Has anyone installed a long set of folding/sliding doors in their house

[SpaceTrain]

For our extension we are planning to have the whole wall that leads to the garden (approx 6 m) kitted out with folding doors.

Our architect has recommended Solarlux doors, which do seem to be good but also seem to be the most expensive.

Has anyone had any experience with these, or with any other makes?

We've had a quote from Sunflex, and another make we are looking at is Express Bi-folding doors, which are quite a bit cheaper. However I don't want to skimp on this purchase if we are going to face significant quality issues by buying cheaper.

Another question I have is what have you done for screening the doors? Express offer integrated blinds, which seems a better option that having trailing vertical blinds on the inside.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[dunish]

Thanks DCI. Do you know what company it is from? Is it a flush system?

[DisparityCausesInstability]

When you say flush - are you referring to the threshold?

The company are Mee Windows in Luton - they have no website but my architect has the windows in his house and he is more than happy.

I need to go have a look - I will do after Christmas but I'm too busy sourcing other things and I trust my builder and my architect.

[fanjolina]

Dunish - we have bifold doors that run flush so it is straight through from living area to patio (maybe 5mm 'bump' where the tracks are).

We used Folding Sliding Doors company. Would definitely recommend.

[northernline]

i used Express Bifolding Doors. we have three doors with one which opens independently of the others in aluminium white. they are quite big 2.4 x 2.4 metres and cost £2800. company was really good and did supply only as i was having the whole house done. saw them on channel four website after watching the home show - the one with the gorgeous but slightly over the top guy!

[dunish]

Thanks guys - that's really useful:)

[bizabeth]

Hi we had a set of bifolds fitted 7 doors wide with a flush track so the inside & outside are the same level. The doors opperate very easily. We used a company called Glass in Motion Ltd. There web is www.glassinmotion.co.uk. They wasnt the cheapest quote but they were very helpful and would recommend to anyone.

[whamba]

Hi there am new to this but looks really useful! We are going install some oak bifold doors only 6ft in total but would love any recommends, have looked at vufold and magnet but can't find any reviews they are advertise in homebuilding and renovating magazine alot.we have someone to fit them.

[maggiethecat]

We used sunparadise - they were excellent and the doors glide like a dream. One of best features of our house.

[vendulina]

Hi maggiethecat, Im looking at the sunparadise web and they look good, what did you go for and how much did they charge?

[Deux]

Marking my place as interested in Sun Paradise too.

[berno]

4 years with our bifolds and they look like new and are, if anything, easier to open and slide (discrete magnetic thingy keeps the door securely open when it's windy); integral blinds have also functioned faultlessly.

Update on products - as well as bifolding doors, there are ultra-slim frames in a range of colours and frameless patio doors, all fully retractable and with low cills/ threshholds option //www.framelessglassdoorsuk.co.uk and //www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk/ultraslim-doors.html - but if you still want value for money bifolds you can get good quality basic white aluminium ones at a diy price at //www.sunseekertradebifolds.co.uk which has got to be better than cheap pvc ones that warp (as I found out!)

[Bigj0nny]

I have to warn any prospective customers of The Folding Sliding Door Company. I have just had a pair of doors fitted to my new build. In order to get the order out, I paid them over the phone with a credit card. They took the price agreed price, but then added and took VAT too from my credit card, having previously gained an understanding from them that new builds are zero-rated for VAT (VAT Notice 708). They have basically charged me the VAT which is not due to HMRC, so I can only imagine where that will end up!? Even the sales guy I had been dealing with was disgusted at what had happened and couldn?t believe it as he knew what had been agreed previously regarding the VAT. They have point blank refused to return the VAT charged in error, so I have had to lodge a fraud report with HMRC in the hope that they can get to the bottom of this crooked practice. I doubt I am their only victim. This company does not behave like the reasonable sized company that they are. They have no idea about customer service and the FD is either incompetent or crooked. PLEASE take my advice, steer well clear, pay a bit more elsewhere and get value for money. IGNORE ME AT YOUR PERIL!

[mrszimmerman]

My friend had some beautiful ones put into her last house but she had them imported from Germany or Denmark. She said she wasn't happy with what she could get here.
But she is a prop developer so has that experience to buy abroad.

[PigletJohn]

Why don't people want to say what they cost?

[maggiethecat]

This thread has been resurrected and just noted that Vendulina asked me about cost months ago. We had ours done 4 years ago and I seem to think they cost £3.5k. We went for a sort of charcoal metallic grey (cant recall the exact name but I really love it. Someone else has said Sunparadise is Swedish company and doors made in Turkey (?) - I thought they were German. Whichever, they certainly live up to a German made reputation.

[Jennataylor]

After much re-searching, we have recently had some external aluminium Dualfold Sliding Folding Bi-Fold Doors installed by a company called Moving Designs in Wokingham - 0845 6432168. I highly recommend, the doors and service was outstanding and the quality is second to none. Very reasonable price for such high quality doors. Definetly recommend these bi-folds to anyone.

[Xav1]

I took hazel1969 advise and used SKG London. My doors were installed on Monday and although its a bit too cold to open and close them too much at the moment they look fantastic. The fitters were tidy, polite and even arrived on time. My builders have been a bit of a nightmare and the project is running about two months behind schedule so its nice for something run smoothly.

[Ashleek]

Hi,

We're looking at the Sunseeker Ultraslim pivot and slide and would like to see a set in action before we make a decision. We've been told that we can go to Luton to see them, but it's a little far for us (6hour round trip). Does anyone know of an install in the Northwest? And anyone had a set that can comment on the quality?

Thanks

[berno]

Hi Ashleek, re slide and pivot patio doors, there is a video of a similar system in spain - looks a lot 'clunkier' than the sunseeker one, though - choose bottom right on this page and fast forward to about halfway (and try to ignore the irritating music) www glasscurtains.es/cortinas-de-cristal-fotos-videos.asp

I hope that helps. I must say that we had sunseeker bifolds installed about 5 years ago and they are still like new but I am envious of these ultra slim doors.

[threechickpeas]

Hi
Just joining this threat with great interest as considering bi fold doors as a key feature of a renovation of our kitchen/dining room this summer.

However we are in Belfast so fewer local firms to choose from and no recommendations on this thread. We are keen to go with someone local who will also install rather than buying unseen on-line. So got a quote for aluminium Bifold Doors, 3000mm x 2100mm made by an Australian company called Centro. They are double-glazed. Just wondering if people thought £2,700 seemed reasonable plus £350 for installation?

Am emailing other companies named on thread to get comparitive quotes but they are very slow to respond.

Thanks

[weebump]

Hi threechickpeas. That sounds like a great quote. Who are you getting the doors from? Our builder got us a quote in Northern ireland for over £10,000 for a similar size as yours!

[BettyBathroom]

Is it Centro - or Centor - if it's Centor, they make a great quality product. Just check that the suppliers are using a system designed for external doors - they make a variety of doors, details are on their website.

[PrincessPam]

Hi. We have just had a quote from Express Bi-folds. They seem OK but can't give me the details of any customers who are prepared to give a testimonial for them.
Can you let me know what your experience was like?

[ILoveMondays]

Hi, very interesting thread as I am in the trade. What I can say is - a) don't confuse Sunfold with Sunflex - completely different company/system b) always go for a specially desgined 'system' and not a joiner (timber) and c) ALWAYS try before you buy. Having heard what the directors have to say about their own company, I would never use the Folding Sliding Door company. So, excluding them, the main companies are going to be Solarlux, IDS, Sunfold, Sun Paradise - they all 'exclusively' sell a particular system(s). There are other 'good' companies out there - many either buy (trade) from these main companies or deal in lesser known systems. Do your homework though, go to exhibitions, some even have a system where you can go to a previous customers home! ASK. After sales can be a tricky business - I have noticed lots of good and bad comments on this - but to be honest - some customers are really difficult to please no matter how hard you try. But whichever company you choose, you are spending alot of money, so be sure you are comfortable dealing with what one you choose.