If bifold is out… which doors should we have?

[Whichdoorhelp]

Inspired by the thread about what not to have in your home (bifolds)

Which door style do you prefer from the 3 attached images (from Pinterest).

1.Sliding
2.French doors
3.A mix of above

Designing/renovating a ‘traditional’ looking house similar to the images and we are south facing if that makes a difference.

What was wrong with bifolds?

Bifold in the right place are lovely. I think posters on that thread were just jealous.

I would just pick the ones you like. The house looks quite new so doesn’t need to fit in as much as say a period property. Think about blinds too as you don’t want to get too hot if south facing.

We have a long run of bifolds, French doors, and a fixed arch at back, so a bit of everything. It totally depends on the room. What's wrong with bifolds?

There’s nothing wrong with bifold, just as there’s nothing wrong with other design features. Someone, somewhere decides what will be in or out.

Have what you think looks best in your house.

I like both styles - I just can’t decide which to go for

Bifolds - not sure why the bad press on the other thread.

We have sliding but I prefer the look of french doors and would choose them over both sliding and bifold. .

I didn't see the other thread, I don't suppose you have a link handy perchance please? Was it in property?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5061334-house-trends-you-wouldnt-want-in-your-own-home

We have bifolds. They are good in someways and it's fabulous having it open in the summer however, they swell in the summer so are hard to close & also if you just want them open a little bit for some air, you have to obviously have a whole door open rather than just a small part.
We like ours but have come to the conclusion we will replace them with something else when they are past their best.

I have one Big sliding door (3.3m). It's great! I can open it a little if I want some fresh air, or wide when it's warm. Easy to open and close.

We replaced the bifolds with sliders. They’re the very thin type with 3 panels that stack on top of each other so you can have it up two thirds open. My logic being:

• It’s the UK, doors spend more time closed than open; bifolds are chunky thinner frames look better when closed
• Ability to have the door open a crack for a bit of air without having a whole panel open
• The don’t fold out and take out valuable patio space in our small London garden

I have all types, bifolds in the living room and kitchen where I want to ability to open out the whole wall of windows, sliders upstairs going out onto the balcolny where there wasn’t the room to open out bifold panels, French doors off the dining room and the gym. It depends on the room and what you want to achieve

@colouringindoors can you explain your one sliding door! What does it slide into? Surely you need two panes? I realise I may be missing something obvious though!

I have bifolds. They can sag from the hinge and the whole door gets stuck. It gets worse over time. If the door gets stuck open you’re trapped at home until someone can repair it. My installer only does aluminium bifolds because they’re not as bad, apparently the plastic ones are absolutely dreadful.

I wouldn’t choose bifolds again, I’d get french doors or crittall windows. If you do go for bifolds remember to get an odd number of panes so the end one can be opened like a normal door without having to slide the whole thing.

French doors swing annoyingly in the wind unless you have them inwardly opening. I'd rather sliders or bi-folds. Love the sliders that stack. Have had bi-folds in a different house and loved them. No issues at all with them

And @InTheRainOnATrain can I ask how wide the aperture is for your sliding doors? We were told 3m wasn't wide enough for a 3 panel slider, so we're looking at bifolds instead

I love my velfac double sliding doors.
They are wood inside and aluminium outside
https://velfac.co.uk/doors/sliding-doors/double-sliding-door/?gl=111jafdpmpmupMQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhOe33eDbhQMVl5VQBh1MHAZGEAAYASAAEgIO2DD_BwE

French doors. Ours had a substantial hook outside, so they could be secured open, without worrying about them getting caught by the wind.

Can’t find the tape measure to be exact but whole opening is just over 3m, maybe 310cm total.

My house is 1937 chalet style and I have French doors going out to the patio. I love them, I think they make my house look really cottagey which is exactly how I wanted it to look when I had them put in.

If I had a different house I probably would still have French doors rather than bifolds, I'm not that keen although my cousin has them right across the kitchen leading out to the garden and they look nice on her property.

I have bifolds, what a mistake. The stack-back is huge & gets in the way. Coupled with the inbuilt electric blinds which leave tracking dust marks you can't clean... Never again. Bifold doors are a fad that will be dropped in time.

I like picture number 3- the mix.

We have bifolds and they've been great. When it's cooler we just open the last panel and it works like a regular door. I do think french doors a very pretty.

Bifolds suit some properties but maybe not small terrace houses where the whole back wall is fitted with them. We have french doors on our 30s house, not sure if they have ever been fashionable or not.

Old house had french doors, which you couldn't open if there was the slightest breeze, as they just blew shut again.
New house has bifolds, which I like. If you want them slightly open, we just open the first pair into a slight V shape.
Mum and Dad had sliders from years ago (like 40 years old now). All I remember is thinking how silly that you had all this window, but could only ever open half. Things might have improved in the interveening years!

All have pros and cons. Go with what you love.