A private residence in Doylestown, PA with several sets of aluminum bi-fold doors designed and manufactured by Vetrina
Bifold doors can transform your home or business, ushering in more natural light and opening up the visual landscape. When you’re looking to elevate your space, you have several options to choose from, but how do you know which one is the right one for you?
In this article, we’ll discuss how bifold doors can upgrade your property, what they’re made of, and how much they cost. At Vetrina Windows, we specialize in bifold doors and can help you assess your space and determine the best door choice.
To learn more about our durable, aluminum-framed folding doors and array of professional services, request a quote today!
What Are Bifold Doors?
Bifold doors feature two or more connected panels that slide open by easily stacking or folding onto themselves. These sliding folding doors close by sliding out from the stack and straightening back into place. They’re often installed to divide very large rooms or to create a large, open doorframe leading to the outdoors.
This kind of door can be made from a variety of materials, from wood to aluminum and glass. Though wood is less expensive, it’s also less durable than aluminum and glass doors. Coated aluminum is weather-resistant, and tempered glass door panels are strong and often come in a variety of tints to match different aesthetics.
The materials you choose for your door system will depend on your goals for your space, where it’s installed, and your budget.
Benefits of Bifold Doors
There are many benefits to installing bifold doors in your home — they can add value to the property, make your space more versatile, and add to the aesthetics of your home. People often choose to install bifold door systems as part of a larger renovation project, such as remodeling a kitchen or dining area, finishing an attic, or installing a deck.
Below is a list of several ways bifold doors can make your space feel more inviting and comfortable.
Better Natural Lighting
Many exterior bifold doors are made of tempered glass in a sturdy aluminum frame, making them an excellent choice for allowing more natural sunlight into your home or office space. More natural light means lower electricity bills and more opportunities to enjoy beautiful views in comfort.
Additionally, glass bifold doors — like those at Vetrina Windows — are often double-walled with UV protection so you can admire the great outdoors without worrying about losing energy or too much sun exposure.
Compact and Convenient
Since bifold doors fold back on themselves, they have a very low profile when they’re open. This feature allows you to open them completely and have a much larger opening than swinging or sliding doors would provide.
When bifold doors lead to an outside space, being able to fold them out of the way brings the outdoors in and makes your home feel more spacious. If they’re installed indoors to divide especially spacious rooms — like finished attics or basements — they can easily be pushed out of the way during parties or business events.
Access to the Outdoors
Possibly the greatest advantage of having bifold doors installed in your kitchen or dining room is the access to the outdoors. Especially if you live in an area with lots of natural beauty, bifold doors can give you a chance to experience it more often.
These multi-panel sliding doors are one of the most versatile kinds of patio doors. They also make it easier to move between indoor and outdoor spaces when you’re having a cookout, opening up a restaurant, or simply want to enjoy some fresh air with your morning coffee.
Low Maintenance
High-quality bifold doors are very easy to clean and maintain. Interior top-hung doors need almost no maintenance at all beyond light dusting or occasional cleaning.
Exterior doors require slightly more maintenance, as they’re exposed to the elements. Simply use glass cleaner to wipe down the glass panels, dust off the frames, and vacuum debris from the bottom track every once in a while. Other than that, they need little attention.
Increased Security
You may think installing glass doors in the wall of your home or office would decrease security, but they can actually make you safer. Tempered glass and durable aluminum frames are difficult to break, and bifold doors locking systems span the length of the door.
Rather than the one or two-point locking system of a traditional door, bifold doors have at least three points of security.
Different Types of Bifold Doors
When choosing a bifold door for your residence or business, it’s important to consider where you’ll install it and how it will be used. These details will help determine what kind of bifold door system will work best for you — and there are many options.
You can install bifold doors in nearly any area of your home or office building. They can also be customized to act as replacements for walls, and some even have access doors to make them more convenient.
Below are more details about the types of bifold door systems that are available.
Exterior Bifold Doors
Exterior bifold doors have specific features to ensure insulation against the elements and keep your space secure. Since these systems are made up of multiple door panels, each panel will have weatherstripping or insulation around the outer edge so they sit flush and nearly airtight against each other.
The same is true for exterior bifold thresholds — they’re made to keep the weather out and your heating or cooling efforts in.
Additionally, most exterior bifold doors feature a bottom-rolling system rather than top hung. This reduces strain on the top of the doorframe and helps ensure a good weather seal along the bottoms of the panels when they’re closed.
Exterior bifold doors also come with multi-point locking systems to keep your space secure. They usually include a primary lock on the outswing door and shoot or flush bolts to hold the door firmly in place.
Room Dividers
Room dividing bifold doors are usually made of lightweight materials meant exclusively for interior use. The frames may be wood or metal, with wood or glass panels suspended inside them. Wood is traditional for interior room dividers, but glass and aluminum doors are quickly overtaking this trend.
Wood is cheaper but less versatile, insulating, or soundproof than aluminum and glass. Double-walled glass panels help keep divided spaces at a steady temperature while simultaneously dampening noise. Aluminum frames are also wear-resistant and won’t chip or dent with regular use.
The biggest concern with glass and aluminum doors is privacy. However, frosted and textured glass door panels are popular for adding interest to office spaces and residences while also maintaining privacy between the divided spaces.
Room dividers can feature top-hung bifold doors or a bottom-rolling system — though bottom-rolling bifold doors are the best option to reduce noise between spaces.
Bifold Doors with Access Doors
Some bifold door systems have access doors that open and close just like a standard swinging door — i.e., the access door can be opened, closed, and locked independently from the other panels. Access doors make it easier to pass between divided spaces or move in and out of your home without having to fold open all of the bifold panels.
Commercial Bifold Doors
Commercial bifolding doors are usually larger and sturdier than their residential counterparts. Restaurants and retailers frequently install commercial bifold doors in their storefronts to make the space feel more inviting, let in fresh air, and extend the business space so they can serve more customers.
These doors typically have very tight weather seals and three-point locking systems to ensure they’re extra secure. They also usually feature double-walled glass panels to provide both insulation and visibility.
Residential Bifold Doors
Residential bifold door systems are usually shorter and less heavy than commercial doors. Exterior doors come with insulation and robust locking systems, while interior doors are typically thinner with locking systems that merely hold them in place. Since interior residential bifold doors often only serve to break up large, open areas, security isn’t a priority.
Folding Doors are an excellent way to open up the space for bars and restaurants
Factors Influencing The Cost of Bifold Doors
The final cost of your bifolding doors can fluctuate depending on a variety of factors, from the materials you choose to who you hire to install them. When creating a budget for your bifold door installation project, it’s important to assess the short- and long-term cost of the decisions you make.
Some choices may save money now, but end up costing you more in the long run. The factors listed below are the things that will have the greatest impact on the final cost of your project.
Structural Supports
Every door system has a structural support header across the top of the door frame. With bifold doors, the header is usually flush with the ceiling.
If you’re installing a bifold door system for the first time or replacing a sliding door with bifold doors, you’ll need to replace the structural support header as well. This extra work will add to the overall cost of the project.
Continued Maintenance
Cheaper door systems are often made from cheaper materials that will wear out faster and require more maintenance. Though the upfront cost of these systems may be tempting, the cost of continued maintenance will be higher, and they’ll need to be replaced sooner than a more durable system.
Materials Used
Wooden bifold door panels are the least expensive option when it comes to choosing a door system. Though some wooden options are made to withstand extreme changes in weather, this option is usually best suited for temperate climates or interior room separation. Even high-quality wooden panels tend to degrade faster than other materials.
Glass and aluminum door panels are more expensive but also more versatile. High-grade glass and aluminum don’t wear down as quickly as wood and offer better temperature control since most glass bifold panels are double-walled.
Double-walled systems may cost more than wooden or single-pane glass doors, but they’ll save you money through energy conservation and reduce maintenance costs. Single-wall glass doors are usually recommended for interior use only, but they are less expensive if you’re looking to break up larger interior spaces.
Labor Fees
The cost of installation is a significant part of the cost of your bifold door system. While some systems can be installed by a determined DIYer, it’s usually safer to trust professionals with this kind of work. This may increase the cost of your project, but it may save you money in the long run because you can trust that they’re installed properly and won’t suddenly break or fall.
When choosing a contractor to install your bifolding door system, look for professionals with plenty of good reviews and mid-range pricing. Cheaper contractors may be less experienced than their more expensive counterparts.
Get a Free Quote from Vetrina Windows Today!
If you’re looking for a high-quality bifold door system for your home, look no further than Vetrina Windows. Our panoramic bifolding doors are perfect for adding interest, natural light, and versatility to any home or business.
To learn more about our bifold door options and installation services, contact Vetrina Windows today to request a quote!
