The Difference Between Bi-Fold Doors and French Doors

Are you considering having either French or bi-fold doors installed but you’re not quite sure which way to go? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here we can help you decide which doors are best for you and your home by letting you in on the pros and cons of each.

French and bi-fold doors are the two most common styles of UPVC external doors, but which style is for you? Take a look at the pros and cons of each, which will hopefully help with the decision making!

Both have the potential to add value to your home or make it more appealing to would-be buyers. Both also are an improvement over windows or the old style sliding doors, especially if they open up the view or let more light in. It isn’t so much that one is better than the other. It’s more that they are each better suited to particular spaces. Your choice may also depend on price and convenience.

Bi-fold Doors

The benefits of bi-fold doors

First of all, they are functional when you want to make the most of the space.

These doors slide to open and close. This type of mechanism works wonders if you have furniture positioned close to the doors. The doors don’t take up any additional space inside a room or outside on the patio. You can use the space right up close to the doors. The bi-fold doors won’t knock a sofa or a bookcase when it opens because it takes up less space as you slide it open on the runners..

This means you won’t run the risk of making marks or scratching the paint from furniture because bi-fold doors cannot be flung open in the same way that normal doors can be. They can also be fully opened on nice days.

Contemporary Style

If you happen to have a home that’s modern, bi-fold doors really complete the look. These doors offer both style and elegance which are ideal qualities for a home that flaunts a state of the art look.

Offer Security

Bi-folding doors have multipoint locking systems, so as long as you remember to engage the lock, these doors are super secure.

Cons

They are not really practical for small widths. To benefit from Bifold doors, you really want to be able to fully open a whole wall when the weather calls for it.

The open and close mechanism means that if you don’t want the whole wall of doors open, you will be left with a single door opening. With French doors, you can open the double doors. If you’re hosting a large garden party, you will want to do so on a day when you can open them right up or they will be left going in and out of a single door.

Wall-to-wall bi-fold doors can leave limited space for curtains if you want to maximise light. We can consider how you will dress the windows when we decide with you how the doors will be installed.

If you are replacing a smaller system such as a window or french doors, it may be necessary to install a new lintel and remove some brickwork. This may impact your flooring so take this into account too. Building work will add to the cost. We are happy to advise and give costs for both options. Find out more about aluminium bi-fold doors here.

Benefits over Sliding Doors

Sliding doors are great for not taking up space but are a nuisance that you can only open one side and to do that usually means going behind the curtains. Kids and dogs running in and out often cause damage to curtains as .

If your home is older or has a more classic design, sliding patios doors may not work in your home. Why? Well, these doors offer a more modern look and therefore could look out of place in a home that has a more rustic or vintage feel to it.

French Doors

Benefits of French Doors

French doors are not only a stunning design feature but a functional addition to your home too.

Everyone strives to have a home that looks good, and by installing UPVC French patio doors, you’re automatically increasing the general appeal to your property. Now, whilst you may not be thinking of selling up any time soon, a home that flaunts high-class appeal is admired by friends, family and neighbours. The look of a pair of doors with window panes and a window sill on either side, framed by curtains is very popular with those who like a traditional look.

The Downside.

Floor Space is Required to allow for the doors to swing open. You can choose where your space is best used so if you are opening on to a patio or into a conservatory, you can choose to have inward opening doors if the space outside is of more value to you.

If you don’t have a vast amount of floor space then French patio doors aren’t for you. Yes, they may be beautiful but they’re just not practical if you don’t have the room to open doors outwards.

Cost.

French doors are usually more expensive than bi-fold doors but this can depend on whether extra building work is needed. If you are on a budget, you could consider sliding UPVC patio doors.

Both styles look beautiful in any home but it all depends on your personal preference!