Bi fold doors or sliding doors

[OkeyDokey]

We are at the planning stage of a kitchen extension and had planned 4+ metre wide bi-folding doors. We got a quote which is favourable but we're worried about maintenance and general problems with them. We've heard a lot of negative comments about bi folding doors. All of the experiences are third hand.

Any advice would be grateful. Our builder suggested two large sliding doors instead. We wouldn't have as big an opening but they may be the trouble free option.

 

[nediaaa]

Large sliding doors is def the way to go. In the past i seen alot of probs with bi-folds. although they prob have improved by now

 

[fraggle]

Hi OkeyDokey. I have been looking for bifold doors for quite some time but there is nothing available off the shelf (of a decent quality).

Would you mind letting me know the quote/spec of yours? You can PM if you want?

Thanks!

If it's a new build I would go sliding (inside the wall), but for retro-fit I would go bi-fold as I could fit them myself.

 

[Shawady]

. Our builder suggested two large sliding doors instead. We wouldn't have as big an opening but they may be the trouble free option.

Our architect suggested the same to us last year and I'm glad we went with it. I think our opening is 3+ metres.
I seen some nice doors in Futurefold but didn't use them in the end as our architect was warying about paying over a 50% deposit for a product taht may take up to 3 months to deliver. If the company folded (pardon the pun) we could be caught out.
Instead we went through the builder and he sourced them for us.

You could check them out as maybe our architect was just being ultra cautious.

http://www.futurefold.com/

 

[larry1]

Our architect suggested the same to us last year and I'm glad we went with it. I think our opening is 3+ metres.
I seen some nice doors in Futurefold but didn't use them in the end as our architect was warying about paying over a 50% deposit for a product taht may take up to 3 months to deliver. If the company folded (pardon the pun) we could be caught out.
Instead we went through the builder and he sourced them for us.

You could check them out as maybe our architect was just being ultra cautious.

http://www.futurefold.com/

Just to let you know that Future Fold Ireland went into receivership a few weeks back [broken link removed]

 

[OkeyDokey]

Fraggle, The quote I got was €6,000 through my builder. I was told that it was a trade price only. I'm not sure if that includes fitting. My builder may have been the one fitting them.

The other quote I got was €7000 supplied but not fitted for an aluminium framed door. My wife prefers the look of black aluminium over wood.

Shawady, can you post or PM the company that supplied yours?

Can anybody else recommend a good sliding door company?

 

[Shawady]

Just to let you know that Future Fold Ireland went into receivership a few weeks back [broken link removed]

Thats interesting. Thats the type of situation our architect was afriad of; paying 50% upfront and then the company goes out of business before the product comes in.

Okey, we got our sliding doors and windows through a company called Royal Windows.
The builder dealt with them on our behalf.

 

[Buddyboy]

Fraggle, The quote I got was €6,000 through my builder. I was told that it was a trade price only. I'm not sure if that includes fitting. My builder may have been the one fitting them.

The other quote I got was €7000 supplied but not fitted for an aluminium framed door. My wife prefers the look of black aluminium over wood.

Shawady, can you post or PM the company that supplied yours?

Can anybody else recommend a good sliding door company?

We got beautiful wooden sliding doors, about 8' x 7' each, from Sorpetaler. They are a german company and the Irish agent is

Andreas , Tel 0857155066

We were in the same position, to go for bi-fold or sliding. We went for three sliding and are glad we did. The bi-fold would have blocked the view too much, being only 2~3' wide each, so you get lots of frames. The sliding doors we got are 7' wide by 8' high, so dont obscure the view at all.

 

[computerman]

Bi fold and or concertina are tooooooooooooo heavy for everyday use unless you are buying commercial spec doors (which would be very expensive for a house). The doors pull on the overhead track and are easily knocked off "alignment". The door only needs to be off a couple of mm for the lock not to engage, = more problems.