When fully opened, your garden and interior become one. Available in a range of shapes, designs and styles, timber bi-fold doors can suit both period properties and contemporary homes. We’re happy to give guidance on which opening style would best complement your requirements.
Our approved network have installed thousands of high-specification timber bi-fold doors in London and Surrey, so you can be safe in the knowledge that your new doors will be built and installed to an exceptional standard and quality.
Whether you choose a hardwood, redwood or a combination of the two for your bi-fold doors, the best option for longevity and minimal warping or twisting is a cross grain laminated timber.
Cross grain laminated timber is created by sawing the timber into strips, and then bonding it back together with the grains facing in opposite directions.
When the strips try to twist in opposite directions, they simply counter each other and the frame doesn’t twist or warp.
The lifespan of a quality bi-fold door is decades rather than years. The longest lasting and most dynamically stable timber is a specially-treated redwood called Accoya.
It is expensive, but worth considering if you plan to pass your property down through the generations.
Teknos, a world-leading timber paint manufacturer (and our preferred), has conducted extensive research on the lifespan of timber doors and windows.
This research has proven that where timber doors are sealed, painted and glazed in a factory (known as factory-finished), they will last up to 30% longer and require less maintenance than doors that are glazed or painted on site.
Choose from either a first fix or fully-finished installation.
First fix gives you the flexibility of having your door installed into the opening, ready for your own builder to seal in and complete the finishing touches to the interior.
Opt for the fully-finished installation, however, and our approved installers will do it all for you, including making good the internal plasterwork, installing and painting any internal tread board, trims and period architraves.
Extend your painting cycles by applying 3-8 coats (or three thicker coats) of timber microporous paint at the start. We’ve found that, compared to standard painting cycles of 2-4 years, this additional step can extend your painting cycles to 8–12 years.
This technologically-advanced microporous paint allows the timber to breathe and prevents any flaking that you might see with oil-based paints. It essentially acts as a sun screen, preventing the sun’s harmful UV rays from damaging the timber underneath the paintwork. It’s worth noting that south-facing doors will require more frequent repainting than north-facing doors.
There are a few ways you can protect the paintwork at home as well. Washing the polluted dust from the external faces with a sponge and water twice a year can have a big impact. And when it comes to repainting, ensure you use the same water-based microporous paint which can be applied straight on after a light sanding and without burning off the old paint as you’d ordinarily do with oil-based paints.
Once repainted, your bi-fold doors will look brand new again.
High-performance quality rollers, hinges and locking systems are essential for years of trouble-free use of bi-fold doors.
Our approved suppliers only use heavy duty ironmongery, hinges and rollers, designed and tested to operate through tens of thousands of opening cycles. Quality hardware also ensures that your new bi-fold doors will open and close with minimal effort
Dynamically stable engineered bi-fold doors, combined with modern draught-proof seals, will keep your doors draught-free in the most severe of climates.
The cross grain laminated timber frames are 30% stronger than standard frames and wont twist or warp like normal timbers giving you an airtight frame all year round. The seals used are of the highest quality from world leading manufacturers such as Schlegel.
The best double glazing for maximising heat retention is coated with an invisible metallic low-emissivity soft coat. This is up to 33% more efficient at preventing heat loss than the industry standard ‘hard coat’ low-e alternatives.
We recommend soft coat double-glazed units with warm edge spacer bars and gas-filled cavities for ultimate performance.
If required, additional invisible glass coatings and glass types, such as laminated glass, can be added to further improve soundproofing, security and solar/UV reflection.
A ‘no-salesperson’, no-obligation emailed quote
A free home visit, if required (for those in London and Surrey)
CAD drawings with detailed specifications for each quoted product
Realistic before & after photo simulations, if required
Conservatories and orangeries have long been a popular extension style, as they can be designed specifically to complement the design of your property. What’s more, modern performance glazing and next-generation thermal conservatory roofs, pillars and posts allow for optimum temperature control throughout the seasons.
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