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.

[Jackstini]

Really useful thread - thanks all.
Planning on bi-folds just over 3m wide in a rear extension. How many leaves would this usually be?
Anyone have any experience of a local east-midlands company? (Mental note to ask my builder which brand he has included in quote!)

[myron]

Our extension will have these 3.5m wide painted aluminium bifold doors. Can't give you the cost - swallowed within part of an extensive fixed price contract that we have awarded our builder. He did attempt to talk me into PVC/timber (although not very hard) but thanks to this thread, I was not swayed from aluminium (obviously cutting into his profit margin!).

[jeanjeannie]

Just one word of caution about these - as they're currently all the rage and DH has noticed a small issue with regards to the guarentees on some of them - so check!

DH went to purchase some (he's a builder) but the company refused to sell directly to trade (even though they were at a trade show ) and wanted to force him to use an 'approved' third party. After he looked into it - he found that his client would have been lumbered with three guarentees - all very different and not what it said on the tin. One said a 20 year guarentee for the doors - one was for the glazing (which was done with a separate company and only 2 yrs) and another with the approved fitter (which wasn't worth the paper it was written on) Luckily he walked away from it - but please get your builder to check and let you know what your rights are. They were trying to fob him off with a 'all inclusive 20yr guarentee' which it clearly wasn't. If anything goes wrong with them - you may find you've not got a clue who is responsible and could cost you a great deal. And this was a VERY upmarket company. Please check

[Coex]

Thanks IloveMondays. Am hunting for large sliding doors and new windows and worried about amount of glass for new extension. Which glass would you recommend for excellent thermal insulation and sun. Have south-facing house in Yorkshire but concerned it will be hot. Seen all the companies listed here and Im deciding between Express BiFold and Internorm. Above reviews for Express Bifold don't sound good but most companies are in the south of England and too far for after-sales etc. Internorm seem fab but quite new to Uk market - any reviews on this company? Prefer sliding to bifold as doubt we will open the whole area more than once or twice a year and too much profile.

[myron]

I've replaced my entire house's glazing with these type of windows. Extemely pleased with them - high quality UPVC. My extension will also have these apart from the aluminium bifolds.

[myron]

We chose the 'A' rated argon cavity filled windows - remember that there are different grades of UPVC windows. HTH

[threechickpeas]

Posted a while back and still on track to put in 3 metre wide aluminium bi-folds in our kitchen refurbishment with local Belfast firm. Can't wait and been counting the days when we would have used them (more in March, than May for sure). I had planned for a black finish (sort of vintage feel, nice with oak floor, white kitchen, bright retro prints etc) but architect and husband want Anthracite grey. RAL 7021. They think this would be so distracting when looking out of the doors, will reflect more light etc. Any thoughts?!?!

[BIGMIKE]

Hi all, ive used Kloeber for 2 years now and they are great! the service and quality is awsome. They have also opened a London showroom in Sunbury which is fab for my customers the most important is to feel/see the products, very important you do so before buying any product. Kloeber have Alu and timber/UPVC AND Composite products. Their timber bifold and front doors are secure by design (the only supplier on the market that have their Timbers bifold doors approved by SBD) All my customers are pleased with them. They also have their own surveyor and fitters, enjoy the sunny weather all ..

[Minnni]

We installed a set of Easifold 5 metre bifolding aluminium doors around six months ago. We are delighted with them and impressed with the quality of these doors.

I am based in the Greater London area and I got the supplier to survey/install since we had specified these bifolding doors for our extension. The supplier installed within the 8 week time frame that we were told from survey to installation... the long lead time was due to the integral blinds. I got a competitive price and I know the supplier has been to install doors at least 2 to 3 hours drive away. We saved £750 by having these doors in white ... our extension is painted white, so the doors look great!

[SW17Lady]

Has anyone used UK Bifold Company for their aluminium folding sliding doors? any comments on the service and product quality will be greatly appreciated.

[jessip123]

Hi
I am close to ordering our kitchen -to -garden bio fold doors with Sunseeker.

If anyone has used them your feedback would be hugely appreciated-SW17 we are in Richmond so replies could be good for you too!

[ViperStripes]

Has anyone installed any doors that use the Aliplast system?

www.aliplast.pl/visofold_%28dv%29_id_186.html

One supplier I know of is:
www.solarfolddoors.co.uk/

[berno]

Hi jessip123, we have had Sunseeker Doors since 2006 and they work smoothly without effort, trouble-free for 6 years so I can highly recommend - we also had integral blinds fitted which also continue to work well are are maintenance-free. I can't imagine not having them and if we move I will be looking at having Sunseeker Ultraslim installed.
I should maybe add (in response to some other comments I've seen) that Sunseeker doors are manufactured in England and installed by their own team, not contractors - website is //www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk

[besmirchedandbewildered]

Hi there - did any of you have any problems getting your builder to build your patio flush with the inside levels? I keep being told I have to have a course of bricks below the DPC which will leave a step from inside to outside but I'm really keen to keep the levels flush. Anyone got any experience of how they got flush floors through building control?

[GrumpyCrossPatch]

Has anyone used creative doors mentioned above? Their prices look amazing....

[cabbageandbeans]

Besmirched - many people talk about being flush on here - read the whole thread. Certainaly around page 3 & 4 I am sure I saw it mentioned a few times. I think Ilovemondays mentions it too. IMO this thread is essential reading for anyone about to fit any doors - not just bi fold. Actually, I think if you ask for the doors to be flush with your floor (surely this is the most important be to be considered because thats where you most likely to trip over a step) then you can adjust your outside paving/decking......whatever to meet the floor of your new extension? I am NO expert though but thats how I understand it. Anyluck with your builder?

I finally found out about glass and all the options I have to look at. Thanks to Ilovemondays

[besmirchedandbewildered]

I did read the whole thread, I'm a pedantic pain in the arse about thread-reading , I asked if anyone had had problems with their builder about it as I just don't understand why he's saying I can't have it when everyone else can (wails). Apparently there's a building regulation saying the dpc has to be 75mm above the outside floor for damp protection, but clearly this is get-round-able somehow. I'm working on it but fear I'm being dismissed as histrionics non-technical female.

Maybe I should tone down the wailing?

[pootlebug]

Besmirchedandbewildered - we are mid-way through building work. We will have a level threshold between patio and indoors, with sliding doors inbetween. Building inspector from the council has been round a couple of times and discussed it with my builder so it must be possible under regs.

I haven't really got into the detail of how it works though - a drainage channel with a french drain type thing I think. Could probably tell you more when it's finished and I can see it but that won't be for a few more weeks.

[besmirchedandbewildered]

Plan A (wailing) seems to have worked - builder has now apparently found a way around it, which is brilliant although you'd think he'd split the chuffing atom, the way he's banging on. Fingers crossed for building control now...

[Cahoots]

Flush internal and external surfaces look great but be prepared for all the debris that blows about your garden and patio to blow straight inside your house.

I choose to have a step up into the house for this reason.

[Optymist]

From talking to various door suppliers I understand that there are no regulations to stop you having the same levels inside and out but it requires you to decide in advance on your floor coverings inside and out, and very careful measuring by the builder to ensure that the final levels line up. The folding sliding door company have just sent me a sample of the track that is used for the flush finish and their brochure has quite a lot of technical information on how to install - not that I'll be doing it myself!

[cherrycakes23]

we are looking a VUFOLD.CO.UK anyone had any expience with them? we are looking a 2x 3fold timber white doors to go in the corner of our lounge- im just worried about but 1. burgular proof and 2. the quality of the doors eg opening and closing- it will be £2900 in total which is a lot of money to us, other option in pvc patio doors but these dont quite have the look we were after even if they are £1200 cheaper- any thoughts?

[Bigj0nny]

I have a further review / warning for anyone who is considering using the Folding Sliding Doors Company.... Don't do it!!

I can back up all the apalling reviews left by others on this site and others relating to this atrocious company.

Quality is very poor, customer service is non-existent. The only way I got any kind of response from them was when I left a poor review. Their first priority was to contact the review centre to try and get my review removed. When that failed, they contacted me to FINALLY commit to dealing with my issue. Unfortunately I'm still waiting for work to be completed, and I'm not holding my breath 2 years on!!

I have never left a review about any other company in my life, so I am far from a 'serial complainer' but with any folding sliding doors, the stakes are high. As my experience of them is so bad it would be criminal not share it with their next potential victims.

Even these 'cheap' ones are a lot of money so I'd strongly advise spending slightly more and getting a quality product from a quality company, I know that you'll be glad you did. I just wish I had, as I continue to count the cost of my mistake!