch this thread for advice though, as I haven't made a decision yet on these ;)

Yes, basically wood is a temporary option! I think someone suggested we'd get ten years out of them. Which is fine for us, as we'll have moved or won't mind replacing them by then. They were only £1400 after all.

Wood isn't temporary if you look after them. Many Victorian houses have original sash windows that are over 100 years old now...

I expect they were made a little better than my very cheap bifolds though! And in hardwood. I get infuriated with beautiful original windows near me that haven't been looked after, when my house has rancid uPVC windows, badly fitted and significantly failed now. How I wish I still had the original windows (although of course they'd be freezing).

Hi mog can I ask who manufactured the softwood bifolds at £1400? Need something similar for my house. About to install upvc wood grain sashes and need timber doors too at my house but going to have a look at the quick slide website.... Anyone else recommend any other firm? What I have noticed with upvc is that you need to order the Infills in white or they look obviously not wood.

Our timber sash windows are over a 140yrs old with no rot. We are getting them replaced though because due to bad overpainting (nearly all stuck and all cords are painted) and us wanting double glazing (too heavy for current lead weights and so need larger boxes) we found it cheaper to replace rather than refurbish.

They are clearly not a 'temporary option'.
I have commercial clients that swear by timber or aluminium for their developments as they are attractive and last well, only the cheap developers want to use UPVC.

Softwood bifolds, rather than hardwood window frames, are a more temporary option than aluminium bifold doors. I'm not expecting them to rot, but I don't think they will last longer than the ten year guarantee. I got these ones

www.vibrantdoors.co.uk/door/nuvu-2400mm-8ft-white-folding-patio-door-2400mm-8ft-3-door

Builders charged me to fit them (as they wanted uPVC ones which would have been fitted by the manufacturers), but they didn't take long to fit and look lovely. Much more lovely than the comparable uPVC ones to my eye.

Thanks Mog much appreciated!

OP I'm matchy matchy too. Recently put in 2.3 m width (3 doors) aluminium bifold doors in white. Our windows are UPVC and it all works really well together .