Bifold dilemma

[BlackAlys]

DH has just confessed that he didn't foresee how much of our view is restricted with bifolds.

We are weeks away from foundations being dug and we are visiting window manufacturers. He always imagined an interrupted view (when bifolds are open) but didn't imagine the closed view (we are having 4 panels).

Other option is french windows but I really want the wide open feature of the bifold.

DH reckons that there are bifolds with no framing- so just glass panels? I've never seen these at all!

He is basing his experience On a summer house we rented in France years ago - I can't remember - he reckons the glass panels just pivoted and slide to one side to open the whole wall
Up.

Is there such a thing on the UK market? Does anyone have this?

The all glass panel doors suitable for external doors are expensive and only done by one company in the UK (search frameless glass curtain). I was quoted 20k+ for mine as opposed to the 5k it would cost with bifolds with aluminium frames. We have a tiny garden so need doors to facilitate ‘in out living’ but if you have a big one you could get a quote.

Google framless bi-folds

Someone had a post about this recently so a search might throw it up... www.fgc.co.uk/frameless-slide-fold-double-glazed-doors/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_JSH4K2Q8QIVJO_tCh3DYwuGEAMYASAAEgIkTvD_BwE.

They look lovely but are possibly v v pricey.

We are having sliding doors. NW so number of times throwing it all open is limited and small garden and extension footprint so wanted to save space

Thanks everyone - really grateful. I'll get a quote but I already know that they'll be beyond our budget.

Think DH has to pay more attention a different matter altogether

There are different profiles available for framed bi-folds, as well as 'frameless', all the lower profile options are more expensive ofc. Depending on where you are you'll be likely having them shut for most of Oct-April so it is worth thinking carefully through options and budget as you'll probably be looking at them a lot for years to come. We replaced ancient sliding patio doors onto a spectacular view with relatively ordinary 3 panel bifolds and have not regretted it.

Ye I wanted one too but 20k kind of put things into perspective. Might go for it after Lockdown finishes when we have access to Euro products / companies. A lot of German and Swiss companies make them in double and triple glazing.

My neighbour has the frameless bi-folds. They do look good.

You could try getting lower profile ones and selling it as ‘framing’ the view?

We have two huge sliding doors, so obviously means you can't open up fully but do get an awesome almost interrupted view.

Would you consider sliding doors? I chose them for off our dining room. Each panel is 3.5m and a narrower profile than most bifolds.

Yep, you’d be better off with sliding doors by the sounds of it.

Like PP I have huge siding doors (4+m) and I chose them specifically to avoid the frames of bifold as I just didn’t think they would be open enough to make it worthwhile even in the SE

We've got triple track sliders for this reason.

I read this useful blog post on the pros and cons of bifold as versus sliding doors and it made me pick the sliding doors option: www.rosesandrolltops.co.uk/2017/05/project-house-bifolds-v-sliding-patio.html?m=1

www.aluminiumtradesupply.co.uk/frameless-glass-curtains/frameless-glass-bifold-doors/

Another one on sliding, we choose them because they are cheaper even in triple glazed, more reliable, and you can get them bigger for each pane with smaller edges. Ours are 1.3m wide each and part of a 4.8m wide by 2.4m overall glazed area. We also have a normalish swing door at the end.
Think about how you will lay out the room, we could line up the "open" part based on the circulation routes, and the fixed panels are where you wouldn't walk anyway.

This one products-domestic.velfac.co.uk/products/18764/19359/21189/13597

@LittleOverWhelmed love love love your extension. So light and airy.