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Original poster

Sliding doors or Bifolds?

31 replies

HomeImprovement · 14/10/2023 17:37

Anyone have opinions on either?

Need to update our patio doors, and trying to decide between the two. We have standard sized patio french doors at the moment, but want more light in the room so looking to go for wider. Just can't decide if sliding doors are old fashioned compared to bifolds? Seems bifold are the more popular option at the moment.

OP posts:
vrouge · 14/10/2023 19:02

The 70s style sliding doors that are hard to open and close are definitely old fashioned - we took some out when we renovated and they were pretty horrible. The ones companies can make now are not quite the same. Our sliding doors sit flush with the flooring inside and the patio and are super easy to open. We have a 5m opening with 2 doors so each pane is 2.5m and makes looking out on the garden amazing - it definitely creates a lot of light and is the 'wow' factor in our house.

If you've just got standard size doors you need to decide whether you want to be able to open them up fully (in which case bi-folds) or if the visual/light aspect outside is more important (in which case sliding as you can get some thin frames these days).

Lonecatwithkitten · 15/10/2023 08:35

Our architect advised against external bifolds as it is being found that all of them warp over time regardless of what they are made of. Plus modern sliding doors give you more open glass than bifolds as they need fewer uprights so you get a better view out.

bungletru · 15/10/2023 08:37

Bifolds

Sluj · 15/10/2023 08:41

I think its the other way round now, bifold doors are the old fashioned ones. Lots of people I know have had tremendous problems with them pulling away from the top so make sure you get good quality and a good fitter offering a guarantee if you do get them.

WashingAt30 · 15/10/2023 08:49

We put a 5m wide steel in and opened up the whole back of the house. We put in 3 sliding doors because then there are only 2 vertical frame lines in the middle of the opening blocking the view, and as the doors are closed more than they are open and we have a nice view out, this seemed preferable to the 5 or 6 vertical frame lines we would have with bi folds. With 3 doors we can have the gap 2/3 open in summer.

However if you only have a normal double door sized opening which would only fit 2 sliding doors or 2 bi folds, I might be more tempted by bi folds as you can open up the whole opening...

Bi folds do come with more long term issues though.

sunshinyday12 · 15/10/2023 08:50

Love our sliding doors. We got them put on so you slide either way and make opening at either end if that makes sense. They also seem less likely to trap little fingers but guess you need to be careful with all doors

CircleWithin · 15/10/2023 08:52

We're having the same debate at the moment. Would anyone mind sharing photos of their sliding doors?
How often do you have them fully open?

Dox9 · 15/10/2023 09:50

We chose sliding doors over bifolds (opening 2.6m, it's a sliding door and a fixed panel). Looks like it was 100% right decision so far for us.
There is a sofa next to the fixed panel inside and a patio dining set on the other side outside. Hardly any point being able to open the full width when there's furniture in the way anyway.

KievLoverTwo · 15/10/2023 10:15

The fact that they have many more parts apparently cause bi folds to go wrong more often.

margotmargeaux · 15/10/2023 10:21

As someone who has both bifolds and sliding doors - bifolds win hands down.

Opening up 5m of doors onto the back garden is just fabulous, and they are open regularly.

MaggieFS · 15/10/2023 10:28

This come up a lot of here. I'm definitely team sliders. We've got 3x1.5m panels. They're so easy to open and close. I love the flexibility of whether we have one or two sections open, and which ones depending on what we are doing.

By contrast, three people I know who have installed bi-folds have all had problems.

The big decider for me would be the total width of opening available.I can see why bi-folds would be beneficial in a smaller opening.

LindaDawn · 15/10/2023 14:01

Just in the process of getting 4 x panel sliders. Our garden slopes upwards slightly so bifold may have been difficult. Also we wanted the opening in the centre rather than either end as this will be easier access as tv and dinning chairs are in both corners. Also with sliding door you can open it by just a few inches for access especially in winter or if you have dogs. And finally not sure our builder was too keen on them and we really value his input. Probably more to go wrong as not a straightforward design.

FuglyHouse · 15/10/2023 19:01

@MaggieFS Would you mind telling me where you got your sliders from? We're planning to install triple track sliders of a similar size but I'm not sure where to get them from.

MaryJanesonabreak · 15/10/2023 19:15

We have bifold, three panes as it were, and when we use just the one door to pop out to the garden, there’s nothing to tether it to, so if its a bit windy it slams open or shut. Not great with small grandchildren.

Runninghappy · 15/10/2023 19:24

I had bifolds in my old house (I built it myself) and have put sliders into my current build. Much prefer these!

Sliding doors or Bifolds?
Sliding doors or Bifolds?
PrudeyTwoShoes · 15/10/2023 19:27

We renovated last year and changed from sliding. It's nice having the option to have both doors open, which wasn't a possibility with sliding.

Riverlee · 15/10/2023 19:34

We have neither. We have two thin panes either side and one set of doors in the middle which open wide.

sleepdeprivedby2 · 15/10/2023 19:39

We have these

https://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk/

The best of both worlds!

Doors slide and stack at one side so you get a completely open aperture without the pain of needing to keep an area free (needed for bifold doors)

Alarae · 15/10/2023 19:44

We have a standard patio opening and replaced our old sliding patio doors last month for a two bifold panel. They open outward so we have no issue with worrying about space inside.

One thing I am dubious about is my DH opted to get blinds installed within the glass. Don't get me wrong, they are pretty cool, but obviously no way to replace them!

rockpoolingtogether · 15/10/2023 19:46

Sliding absolutely. The bifold were a hassle so we replaced them! Cost 8k for our gorgeous dark grey sliding doors

rockpoolingtogether · 15/10/2023 19:46

They are massive though!

quickqpls · 15/10/2023 19:48

Think it depends on the width of the space. Bifolds across a large opening ruin/break up the view and look messy, the newer sliding doors are a lot nicer.

pilates · 15/10/2023 19:50

We decided on aluminium sliding doors.

The long term would worry me about bifolds.

sleepdeprivedby2 · 15/10/2023 19:57

Slide and Turn doors

We have 2 opening doors, one on each side. Then the doors slide and stack. All panels move individually so can have as big or little opening as you like.

Sliding doors or Bifolds?
margotmargeaux · 15/10/2023 20:33

quickqpls · 15/10/2023 19:48

Think it depends on the width of the space. Bifolds across a large opening ruin/break up the view and look messy, the newer sliding doors are a lot nicer.

Sorry got to disagree, the wide space is beautiful to have all open.

Really brings the outside in and makes the whole area feel seamless.

I have sliders too in a different area of the house, nowhere near as good. Always a barrier to the outside.

Honestly - experience of both...go for the bifolds.

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