Bifold doors - good or bad?

[KStreetpetal]

I’m not sure. Sometimes, when it’s sunny warm and you can open them up, they look great. Sometimes I think they look a bit dated. What do people think?

I think this forum has a disdain for them. But I like them and a friend recently took her old patio doors out and hand them installed and they look fantastic.

We went with big sliders in the end.

More open glass and fewer joins, less to go wrong, quick and simple to open.

Also while having the whole room open to the elements is a lovely thought we are in North Yorks and there aren't that many days when its a good idea.

Yes! That’s what I picked up - but I thought they looked great on a sunny day opening up to the garden 🤷‍♀️

The house we’ve moved into has sliding doors. But they’re white plastic double glazing type ones, heavy to push as well, so I’d like to change them. Can’t decide what to though

We’re South Coast. Sunny often but still lots of rain and cold!

My new ones are fab OP. You can slide them with a tiny nudge. They are anthracite aluminium.

I agree that a nice sliding door is preferable. Generally, the view is better as less "panes" and the days when you will have them wholly open to the garden probably aren't as many as you would hope!

One option I like the look of is the old French door. No one seem to have them these days!

Our ceiling is much lower than this photo though so maybe wouldn’t look as nice. I think I’m so fed up of heavy push doors, these look so usable!

I have always opted for the French windows instead of the sliding doors. I much prefer them. Much more stylish.

My parents have also opted for them in their new extension. Maybe they are coming back!

I think it depends on the age of the house and aesthetic you are going for. Both are nice in the right setting.

We were going to go with sliding because more glass but we have a dog and so preferred the option of a pedestrian door that comes with bifold to make letting him constantly in and out easier

😂 exactly that. We have a dog, and cats too and no cat flap.

We had a house built a couple of years ago and have bi-folds by our table onto our garden, it means we don’t need a garden table and chairs and can just have sofas out there. They also act as a door as we don’t have one on that side of the house but most frequently use that side when going out for a walk. On the other side of the same room we have sliding patio doors because it’s less busy on a smaller space. Our downstairs bedroom has French windows with top openers so that we can let some air in at night and the two bedrooms which have balconies overlooking the river have huge sliding patio doors which maximise the view and don’t get in the way of the balcony furniture. Lots of different windows for different situations, choose what is most suitable.

Lovely when fully open, Lovely when fully closed, everything in between ... less lovely! And living in the North of England there's a lot of "in between" changed mine to French doors & have pretty much the same look when open or closed but far more practical and attractive when in between.

Those French doors are lovely OP. Very elegant.

I don't really understand the fashion for no-folds though. They look quite industrial to me, and I don't like the industrial look.

Fine on a modern property that's been built with them.

Absolutely hideous on an older house.

I was torn between bi folds and sliders. In the end we went with triple track sliders. They open 66% of the way so felt like a good compromise!

Surely you understand people have different tastes to you? There are lots of things I don’t like, but I don’t struggle to understand we all like different things?

Surely you understand people have different tastes to you? There are lots of things I don’t like, but I don’t struggle to understand we all like different things?

Yes of course, but normally I can see the temptation of things even though they aren't my preference. It's rare that anything leaves me as cold as bifold doors. It's fine. People can have whatever doors they like, and I'll nod along politely and admire when required. I'll just never "get" this one.

Yep, it’s definitely a personal taste thing. Clearly on MN some like some don’t, which the poll shows.

I’ve seen bifolds on Victorian houses and they’ve looked great if done well, opening them up to have a big Sunday lunch with drinks in the sun. But as pps have said, that’s not often!

Then our house was totally redone by the previous owner. Some good bits but loads of dodgy bits - like the doors. We said we’d get them redone but still haven’t, so these doors are now a crusade. Dont want to get them wrong.

I like bifolds just don't get them in wood.

While I'm tempted by the bi-folds, the thing i like about sliding doors is you can have them open just a crack, you can't really do that with other types.

We went with big French doors that open outwards. I wanted parliament hinges but they didn't work out.

Would have preferred sliders but they were about £8k and wouldn't have been symmetrical.

Bifolds were another option but didn't really work with the space.

Overall, I would really prefer sliders for two reasons: you can have a small gap open for ventilation, cat access etc without a full pane open which is easier on windy days & easier to stop flies in the summer. If we didn't also have side casement windows, I would be unhappy with what we have.

Went with sliders as wanted to be able to have the option of just opening them up a little to let in some fresh air in the cooler months and also wanted the access to be in the middle of the back of the house.

I've gone for French doors with side opening windows for a south facing extension. Can open the windows on inbetween days without pets or small children getting out, suit curtains for good cold and heat insulation at different times of year, slightly less glass overall so not so much thermal gain in summer and less heat loss in winter, they look nicer and more in keeping with a 30s house imo.

Next door have bifolds and we feel like we're living in their kitchen if we're outside in the summer. They have to open them due to the heat gain if they're closed. Sliding not good if you get a lot of sun as there is always a panel of glass to add heat gain and trap it in the room. I prefer the extra privacy that French doors offer too.

We’re replacing our French doors with aluminium sliders. Better view of the garden. We can open a narrow bit for fresh air but not allow dogs in and out constantly. When the weather permits they will still open as much as the French doors without encroaching on to the patio.