What Are Bi fold doors?

French doors (also called French windows) are traditionally hinged double doors which open onto your garden, patio or conservatory. They contain a main frame with multiple see-through panels. French doors usually can be found in pairs.

The key benefits of French doors are their clean looks, easy installation and accessibility. But there are lots of other reasons to consider Folding doors over other traditional options. Traditional options such as patio or sliding doors and bi-fold doors.

French doors tend to be an even more desirable choice because of the affordability, uniformity and easy installation. Since the doors are set with numerous glass panels, it indicates that they bring plenty of light into the home but achieve this without sacrificing space or efficiency.

Other factors to consider regarding French doors include, but aren't restricted to:

Cost – The cost of your doors will depend not only on the caliber of the doors, but on the opening of the aperture where they're to be installed. For larger openings, sliding doors or bi-fold doors are less expensive as a result of locking mechanisms and hardware involved.

French doors might need to be done with sidelights or additional windows. But also for smaller openings, French doors are usually regarded as more desirable.

Access – As soon as your French doors are fully open you need to have full use of the width of the opening. But you will be limited by the maximum leaf size (generally around 900mm), so a maximum opening with both doors open could be about 1800mm wide.

Having access fully width of the opening is great for smaller properties where space internally or externally is limited.

Security – Most French doors will be constructed with multi point locks. These lock the frames together when they're closed and cover splines to fill the space where the doors meet, as this is the most vulnerable area. Opening restrictors may also be a good idea, as a typical injury inflicted on French doors is to crack after being blown back by a strong gust of wind.

You can also want to consider reinforcing the glass panels if you should be particularly worried about intruders. Overall, French doors are a really secure option for your home.

Performance – If the window panels in your French doors are double glazed, they can also offer decent thermal efficiency for your home. Which will not just cut down on heating costs, but will even leave your home feeling more comfortable.

Lighting during the day will also not be an issue. It's easier to install a couple of curtains over French doors than over other external doors as long as they be required.