Top Considerations When You Are Selecting Bi-fold Doors for Your Newly Built Home

Construction & Contractors Blog

Bi-fold doors comprise a minimum of two panels that fold onto themselves to open. The panels are often all linked together using hinges. Bi-fold doors are not created equal, and there are a lot of things that you should consider if you are thinking about installing these doors in your newly constructed home. Here are some of the top considerations you should make. 

Number of panels: As already mentioned earlier, bi-folds are made up of at least two panels, meaning you can find bi-fold doors with three, four, five, six or more panels all connected together. Carefully think through the panel configurations available to you, and how they might meet the requirements of your home. As a rule of the thumb, the larger the size of the opening, the more panels you will require. If you'll be using bi-fold doors as closet doors, for example, you might need a two-panel or four-panel bi-fold door, depending on the size of your closet.

Construction material: Bi-fold doors come in a range of different materials, such as timber and aluminium, and it is up to you to choose a material that suits the style of your home. If you want to create a traditional-style look in your home, timber bi-folds would be a perfect choice. Timber has a natural look and rustic appeal that other materials try to imitate. But if you are looking forward to creating a modern-style look in your home, the metallic finishes of aluminium bi-folds would work superbly. Bi-fold doors fitted with glass (called French bi-fold glass doors) are also available for use in a range of different applications—e.g., as front doors and room dividers.

Opening style: How do you want your bi-folds to open? Do you want them to open from the middle, or slide to the left or to the right? While this may not appear to be such an important consideration, it has the potential to affect the layout of the rooms within your home. If you want to open your bi-folds from the middle, you will need to make sure you have enough space for the panels to swing open. If you do not have enough room for swinging bi-folds to open, you might have to install sliding bi-folds, which generally require less space to open. 

It's always a good idea to ask professional home builders and designers to help you choose bi-folds that will suit your newly-built home. These professionals have a better idea of what type of bi-folds you will need.

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24 April 2017

Extending the patio

When we moved into the house we had a really cute patio, but it was so small that if more than two people wanted to share a meal or sit together there wasn't room. That's why I have been extending the patio and working on ways to make it more hospitable for the whole family to spend time out there, such as getting the music system to connect to some speakers in the structure. This blog has some tips for homeowners who are looking to attempt a patio renovation or extension and has some tips on which jobs to DIY and when to call in the professionals.