Choose from timber (engineered or laminated frames being less likely to warp), uPVC or aluminium bi fold door frames – or a combination of aluminium and wood. The most affordable option for folding sliding doors tends to be uPVC – but it is always a good idea to get quotes from several suppliers and compare what is offered. A material that does not require much maintenance, uPVC can cope well with any environment. The standard colour is white, but uPVC doors are also available in other colourways, including some very convincing woodgrain effects. As with any material, it is very important to choose a good quality supplier as a poorer quality uPVC bi fold door can suffer if the frames twist or warp and it can be difficult to repair. Eurocell UPVC sliding patio doors start from £499 Considered contemporary in concept, FSDs also suit a traditional home. Timber frames, in particular, work well in both modern and period properties. As well as perimeter framing, timber is ideal for adding features such as decorative base panels and glazing bars.
With its impressive eco credentials and high thermal efficiency, timber is available in hardwood and softwood, off-the-peg or bespoke designs. While solid hardwood has been traditionally considered the most durable, it is worth asking about chemically improved softwood, known as accoya, which has been introduced recently. Kleober timber eurofold bifold door, from £1,900 New engineered or laminated timbers can provide extra strength for greater expanses of glass, as the bonded sections help minimise warping and twisting, improving structural stability while increasing thermal efficiency. Warping can cause the weather seals on a door system to fail, as well as affecting the operation. ) logo to check timber comes from a sustainable source. A timber bi fold door needs ongoing maintenance to ensure that it lasts over time. They may be painted or stained and varnished, or clad externally in aluminium and then powder-coated. Oak stain is a popular option, as are painted sets in neutral and classic colours, or you could opt for ready-primed frames.
Darryl Jeffree, timber and joinery buyer at Wickes, says: ‘Timber doors are the best option if you want an environmentally-friendly option, but consider thermal efficiency and ensure the wood is FSC-certified. An important decision is whether to choose pre-finished doors, which won’t need to be decorated once installed – saving time and ensuring the product is sealed and finished correctly – or unfinished doors. These let you stamp your individuality on your home.’ ‘Although folding-sliding doors are available in timber and uPVC, the preferred material is aluminium as it won’t twist or warp with age and exposure to the elements,’ says Brendan Day, head designer at Apropos. ‘If the seal on a double-glazed unit fails, and the cavity starts to mist up, it’s usually due to movement in the door frame rather than a failure of the glazed unit itself. An expanding frame around the glass can create fractures of the seal and lead to the failure of the double-glazed unit.’
Aluminium is lightweight, strong and dimensionally stable – meaning it does not twist or warp in response to changes in humidity or temperature – making it ideal for door frames and surrounds. Its strength allows the frames to be very narrow, maximising the glazed area, so it is well-suited to contemporary folding sliding door styles where a minimal look and maximum light are required. Check that the bi fold door you choose conforms to the current regulations for thermal efficiency, which require frames to be thermally broken to avoid cold bridging (where energy is transferred through the frame, causing heat loss from inside to out). Origin Aluminium bi-fold doors, POA Aluminium doors are low-maintenance and can be powder-coated in any colour or even a realistic woodgrain effect. In a marine environment (within 5,000 metres of a marine or saltwater site), they can be upgraded to withstand the highly corrosive nature of saltwater. With growing demand for ever larger expanses of glass and designer-style minimalist framing, the latest FSDs are the perfect complement to the modern home.
Durable, maintenance-free aluminium is an ideal choice, as its innate strength allows for a thin frame profile that can support vast areas of glass. Such lightweight doors require less stacking space plus there is a wide range of anodised finishes – with an electrically charged oxide layer to protect against corrosion – and powdercoated colours. New energy-efficient frames feature a thermal break to help prevent heat loss and condensation. Alternatively, you may prefer alu-clad or composite frames that combine a timber interior with a hardwearing aluminium exterior. Although less expensive, uPVC won’t be as strong or offer such slim sightlines (frame profile). Matt Higgs, director of Kloeber, says: ‘A major advantage of aluminium FSDs is a low-maintenance powdercoated finish, plus a slimmer, more contemporary profile. However, thermal efficiency is also paramount, as typically a metal product will not insulate as well as timber. A thermal break in the frame is therefore essential.
This usually takes the form of a polyamide insulating strip placed directly through the centre of the frame, splitting the aluminium into two and stopping the conduction of heat.’This is a question we are asked frequently and we do have our own opinion. It’s only fair to give a response to all of the paints we have used: TOP TIP: To make and standard emulsion more hard wearing (and easier to wipe down) add a globule of PVA glue to the tin and mix it thoroughly . It has no side effects other than making the paint stronger. NOTE: one globule = as much as you want. Suggest half cup per 2.5 litre tin. White emulsions are the staple paint of every job and finding the best combination of price, coverage and quality is a constant challenge for us. When it comes to the quality of the paint, we are looking for: Until recently, I professed that Johnstones premium contract matt was the best performer. We used it happily for a few months until drying time issues caused us to look elsewhere.
We then switched to the decent Valspar white emulsion, but have moved on to Fortress VINYL (not trade) emulsion which seems equally good but is a good deal cheaper at £28 for 10 litres. NOTE: we seem to change white emulsions every couple of months because every brand seems to go through phases of being good and then not so good. I have to assume the paint manufacturers change their formula or something ANOTHER NOTE: I always say to customers that we are happy to use ANY brand of coloured emulsion. The only paints I would avoid personally are the very very cheap emulsions. If it costs £10 for a huge tub, it probably isn’t amazing, but even then, it will still do a job. In order of what we like at the moment: New in at number 1 is the American brand, only available at B&Q (to my knowledge). Coloured paints can only be mixed and are aligned with the Dulux colours. Meaning you can ask for Natural Calico and be obliged. The drawback is that you can’t pick a colour up off the shelf and it is mid-range expensivenesswise (another new word).
Something like £40 for a 5 litre tin. You can purchase it for less if you happen to be a trader and have a Tradepoint card. Ask your decorator to buy it for you at the cheaper rate, perhaps. If they are good sort, they will. The white emulsion is around £20 for 10 litres (a good deal) and although it is good paint, I’m sure that the mixed colours are even better quality. Out of all of the manufacters, Johnstones have made the biggest improvements in recent years, seemingly blazing a trail in paint technology. We recently used Johnstones trade emulsion, which covered so well that we only needed 10 litres where I expected to use 20. In a good way. Also, their water based undercoat is easily the best. Also, they are a bit cunning in that they will mix colours for you “borrowed” from Farrow and Ball and Dulux. A posh paint company based in the Manchester area. They claim to have the highest pigment ratio of inks in their paint compared to any other company. Who can argue with that?
Better than Farrow and Ball, for a comparable price. Eggshell (for woodwork): same as Farrow and Ball. Downsides: Little Greene are only available online, meaning you can only get the paint by the next day – at the earliest- if you run short. Also, the paint separates very quickly. A very clear liquid almost instantly rises to the top of the tin. It’s fine as long as you keep stirring. Also, it is expensive. We used their emulsion recently and I was a big fan. I would use it in my own home. Emulsions: At the high end of the market, something like £35 (or more) for 2.5 ltr. Always happy to use it. It’s like the Apple Macintosh of paints, it’s more expensive than the others and has a swanky tin, but it’s hard to say whether the paint inside is really any different. Gloss/Eggshell: Farrow and Ball have a policy of only manufacturing paint with low VOC content, meaning they do not have any oil based paints. The main problem here is with colours like creams (and other shades which still require a white undercoat) the paint does not cover very well and can leave streaks.
In this case two top coats are needed as well as an undercoat. Emulsions: The vinyl coloured emulsions are very good. Reasonably priced, they have some of the best covering capability of all the paints mentioned.Again, comparable to Dulux and Crown. All three are on a par. Note: I have a soft spot for Wickes for no discernible reason. I think it’s the best place to buy coving/cornice. Emuslions: You think you know what you are getting with Dulux. However, Dulux suffers from inconsistency in terms of quality. Sometimes you get a good tin, sometimes it can be powdery. To guarantee a hard finish that can be wiped if knocked, you have to go for the diamond hard finish. The problem with this is that the diamond finish range is small and comes with a higher price tag. I would suggest Dulux have been cynical in this matter by reducing the quality of their standard range over the last few years. (Refer to my top tip and add a PVA glue to the standard range) Oil based: non-drip satin and gloss are fine.