Tips For Getting Exterior Bifold Doors For Your Home
Folding doors are more than just a unique alternative to traditional doors; these open up a space and add beauty. You can have bifold doors in your home as interior door, dividing a larger room into two for better flexibility. Or you can go for bifold doors for your external walls, leading out to a patio. That said, when choosing external doors, you have to be extra considerate of the different factors affecting how your folding door will look, be maintained, withstand weather elements, and so on.
A Buyer’s Guide To Exterior Bifold Door Shopping
Love hosting social gatherings? Also love enjoying lots of natural light and views of the outdoors? Then, you’ll love installing exterior bifold doors in your home.
These doors create a seamless connection between your indoor and outdoor spaces and open up effortlessly regardless of size. By elegantly folding onto a sliding track, bifold doors become a gorgeous way of opening your way to the outdoors. Talk about enhancing the living experience!
So, how do you choose folding doors that are the best in style and convenience? Take some tips from this guide to exterior bifold doors:
– Consider The Space You Have For Doors
One of the things to know about exterior bifold door shopping is that you need to make sure you have plenty of space for the doors you’ve chosen. Bifold doors are space-saving, but also require space in a different way (the panels of the door have to go somewhere!).
Therefore, choose folding doors for your exterior wall that leads to a garden or patio. Needless to say, these may not work for a traditional front porch, as there may be too many structures getting in the way.
If you’re looking for a bit more convenience in folding doors that you will be opening all the way only occasionally, choose an odd number of panels. This folding system enables you to open a single door—also called a ‘daily door’—without having to unfold the complete door.
– Select A Suitable Configuration
Exterior bifold doors come in different configurations, the main two being top-hung and bottom-rolling doors.
- Top-hung bifold doors may be unique but can be unstable due to the weight pulling them down. And since there is a need for a supporting feature, top hanging bifold doors have to be installed with a large beam overhead. This can effectively take on the weight of the folding doors
- Bottom-rolling bifold doors are much more stable and manageable. Since the center of gravity is lower, you don’t have to fret about the weight or the opening ease of these doors. Plus, given that bottom-rolling exterior bifold doors are easier to install, you save some money on the process of getting these!
If you’re prioritizing convenience—especially if owning bifold doors for the first time in your home, go for bottom-rolling doors. That being said, there are some things to know about exterior bifold doors. These doors are as convenient and smooth to use as your diligence towards focusing on their upkeep. For example, keep the tracks free of dirt, leaves, and other kind of debris.
– Choose Low Maintenance Materials
Popular choices in folding doors dwindle down to wooden and aluminum frames. Wooden frames are more budget-friendly and have a classic appeal. You can also customize the colors by painting them. However, keep in mind that wooden frames for folding doors may not be very durable against harsh weather conditions.
On the other hand, aluminum bifold folding doors hold up well against sunlight, wind, rain, and more. With proper maintenance, these can far outlast wooden frames. Of course, aluminum frames are pricier, but the value for money is undeniable. The benefits of aluminum folding glass doors include a contemporary appearance, amazing longevity, and, best of all, energy efficiency.
If you’re looking for worthwhile investment when customizing exterior bifold doors, look into aluminum frames with double-glazed glass panes. Dedicate as much area to the glass panes as possible. In the next point, you’ll learn why this is a perfect combo.
– Prioritize Energy Efficient Design Features
Double-glazed aluminum bifold doors can be a valuable long-term decision because of the energy savings in store for you! Choose the right type of aluminum bifold door, as it helps conserve energy in many ways:
- Exterior bifold doors are exceptionally helpful for cutting down energy bills, as there’s an abundant flow of natural light in your home. Turn off those lights, and enjoy the serene atmosphere!
- Sunlight offers benefits concerning temperature too. An open flow of sunlight in the winter via the external folding doors ensures a warm and cozy atmosphere.
- Another one of the tips for getting exterior bifold doors is that to limit the loss of cooling to conserve energy via the AC in the summer, go for aluminum folding doors with double-glazed glass help.
Make sure you ask your bifold door manufacturers about all the design features and add-ons they offer to elevate the energy efficiency aspect of your bifold doors.
– Focus On Essential Security Features
Naturally, when you are in the midst of customizing bi-folding doors for your home’s exterior, safety is a top priority. Don’t let the glass aspect deter you from getting gorgeous folding doors, as these doors are generally much more secure than you think.
Aluminum bifold doors are usually equipped with multi-point locking systems. The primary lock is on the outer-swinging folding door. For added safety, you can choose to add shoot bolts or flush bolts. As for the non-active panels of your exterior folding door, the locks go into the head and sill of the door.
Need more helpful tips for getting exterior bifold doors with enhanced security? Choose an aluminum folding door with a security system. Motion sensor alarms, CCTV footage, the works—these will help you enjoy your folding doors to the fullest.
Bifold Doors – Your One-Stop-Shop for Customized Exterior Folding Doors in Dubai!
Finding these tips for getting exterior bifold doors helpful? At Bifold Doors, we’ve got extensive experience and insight as one of the leading craftsmen in bifold doors for residential and commercial spaces in Dubai.
Reach out to us when you’re ready to get started on customizing yours. Our team can guide you through the process, offering expert advice on materials, glazing, and locking options that will suit your space!
