Bi-fold doors can transform any living space into a welcoming and spacious entertainment zone — merging the outdoors with the indoors. We’ve put together this handy overview to answer all of your practical questions regarding bi-fold door configurations and their screening solutions.
Before you start the installation
Before deciding on bi-fold doors, first you’ll need to find out whether your space is suitable. The best thing you could do is talk to an architect, a window and door manufacturer or home improvement specialist. These professionals will examine your property, provide options of where the doors could go, advise on the size of frames that can be installed, and measure and create the aperture where your new doors will be fitted.
While bi-fold doors can normally fit into all sorts of spaces and apertures, it’s always a good idea to ask in order to make sure your doors will be installed to perfection. They will also be able to tell you if the renovation can be done without council approval or not.
How do bi-folds work?
Also known as folding sliding doors, bi-fold doors can fold inwards or outwards to open up the space. Bi-fold doors are comprised of panels that fold up and stack against the wall in order to make the most of a space. Bi-fold doors can be internal or external.
Internal bi-fold doors can be used to cover the pantry or the laundry, external bi-fold doors connect the indoors with the outdoors of the home, usually leading into a terrace or garden.
External bi-fold doors are usually glazed with large glass panels that let plenty of light in. These panels use a simple runner system. The doors glide smoothly along the runenrs, with the help of wheels.
The panels themselves are connected by hinges, attached to the roller track at the top or bottom of the door. The whole bi-fold door installation can also feature a traffic door for popping in and out on a daily basis. What are the key advantages?
- Flexibility like no other door
- Can be customised to suit almost any requirement
- They come in various materials
- They are easy to clean, fix, and be installed
- They are secure, featuring lock systems at multiple points of the sliding track
What are the possible configurations?
There are many configurations when it comes to bi-fold doors. Configurations cover the number of doors and how they open. Configuration can be pretty much customised to your needs, and that’ll be tied to the size of the aperture and the space around the doors.
You can choose how many panels you want, whether they fold inwards or outwards and where the lead door will be positioned — the latter is the panel that opens first, and features the multi-point locking system.
What materials are available?
Available materials are aluminium (quite popular; resistant and easy to maintain), timber, and PVC (more energy-efficient than aluminium). Ultimately, the type of material will largely depend on your home, your design preferences, and energy-efficiency.
How to use retractable fly screens with bi-fold doors
While there’s somewhat of a widespread belief that bi-fold doors can’t feature screen correctly, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s possible to find screens for bi-fold doors based on both the size of the opening and how your bi-fold doors are configured. These screens use retractable technology, and slide neatly into an almost invisible side cartridge when not in use, allowing for clear and uninterrupted views.
Take a look at our range of pleated insect screens today at Artilux, perfectly compatible with your bi-fold doors. If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us by filling out this short online form, or by speaking to one of our experts on 1300 884 842.
