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Original poster

Bi-fold doors - one run, or split in two?

15 replies

pinkpinkeverywhere · 15/03/2021 16:22

Hi, we're having a kitchen extension with bi-fold doors onto the garden. The width of the room is about 5.5 m. I had thought we'd have the run of doors split into 2 so we could open them in the middle, but our builder is suggesting only one run so that they concertina only one way as he says having them sticking out on both sides would get in the way and not look great. One side would be in the middle of the garden as the extension isn't across the whole width of the house, so I can see his point, but I'm still not sure as I can't see us having them all open that often and I think it would be nice to open the middle rather than one end, especially as I was hoping to have a settee/chair in that corner.
So anyone have experience of bi-folds they could share please?

OP posts:
roses2 · 15/03/2021 16:28

Definitely one run! Our room is 5m wide with 3m bifold. So nice to open up the whole bifold on a sunny hot day (which we got a LOT of last year!).

We bought triple glazed Schuco doors from this company (who were reasonably priced compared to other quotes 5 years ago):

www.bifolddoorfactory.co.uk/

Original poster
pinkpinkeverywhere · 15/03/2021 16:32

Thank you. We'll definitely have the whole run as bi-fold, it was more whether they should be two separate runs which both fold out from the middle, or just one run which all fold to the same side - if you see what I mean?

OP posts:
Africa2go · 15/03/2021 16:40

It depends on what you're having and like you say, how you're going to use them. Firstly to do that, you'd need an equal number of panels I think - and if you have 5.5m, I don't think (I may be wrong) that 75cm each side is enough left over if you see what I mean (i.e. if you had 4 x 1m panels). You'd therefore need 4 x narrower panels which might mean you have lots of frame and less glass??

Also, are you having a traffic door? Normally if you do, one door folds back the other way anyway (again, could be completely wrong but I don't think you can get a traffic door which folds the same way as the rest of the doors).

We have ours open (fully) all the time, pretty much every day in the summer last year.

Qc16 · 15/03/2021 16:41

We’re having Schuco bifold doors - 4 doors over just under 4m. We’re doing a 3+1 split as that is easier with an even number of door.
If you are having 3 doors they can all go one way with the first one being the traffic door.

Original poster
pinkpinkeverywhere · 15/03/2021 16:59

Goes to google traffic door.......
This is the trouble with everywhere being shut, I need to go and see things!
Ok googled and yes we need a traffic door. These have to be at the start or finish of the run though I assume.
I hadn't even thought about the width of them being an issue, but that's good to know thank you.

OP posts:
Africa2go · 15/03/2021 17:06

I stand corrected, I've just looked at photos and it does seem like you can have a traffic door folding back the same way as the rest of the doors. Not sure how that works practically - when we were looking the traffic door could fold all the way back to clip against the wall so that it didn't bang about or slam in the breeze / wind. If it folds back against other panels, just check it can be clipped somehow.

QuitMoaning · 15/03/2021 17:28

@Africa2go We have a traffic door and it folds back against the other door and is magnetic. It has never slammed shut when properly locked against the other door.

We have a run of five and then they all fold against one end when fully open and it is against boundary with neighbour so doesn’t impede into our garden.

I cannot imagine having two runs that meet in the middle, i am not sure of the stability when you have two runs securing against each other.

QuitMoaning · 15/03/2021 17:30

Just wanted to add, we went for Origin although we also considered schuco. I went to a lot of shows and did a lot of research and these two stuck out as the best.

Original poster
pinkpinkeverywhere · 15/03/2021 18:10

Thanks everyone.
@QuitMoaning do you ever just have them open a bit? Or is it all or nothing? I suppose I just think it's such a long stretch that I could imagine not wanting them all open, which is why I had thought a gap in the middle would be good, but now I can see I am alone in that, and a long run is the way to go - with a traffic door!
One last questions - I can have the traffic door as last in the run can't I?

OP posts:
roses2 · 15/03/2021 19:39

Oh I see what you mean - yes we also have a traffic door. The traffic door is open on a moderate day and the full bifold on hot days. You can partially open the bifold although a traffic door makes more sense. If you look at this website it shows you the bifolds part open:

www.everglade.co.uk/bifold-doors/bifolding-doors/

If you are building a new extension I'd also recommend one roof window which opens which is nice in slightly cool weather as it lets fresh air flow in the room.

If you do a search on mumsnet for Origin doors they don't have great reviews.

Africa2go · 15/03/2021 19:46

@QuitMoaning Ahhh I see, sounds great.

We don't have a traffic door at all OP and just open them slightly if we just want a breeze etc or it's too cold. You don't have to have the whole run open.

QuitMoaning · 18/03/2021 11:30

@pinkpinkeverywhere

Thanks everyone. *@QuitMoaning* do you ever just have them open a bit? Or is it all or nothing? I suppose I just think it's such a long stretch that I could imagine not wanting them all open, which is why I had thought a gap in the middle would be good, but now I can see I am alone in that, and a long run is the way to go - with a traffic door! One last questions - I can have the traffic door as last in the run can't I?
@pinkpinkeverywhere Yes, it is quite easy to open part way or all the way. Even in winter I often have the lead door open to get some air in.

My advice is to buy quality, my doors are now 2 and a half years old and still glide perfectly. There was an issue where they dropped slightly so kept catching and it was fixed under warranty, very smoothly and no hassle..

Sprig1 · 18/03/2021 11:38

If you don't think you will want them all open why don't you have some fixed glazing and then a shorter run of doors?

isthismylifenow · 18/03/2021 11:40

I have just had mine installed this week. Its a 6 door, 3 + 3 and I went for the middle opening and 3 opening each way. I haven't had full use of them yet as there is other work going on in the house, but it has worked better for me as the middle of the room where the opening is now as it is the most convenient.

also off to google traffic door....

Original poster
pinkpinkeverywhere · 18/03/2021 11:48

I do think I will want them all open in the summer and especially when we have friends round (dredges memory for what that was like), but maybe not them all when it's just me in the kitchen cooking on a Thursday evening. We have french doors at the moment and have them open all the time as we love the fresh air and the dog likes to wander in and out.
Thanks for everyone's advice, I'll be on another thread soon asking for kitchen advice!

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