Bi-fold doors - any experiences/recommendations?

[rossyl]

Hi All,

We are looking at getting bi-fold doors as part of our (nightmare) house renovation.

Does anyone have any recommendations/horror stories please?

Express Bi-fold seem to be the best known but they also seem to have long lead times and high prices.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

R


p.s. I never want to do any renovations again. Ever.

 

[BigR]

And there was me expecting some extravagant vehicle modification!

We had bi-fold doors installed on the back of our house - sort of an L-shape on the house (the inside of the L being a patio). We had a bi-fold one side and a tri-fold (if that's the right expression - probably not) on the other part of the L. They're good and better than a bog-standard patio door - compact, fold away nicely and frankly a little more style! The only thing we found was that in summer heat the rail along the bottom could expand a bit and it could therefore be a bit troublesome to shut them in the middle of a summer afternoon. Oh, and make sure they're adjusted to shut properly as there is next to no 'play' in them when trying to force them shut, unlike a conventional door - they do have to be exact.

My one piece of advice...... Make sure you think out where the doors are folded up against when they're open i.e. if you have the option, make them fold against a wall and not into an open space. Our builders were 'typical builders' and installed them incorrectly so they folded out into the middle of the living room. When pointing out their mistake their response was of course "your fault, that's what you told us". And then sheepishly they dug the paperwork to prove they were in fact in the wrong. Idiots.

How on earth did I join a maserati forum and end up giving home improvement advice.......

 

[rossyl]

We spend half our time talking about cleaning (cars)...this is what follows!

Did you get aluminium bi-folds? I don't suppose you recall the company that manufactured them do you?

 

[dem maser]

hi ross

i have used chase windows in enfield.....good rep but pricey....got a quote last week for conservatory...has to be next year but they are good....tell them ive recommended you and see what they can do......

 

[rossyl]

Thanks Dem

 

[conaero]

One of my clients Wizard Windows down in Ford on the South Coast do them, they are very reasonable and very well regarded in the area.

Give Dwayne a call on: 01903 723154 and say Matt his web designer recommended you.

http://wizardwindows.co.uk/doors.php (3rd one down) travel is not an issue but its best to get someone reputable to do the job.

And dont just believe me:

http://www.checkatrade.com/WizardWindows/

 

[Andyk]

We have them leading out of the kitchen.....Never had any issues and they really open up the Kitchen/dinning room when open in the summer.....

 

[dem maser]

Must have on any extention.....

 

[dem maser]

Keeps its value when selling

 

[Ren]

This is what you need
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rc...4vuetS55awa4Rjovc-zJ_eeA&ust=1374102916920779

 

[dem maser]

Dont work.....

 

[Andyk]

Ours is only 3 doors but effective.....Came from Dunraven...

 

[BigR]

We spend half our time talking about cleaning (cars)...this is what follows!

Did you get aluminium bi-folds? I don't suppose you recall the company that manufactured them do you?

They were white PVC jobs, but afraid that's all I know - don't know who manufactured them as it was via a builder, so I imagine something generic. Oh, and they look good and a bit of a talking point. When we came to sell the house, the people buying really thought they were something special and a nice added feature.

 

[rossyl]

Thanks very much all, especially for the photos...they look great!

 

[dem maser]

Looks goodandy.....they open up the place....truly amazing

 

[Andyk]

Tha have made a loud of difference and put mone on the house.....

 

[Flagpole]

Hi Rossyl,

I'm more than happy to give you any advice on home renovations/extensions etc. I own and run a building company in Surrey and am happy to help you out or any other guys on this forum. Renovating your house should be fun, you clearly have the wrong builders in!

 

[rossyl]

Hi Rossyl,

I'm more than happy to give you any advice on home renovations/extensions etc. I own and run a building company in Surrey and am happy to help you out or any other guys on this forum. Renovating your house should be fun, you clearly have the wrong builders in!

Thanks, that's great.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, as the things that crop up I admit do seem slightly unavoidable. If I had an unlimited budget everything would be fine, but I don't..and who does.

The patio is a bit of pain in the neck. We are yet to get a quote to build a patio that is 4 bricks high and measures 5 metres by 3metres. We want it to be at the same level as the floor height in the room it comes off. An aco drain is already paid for, but I'm not sure how the DPC will be effected. We've also been advised to render the bottom two bricks of the house, as they are London stocks and rain will bounce off the paito onto them.
- Your thoughts on that would be appreciated, and any thoughts on costs.

We've then got issues with moving eletric supplies/meters, a structural engineer who everyone thinks is a bit over the top with his requests and the usual of trying to spec a **** of a lot of stuff and make the kitchen, bathrooms etc all "work" in their given spaces.