Does the prospect of sliding open an entire wall of your house to the outside excite you?

Is your imagination fired by all the possibilities that come with a connected outdoor indoor space?

Do you long for a wow factor for your home?

Then, like us, you’ll be enraptured with thoughts of bi-folding doors.

Before we all get carried away, there are a few things, practical things, to consider to make sure that bi-folds will be right for us and that we buy the right bi-fold doors.

Undoubtedly there will be some questions that we, or at least our other half’s will have, so lets tackle the most common one’s. So we can be ready when they ask…

We ask ourselves will the room naturally extend into the immediate outside space so that it flows off the interior?

This generally works best when the outside area is on or can be made to be at the same level. It could be a patio with seating area and garden. A walled courtyard that becomes part of the house. It is sometimes a pool area or stunning vista.

Whichever it is, will opening it up feel like we have just extended the room?

It is generally a sunny spot at the time we will want to use it. Perhaps it will be a kitchen/breakfast area where we can enjoy the morning sun. Or afternoon/evening entertaining space. Or the way to connect our home with the delights of our garden.

Traditional home, traditional timber frame doors. Modern home, sleek modern aluminium frames. That would be a standard approach, however, don’t rule out the dramatic effect that contrast can play.

Note restrictions may apply in conservation areas and on listed buildings.

Thick profile PVCu frames lend themselves to ‘chunkier’ design. Thin profile aluminium frames including our fabulous new heritage bi-fold doors provide a multitude of design options to suit Victorian; Edwardian; and Georgian period homes as well as contemporary new build properties.

Consider the amount of light that larger or smaller glazing will introduce into the home. Full height and width glazing gives big views drawing in lots of light. A more traditional design may marry with a home’s character.

Ensure your doors include a protected locking system, such as the Avocet Break Secure (ABS) lock, which incorporates the latest technology, is incredibly secure and which burglars can’t get past.

Look for the ‘Secure By Design’ logo.

Look for secure deadlocks which only need a single key and can be opened from inside or outside.

Intermediate panels should have a locking system that stops the panels from being lifted off the tracks. The runners that attach the doors to the top of the frame should also prevent panels being lifted out of the frame.

Intermediate shoot locks can be added to the door panels. They do not have to be used daily but if you are going away they can easily be locked for additional security.