Bi-fold Doors - Modern Design Features

Jul 22
07:22

2010

Caroline Chapman

Caroline Chapman

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Adding bifold doors to your home can not only completely transform your living space, but it can add value to the sale price too. Old-fashioned folding doors would often present many problems to the user. They were difficult to use, not very versatile, short-lived and leaky. Luckily, technology has advanced and the modern bifolding door is far superior to past designs.

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Wooden Concertina DoorsThe wood bi-fold doors of the past would cause issues such as the door sticking,Bi-fold Doors - Modern Design Features Articles the door rotting, mould growing and frames becoming twisted and out-of-shape. Due to the nature of the wood, changes in temperature cause the wood to warp and bend. This leads to the problem of doors sticking or twisting. Water which becomes trapped in the frame leads to the issues of mould and rotting.Nowadays, the wood is split into different pieces, placed so the grains run against each other and then glued back together under a high pressure. This process is known as laminating and it prevents the frame from changing shape when exposed to changes in temperature. After being laminated, the wooden frames are then treated with anti-rot and anti-fungal treatments to prevent the issues caused by exposure to water. Modern designs include a water ingress within the frame, which prevents water and condensation from building up internally.Aluminium Folding DoorsThe aluminium bifold doors of the past would be susceptible to frequent build-ups of condensation. As well as this issue with condensation, they were also not very energy efficient. Modern aluminium bifold door frames are thermally-broken which improves their energy efficiency and reduces the build-up of condensation. uPVC Folding Sliding DoorsuPVC bifold doors are the best of modern technology. More affordable than the other types of folding door, the uPVC frame provides condensation-free, energy efficient functionality that is versatile and suits many different situations. The easy-to-maintain profiles offer a modern appearance to homes that need smartening up.Clad Bifolding DoorsClad bifolding doors are made up of two different materials. The main frame is usually the strongest mater and usually the external side for strength and stability. The cladding is then clipped on to the inside with glazing beads. The example I am going to use today is aluminium and timber clad bifold doors. In this example, the aluminium makes up the main external frame. It provides a strong, secure and virtually maintenance-free exterior, while the wooden interior offers a very attractive appearance. The wooden interior can easily be clipped off, so it can be sanded and repainted or swapped for a whole other species of wood without needing to replace the entire door. This offers a permanent, long-lasting door that can easily be changed to suit your interior style. This is especially useful if you change the style of your interior seasonally, or if you are planning to sell your house and wish to appeal to as wider audience as possible.In conclusion, bifold doors have improved a lot over the years and now offer an attractive and viable addition to your home that is functional and long-lasting. They can now be used to open up virtually any part of your home or business, inside or out, to create a large, unrestricted entrance.The range of different materials used in the bifolds of today allows consumers to choose the door which best suits their budget and their situation.