| Bi folding, sliding panel or French doors? | | | | the doors made to fit the aperture and installed |
| Looking at your budget and the door width will help | | | | professionally. This way, they are manufactured to fit |
| determine which patio door style is right for your home. | | | | your exact requirements and installation is less than |
| If you have only 1.2 metres (about 4 feet), a sliding | | | | half-a-day's disruption and minimal making good. Not |
| door is out of the question, as only half the width | | | | only that but doors that fit correctly will not require |
| allows access therefore you can choose from | | | | in-fills at the edges, therefore they offer increased |
| centrally opening French doors or side-opening bi | | | | insulation and security. |
| folding door. | | | | Once you have made your basic choices, the supplier |
| At the other end of the scale, if you have six or seven | | | | will offer other options such as different types of glass, |
| metres of width, installing several sets of French doors | | | | handles, locks, integral blinds, etc. Many companies |
| would be impractical. In fact, the only satisfactory | | | | have web sites with comprehensive product |
| solution would be bi folding-sliding doors, which would | | | | information. |
| open up virtually the whole width of the aperture when | | | | Some patio doors can be un-locked from outside |
| required. | | | | therefore it is vital to use a well-respected company |
| Bi folding-sliding doors are a combination of the best | | | | with a professional installation team, as they will have |
| features of both French doors and sliding-panel patio | | | | access to your patio door keys. Here are some tips to |
| doors. | | | | consider when selecting which companies to short-list: |
| Choosing bi-folding patio doors. | | | | - A product manufactured in the UK, rather than a |
| There are now very many companies offering | | | | cheap import, has a lower risk of uncontrollable delays, |
| bi-folding doors. Your first decision has to be between | | | | damage in transit and non-conformance to British |
| p.v.c., aluminium or wooden frames. A second decision | | | | standards; |
| might be whether to fit them yourselves or have them | | | | - A reputable company with their own installation team |
| professionally installed by the supplier. | | | | will fit the product quickly and should avoid contentious |
| For security purposes, choose a good quality product. | | | | issues regarding the product not functioning correctly; |
| The decision regarding materials can be narrowed | | | | - Ensure that the product adheres to current building |
| down if you need to complement existing frames. | | | | regulations for U-value and safety glass, as standard; |
| - If existing frames are of stained wood, then your | | | | - Check if strong hinges have been specified, sufficient |
| choices are timber-framed bi-folds, wood-effect p.v.c. | | | | for the weight of the doors, and that locks are secure, |
| or perhaps powder-coated aluminum bifolds in a | | | | easy to operate and dependable (shoot-bolt |
| complimentary colour (such as sepia). | | | | multi-lever) |
| - If the existing window frames to be matched are of | | | | - Ensure that there is a minimum of two years' |
| white p.v.c. or painted wood (any colour, e.g. green or | | | | guarantee so that the doors have performed in all |
| black), the choices are white p.v.c. bi-folds, | | | | weathers; |
| powder-coated aluminium bi-folds (white or any RAL | | | | - Look for reviews and testimonials about the |
| colour powder-coated aluminium bi-folding door | | | | companies you are considering buying from and, if |
| frames) or unstained timber frames that can be | | | | possible, view a local installation; |
| painted each year. | | | | - Ask to try the product, either in a showroom or an |
| - Finally, if the existing frames are old 'Crittal' metal with | | | | installation site, so that you know what to expect in |
| single glazing, have them all replaced - you should | | | | terms of smooth operation, amount of strength |
| recoup some of the money in reduced household | | | | required and how solid the door units are; |
| heating bills. If you have an enviable view to be seen | | | | - If you choose p.v.c., choose a high quality product |
| through the glazing of closed doors, consider not only | | | | with metal-reinforced frames; |
| the width of the glazed door panel but the total of all | | | | - If you choose timber, try to budget for hardwood |
| frame widths across the span. | | | | rather than softwood; |
| - Aluminium frames are strong and narrower than | | | | - If you choose aluminum, ensure that it is "thermally |
| wood or p.v.c. which, depending on quality, can vary | | | | broken" for optimum insulation properties. One final tip - |
| greatly. | | | | avoid hard sales techniques and heavy discounts. A |
| - Good quality p.v.c. frames tend to be reinforced with | | | | good product will sell itself and the price should have |
| internal aluminium for strength but cheap plastic door | | | | been fair in the first place. |
| frames (usually the widest to compensate) can be | | | | Fitting good quality doors and windows will make your |
| fairly easily broken by someone with determination. | | | | home more secure, will reduce your heating costs and |
| - Soft wood is easily damaged, by humidity as well as | | | | should increase or maintain the resale value of your |
| a variety of metal objects. If your budget allows, have | | | | property. |