Inside-outside living is hugely popular these days, and it’s not hard to see why. Bi-fold doors enable any home to embrace the beauty of the great outdoors and enjoy the changing of the seasons, as well as greater freedom in family and social living.
If you want to open up your home to enjoy seamless use of both indoor and outdoor spaces, a standard pair of French doors just might not cut it.
The perfect solution is bi-fold doors. With a smooth and simple push and fold action, bi-fold doors will essentially remove one wall of the room and create a large, light-filled indoor-outdoor space whenever you feel like it. Being so easy to use, bi-fold doors give you the power to transform your living space at a moment’s notice – whether you want to create the perfect BBQ and entertaining space or simply let the kids roam free in the summer.
How bi-fold doors work
Bi-fold doors have a simple but very clever design. Unlike other doors, which open into or out of a room, inevitably getting in the way, bi-fold doors save valuable space by folding back upon themselves. You don’t have to do any of the hard work though, as the doors glide smoothly on a track until they are completely folded away. All you have to do is apply gentle pressure to push the doors along the track. The end result is remarkable, as it’s just like you’ve removed a whole wall of your living room. Fresh breezes and endless natural light flow in through the new opening, and if it’s time to head inside you can close your bi-fold doors and have your normal living space back in a matter of seconds.
Double the size of your living space
Bi-folds are not just a set of doors. They have become so incredibly popular because of how they transform the way a room or space is used. People who install them are amazed at how much new space they have to play with, and how much more they use their gardens or patio areas on a daily basis.
Opening bi-fold doors essentially makes your garden part of your living room, doubling or even tripling your entertaining, socialising, playing and family space. It’s never been easier to stroll onto your patio with your morning coffee, enjoy dinner outside or throw a huge family party where both indoor and outdoor areas are well used. Using the outdoor space becomes easy and natural with bi-fold doors, breaking down the barriers between indoors and outdoors.
Maximising natural light
One of the biggest advantages of bi-fold doors is the amount of light they allow to flood into a room, even when closed. Some people spend a fortune on huge expensive windows, which let a lot of light in but can’t be used to access the outside space. Bi-fold doors offer a better solution, as they maximise the amount of natural light in your room whether open or closed.
Are bi-fold doors as secure as other doors?
When sliding patio doors became a big home design trend a few decades ago, concerns were raised over how secure these new types of doors were. The locks they used were quite basic and easy to tamper with, and as a result insurance companies considered them a security weakness in a property. The same cannot be said for bi-fold doors, as they offer a wide range of impressive security features so as to keep insurers happy and help you sleep soundly at night. These features include multi-locking points across the whole of the sliding track, which is far superior to other glass doors that only have a single locking point. Other security features include hooked locking points and shoot bolts.
If you have little ones in the house, you may be concerned about little fingers being trapped in the joints of the door. Bi-fold door manufacturers are one step ahead and have solved that particular problem too, by fitting doors with finger-safe gaskets to prevent any accidents.
Energy efficiency
Just like any well-designed modern window, bi-fold doors are designed to be as energy efficient as possible. You can find them in double and even triple-glazed models, which keep heat inside your home in winter, keeping the space warm and cosy while also lowering your heating bills. In summer, they offer the unique benefit of opening up your home and allowing a lovely cooling (and ventilating) breeze in.
Aesthetics and value
Bi-fold doors have a wide range of functional benefits, but we mustn’t overlook the aesthetic appeal they can add to a property. Bi-folds are considered the last word in modern home design, partly thanks to their popular use on ambitious modern building projects such as those featured on TV programmes like Grand Designs. They have sleek, attractive aluminium frames and come in a wide range of colours to suit your home, and they add a surprising amount of character to a property. Even better, the aluminium frame requires next to no maintenance.
Bi-fold doors do understandably cost more than standard patio or French doors, but they often pay for themselves due to the value they can add to a property. Ask any estate agent whether bi-fold doors are worth getting, and they’ll tell you that today’s house-buyers understand the huge lifestyle benefits bi-fold doors can offer and properties that have this vital link to outside space are highly sought-after.
Inside-outside living is the future of modern home design. If this is your dream lifestyle, bi-fold doors are the key to making this dream a reality – there really is no better or well-designed alternative on the market.
