Aluminium Sliding Doors vs Bi-Fold Doors
Sliding Doors vs Bi-Fold Doors: Which is best for your project?
Choosing between an Aluminium Sliding Door and an Aluminium Bi-Folding Door is a common conundrum for homeowners across Devon and Cornwall as they look to renovate their properties.
With many home extensions or renovations designed to add more natural light and blend the distinction between indoor and outdoor living, these are two common additions.
Depending on your space, style and budget, many often have to choose between a bi-fold door or a sliding door.
In this helpful guide, we’ll compare the two and explore which option could be best for you.
What is an Aluminium Sliding Door?
Sliding doors run on a track, either mono rail, duo rail or triple rail depending on the configuration of your doors.
The doors will either slide to the left or the right, with the panes sitting behind each other. Hidden pocket versions allow the sliding door to be inserted into the wall to create a completely open wall.
Lift and Slide versions are also available, the Lift and Slide mechanism, lifts the door onto wheels when the handle is turned, making for effortless opening of large panes of glass.
Pros of a Sliding Door
- Offers Slim Sightlines to Maximise Views
- Easy Operation
- Space Saving Door Solution
Cons of a Sliding Door
- Bi-fold doors offer quicker access out with a lead door.
- Depending on your preferred system, they can be the more premium choice
What is a Bi-Folding Door?
Bi-folding doors, also known as folding sliding doors, are doors which concertina together when opened. These doors can either open inwards or outwards depending on the available space. When opened, it completely opens up the room to the outside.
Choosing the right bi-fold or sliding door for your property is important, not only to create the wow factor but also in terms of how you will use the door.
Both options allow you to open wide apertures of your home to the outside, and flood your home with light, but which options are right for you?
Pros of a Bi-Fold Door
- A desirable item that adds property value
- Create uninterrupted views when opened completely
Cons of a Bi-Fold Door
- Their large number of panes can hinder external views
- Require more space than sliding doors when open panels stack together
Which offers the best view?
One of the main attractions of a bi-fold or a sliding door is to maximise your external views, whether that’s a countryside farm, overlooking the sea or just a beautiful garden.
Depending on the size available, sliding doors allow for minimal distributions. Slim sightlines will frame your outside views with large expansive panes of glass.
A bi-fold door can offer equally impressive views, but as a result of the multiple panes, your views will be impacted more.
When closed, naturally there is more profile to contend with and once opened, the door will concertina to one side.
Space
The space you have available within your project could dictate whether or not you can choose a bi-fold or sliding door.
The panes of a sliding door stack on top of one another, so they don’t take up additional space inside or outside when they’re opened.
Bi-folding doors need space to be opened and stored while open so can be the less practical option where space is at a premium.
Configurations
Both bi-folding and sliding doors allow for multiple different configurations depending on your requirements.
Our ALUNA Slider is available in market-leading sash sizes of up to 2.5m x 2.7m per sash, with selected bi-fold doors reaching heights of 2.5m.
Both bi-folding and sliding doors allow for a low threshold option, allowing the lines between the inside and outside to be blurred.
Double or Triple Glazing
Both bi-folding and sliding doors are available with double or triple glazing. Contact our sales team to learn more about the thermal efficiency of our doors.
Ventilation
Lift and slide doors can be opened a little and locked back into place to allow ventilation into a room, whilst keeping the room secure. With a bi-folding door, a whole panel has to be opened.
Summary
In summary, it does depend on what is most important to you. If you are looking for a seamless transition between the inside and outside, then bi-folding doors might be the right choice, whereas if you are looking to maximise the glass size and make the most of the view, or if space is limited, then sliding doors might be the right choice.
We have both bi-fold and sliding doors on display in our Exeter showroom. Open to members of the public and trade professionals, Monday to Friday.
Pop by and compare the products for yourself to get a feel for which product would work best for your space.
We would recommend visiting a showroom and speaking with an expert to experience the two types of doors for yourself before making your decision. Or speak with our sales team who will be able to help guide you with your decision.
