Bifold owners - I have a question

[whattodoherenow]

If you have bifold doors, how often do you open them all the way along?

We're choosing between bifolds and sliding doors. I'd rather have sliding doors as there is less frame and more glass but the downside is that you can't open them all the way along. But really how often do you do that??

All opinions very welcome on pros and cons of both. Thank you!

One other point is the track on the floor. With sliders, you have say 3 tracks for 3 panels etc, only 1 track for bifolds so might be a consideration. I didnt like the thicker track on the floor with sliders.

We don't have the single panel / traffic door, all stack to one side (4 x 1m bifolds). Had them 4 years i think and have them open more or less every day from April / Sept. I did love the "less frame" aspect of sliders but the aim for us was always to maximise the opening for that inside / outside link. Really depends on whats important for you.

@Africa2go yes the track is thicker but not vastly so. Depends on the bifold mountings and some are now thicker to try and support the doors better which weigh a lot which put a huge pressure on the track when opened.

We have 4 meters and the whole door is open every time the sun comes out. I love them!

Loads. The way our house is built on a hill means they are 1 floor up overlooking the garden so we have a juliet balcony and bifolds. Love having them open.

Lots more than I thought we would - they’re really quick and easy to open

I also have bifolds and open them all the way most days (unless it's raining). Ours fold outwards and we have quite a large patio so they don't get in the way of anything when open.

They're 10 years' old now and I haven't had any maintenance problems. The doors that slide into the pockets sound great also. I'd definitely have bifolds again as I like having the whole space open. That said, our bifold panels are large so we don't have much frame but I guess the downside is that they protude further when folded open due to the width of each section if that makes sense.

Appreciated the tip my friend gave me to make sure the installers/builders sink the bottom frame so it's as flush as possible to your flooring. She has a 10 cm height which means a lot of people trip over it and fall onto the patio..!

Sorry, forgot to say that we also have the separate door that we can open independently of the sliding section.

I have mine open all the time. I love them. I have good ones and they are as good as new at 8 years old.

Do any of you have problems with leaking water during driving rain in either sliders or bifolds?

Dh wants bifolds, I want sliders. We live in the north west and I can’t see us opening them all the way apart from a few days a year.

I think we want the view more than a complete opening.

I haven't had a leak in my bifolds in the 10 years I've had them. In fairness, neither have my parents who have sliders.

Thanks JMG.i live exposed coastal area

I have a 5 metre span of sliding doors, which are open pretty much all the time (but I live in Portugal). I wasn’t sure whether to go for bifolds when I had them fitted last year, but I’m glad I went for sliding. Aside from being cheaper, they’re more elegant and I don’t need to worry about leaving space for the concertina, which would have been tight and annoying.

I have six white linen panel curtains in front of them, so when they’re fully open the doors stack three and three at either end of the opening and are covered by the drapes. It looks beautiful.

Also they open from either and and in the middle, so in the winter I can just open one of the panels like a normal sized door.

I have bi folds; 4.7m across and I love them. Had sliders before albeit a much smaller span. I have them open fully as much as possible but ours have the function to open only one section as a door, so if it's a bit chilly or just need to pop in and out we don't have to open the whole thing.

What I will say is that since having the bi folds we have them open so much more often than we did when we had sliders. There's just something wonderful about sitting inside but with half your walk open; the fresh air, sounds... it's very peaceful.

@BarrelOfOtters We're NW too, I think it really depends on the orientation of your garden. Ours is West / South West and we get lots of sun, hence having them open every day (typing this with them open) pretty much 5 or 6 months of the year. We do also have children who use the garden lots which is also a factor.

Those with sliders or even bi folds , if you just want a bit of ventilation from say cooking etc, and if it's raining you risk water ingress no?

I'm debating full bi folds across a 6m area or having a picture window and then maybe regular patio doors or just sliders like in this photo

Those with sliders or even bi folds , if you just want a bit of ventilation from say cooking etc, and if it's raining you risk water ingress no?

I'm debating full bi folds across a 6m area or having a picture window and then maybe regular patio doors or just sliders like in this photo