Bifolds VS Patio Doors for your House Extension

When planning a house extension, one of the decisions that must be made is about the type of door that will connect your home to the patio or garden. The most common choice for homeowners looking for new doors is between bifolds or patio doors.

Before making that decision, homeowners should look into a number of factors that may influence their choice. Safety and functionality are perhaps the two most important factors to consider. However, an elegant and modern design is also important and should be factored in during the decision-making process.

Bifold doors vs sliding patio doors extension

Patio doors are a popular option for those looking to upgrade their living space. The sliding door range can be made to order, in either lift-and-slide or inline sliding doors. Their large glass panels allow for large openings and have a fantastic ability to frame outdoor views, creating a light, bright space in your home. Their large panes effectively make a glazed wall, creating an open and accessible space between the inside and outside space.

Similarly, bi folding doors are another personal preference for any building project. This door type is known for its opening mechanism, where the door panels fold to offer a seamless transition from inside to outside space. What makes them more unique, is that they can open your new extension fully to the outside, opening up an entire wall.

If you are finding it hard to decide on the perfect door for your new home extension, keep reading for more information on each door system.

Bifold Doors

A Bifold door is an excellent investment for those looking to upgrade their home.

Aluminium bifolds are the most common type of bifold door due to their aluminium frame.  Their slim frames allow for more glass area, meaning more natural light and unobstructed views. Plus, some of the key benefits of aluminium is that it is incredibly secure. The material is extremely strong, allowing for larger panels than a regular door.

At UK Doors Online, our bifold doors can also manufacture french doors, using the same aluminium system. Both types of glass door are known for their excellent energy efficiency, offering an impressive U value of just 1.4 W/m2K as standard. These types of doors are excellent for those looking to improve the thermal efficiency of their home. As these door types are designed with a thermally broken system, you can enjoy a comfortable home all year round!

So, now you know some of the main features of a bifold door, let’s look into some other features:

• No other door can fully open up a wall space like a concertina style bifold door, offering the most unhindered view of the outside.
• They lock from multiple points, a detail that helps provide even more security than some sliding door systems, which usually only lock from one point.
• Bifold doors offer the ability to have a traffic door, saving you folding doors each time you open them.
• They have super-slim frames, increasing the amount of natural light that enters a room.
• Can open inwards or outwards- adjusting to the space of your patio area or inside space.
• Available in double glazing and triple glazing options

Sliding Patio Doors

Sliding doors tend to be seen in properties looking for a more modern approach. However, at UK Doors Online, we have a variety of bespoke colour and hardware options to suit every style of property.

As mentioned before, bifold doors fold into each other, vs sliding doors where glass panes slide along a top and bottom track. Unlike bifold doors, sliding patio doors are commonly manufactured in both uPVC and aluminium. Our aluminium glass doors tend to be favoured by most due to their incredibly security properties, whereas uPVC offers a more affordable option.

An aluminium sliding patio door offers not only a sleek, sophisticated look but also smooth operation. The large glass panes glide effortlessly along a track, and are available in a wide choice of configurations. With some large panes fixed in place, and some sliding, the door system can be made bespoke for your space.

Some more excellent features of sliding patio doors are:

• The doors are typically made up of larger panes of glass compared to bifolding doors. As a result, they offer the best and most unhindered view all year long when they are closed.
• Excellent thermal efficiency with a U value of 1.4W/m2K.
• They are the most space-saving doors since they work within their existing framework. Meaning they won’t take up any extra space in your room. However, a similar result can be achieved with bifolding doors if you decide to install them folding outwards instead of inwards.
• Market-leading sash sizes of up to 2500mm x 2700mm.
• Super-slim aluminium frame with interlock of 25mm or 50mm.
• Available in both double and triple glazing.

So, which will you choose: Bifold doors or Sliding doors?

Now that you see the comparison of bifold doors vs sliding doors, you can decide what features you like best.

You may choose bifold doors due to their ability to fully open a space to the outdoors, or you might opt for sliding doors due to their smooth elegance. Whatever your choice – you can find it here at UK Doors Online. We offer a range of bifolding and sliding patio doors, ensured to add value, practicality and style to your extension.

If you are still unsure and need some expert advice, or want more information on what we can do for you, contact us on 01924 929 600. Alternatively, you can email one of our friendly sales team of experts at sales@ukdoorsonline.co.uk.