Differentiating bifold doors and sliding doors

How sure are you when ensuring whether you have made up your mind; when it comes to deciding bifold doors or sliding doors for your beloved property? To decide which type of door should you opt for, you might want to consider first the alternatives before taking the plunge.

You may have to see from various perspectives when choosing the right door, in terms of its convenience-ish, space-saving, and budgets as well.

Both sliding doors and bifold doors are quite similar as both will let the sunlight into your space and act as the link inside of your home to the garden.

Often referred to as modern glaze doors, sliding doors and bifold doors have become a huge design trend and such popular features for homeowners. People, especially families love the idea of bringing the outside inside, where they can keep an eye on their kids playing in the garden.

Both of the doors are practically convenient and easy to install. They are simple but yet, they are also able to give the wow-factor design feature for your house.

For starter, here are the lists of how you can differentiate these two doors:

How to define sliding doors?

Sliding doors are opened by moving to the side, along a set of horizontal rails with the panes fitting behind the other. It is quite popular among the owners as it does not take up room or space, especially if the house / apartment is quite small in size.

How to define bi-fold doors?

Bifold doors are often called as folding-sliding doors, it is sliding open panels concertinaing neatly together. For bifold doors, it can open both outwards or inwards, depending on an individual's preferences.

It is working to maximise the space-using inside. It is easier too for a smaller room with a lot of furniture inside. You can sway your worry away about the folded leaves when the door is open if it is open outwards.

It can also be folded half inside and half outside. But it may get in the way both indoors and outdoors.

Learn the pros and cons of bifold doors and sliding doors.

1. If the view outside your house is your priority, then sliding doors can offer you an uninterrupted view with higher glass to frame ratio, even when the doors are not opened. It also will allow maximum natural light to flood in and brighten up your living space. Compared to bifold doors, its panelling and frames can break the view.

2. For sliding doors, only one door can be opened. Another side will create a barrier between the house and the garden. While for bifold doors, it can be fully opened, however, it will take up some space inside and outside and encroach your living space, moreover you have a lot of furniture inside.

3. As bifold doors will require more panes and frames, the prices for them can be slightly higher compared to sliding doors. It depends on the size and number of door leaves. But it is still worth purchasing them as it can add great value to a property Sliding doors, meanwhile are more affordable and do not require a lot of customisation.

4. It is easy to use both sliding doors and bifold doors as both of them can be light. You can find them in various materials according to your preferences such as wood, uPVC and woods. If you want a stronger door then mostly will go for aluminium especially for external use as it stands stronger than the other materials. Aluminium will not usually bend if it is exposed to sunlight, therefore you do not have to stress over the maintenance.

5. In terms of access, bifold doors are easier because they open the whole space. They also create a better level threshold between outdoor and indoor and do not have lip for people usually will trip over when passing through it.

6. Sliding doors are more thermally efficient compared to bifold doors as it has more glass and less frame.

Overall, both bifold doors and sliding doors offer their own specialties. It is only depending on your preferences of how you want your house to be. As bifold doors usually take up space inside and outside when open, they can give you the desirable modern aesthetic.

But if you want to opt for stricter thermal value requirements and get to enjoy an uninterrupted clear view, you might as well go for sliding doors which can offer you the best of that!