There are lots of different domestic door styles to choose from these days, but by far the most popular in Australia are bifold doors. Available in timber, aluminium, and PVC, these doors are designed to completely open up your home and seamlessly blend your indoor and outdoor living areas.
But opening up your home also means it’s open to uninvited guests such as flies and mosquitoes, so what good are these beautiful doors if you can’t open them up without getting hounded by bugs?
Well, the answer is, of course you can! Screening solutions for bifold doors have been around for some time now, but so many people aren’t even aware that they exist, while others have doubts about their effectiveness and aesthetic appeal.
With that in mind, here are 7 common misconceptions about screening bifold doors to clear up any concerns you may be having.
1. Screens will get in the way
Not if they’re pleated or retractable! These are two types of screens that are perfectly suited to bifold doors. Retractable screens come in an aluminium cassette which is fitted to the side of the door, and they can be rolled out across the opening and then rolled back to the cassette when no longer needed. Pleated screens are also fitted to the side of the opening and extend back and forth across the opening. Both of these screens can be fitted to just about any bifold door.
2. Screens will look ugly
Not if they match your doors! Bifold doors aren’t just a practical solution to opening up your home, they are actually a decorative feature. So it’s understandable you would be worried that adding screens might detract from their beauty. Fortunately, there are now screens on the market that are designed to blend in with bifold door frames. They have low profiles and extrusions which can be colour matched to your existing frames, making them a seamless addition rather than an eyesore.
3. Screens will block the view
Not if they’re discreet! The point of bifold doors is to provide a smooth transition from indoor to outdoor living without any obstructions. The right screen should be discreet, tucked away out of sight when not in use, and as invisible as possible when in use. Today’s retractable screens can open up to 4 metres wide in one single span, with no panelling or joins, and no interruption to your view. Where two screens are required for wider spaces, there would be minimal interruption and the mesh used is barely visible from a distance, with only a subtle presence as you approach it.
4. Screens will take up too much space
Not if you choose the right size! One of the biggest concerns to homeowners is how much space the cassettes of a retractable screen will take up, as well as the size of the stack-back of pleated screens. Fortunately, today’s screen cassettes come in a range of sizes to suit the size of the door’s opening. And while it’s true that a wider opening will require a bigger cassette or pleat stack-back, it is entirely relative, because the wider the opening, the less obvious the cassette or stack-back would become and the more likely it would be to blend into the background.
5. Screens will interfere with the doors
Not if they’re mounted correctly! Bifold doors can be fitted with the leaves of the doors opening either outward or inward, depending on the layout and space of the home. If the doors hinge outward, the screens are fitted to the inside, and vice versa. If the doors are open, then generally the screen will clear handles and hardware as the doors are completely out of the way. In some cases, if there is potential for a screen to clash with hardware, it can be mounted to the face of the door frame or built out to clear it. In most – if not all – cases there is a way to install a screen without a problem
6. Screens will restrict access
Not if they’re designed with flexibility in mind! For those who like to entertain a lot, a big six panel centre-opening bifold door would be ideal. On the other hand, those who use one door regularly – but wish to open up the home for ventilation – would be better suited with a 3-door bifold, with two opening to one side and a single lead door. Simply put, whatever the configuration of your bifold doors, they can offer a flexible solution.
7. Screens can be difficult to use
Not if they’re the latest modern designs! Unlike retractable screens of the past, which had a reputation for being flimsy and not particularly user-friendly, today’s screens offer state-of-the-art convenience and usability. They’re highly durable, made from the latest materials, and feature soft closing mechanisms and multi-lock systems that make them easy to operate and safe around children and pets.
Interested in seeing how Artilux can help with your bifold doors? Get a free onsite consultation with one of our experts here.
