How to choose between bifold, sliding and French doors for your patio
Installing doors out to the patio not only creates a better connection between your house and garden but it also brings more natural light into the home. But how do you choose between conventional sliding patio doors, stylish bifold doors and traditional French doors? Well, taking these crucial factors into consideration will help you decide.
Size of opening
One of the determining factors in what type of patio door you should fit is the size of the opening you’re creating.
If it’s a small opening then sliding or French doors might be the best solution. These can also work on large openings but you need to remember that a portion of the glazing will be fixed. So, if you’re after a seamless transition into your garden, bifold doors are a better option as these can be pulled right back.
Your patio
It’s not just the size of the opening that’s important, it’s the size of your patio. A small opening and French doors might look odd if they lead out onto a large patio. The opposite is also true. A large opening with bifold doors might overshadow a small patio. So, make sure your patio and door choice work together in harmony.
The view
The style of patio door you choose can also affect your view out into the garden. The design of the frames and how the doors open, does have an impact.
For instance, traditional French doors have thick frames with horizontal bars breaking up the glazing. So, your view outside is a little restricted. While the doors are shut, sliding patio doors usually offer the most uninterrupted views, thanks to their large panes. However, when the doors are open, bifolds typically win out.
Style and age of your home
Another important factor in your decision is the style and age of your house. Ideally, you want your patio doors to blend in with the exterior of your property.
You might find that French doors are best suited to homes with lots of traditional character as these can be styled to match Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian designs. However, homes with more modern architecture will probably suit contemporary sliding or bifold doors better.
That said, you can choose French doors with industrial-style black frames or single-pane glazing that mimics the look of bifold doors. So, they can work in contemporary homes.
Cost
What might swing your choice one way or another is the cost difference between the options. French and sliding doors typically cost between £500 and £1,500 but bifold doors are usually a bit pricier, falling between £1,000 and £4,000.
Frame materials and glazing options can affect these costs, but generally speaking, sliding or French doors are better if you’re fitting a patio door on a budget.
Where your doors are going
Where you’d like your patio doors to go can also play a part in your decision between French, sliding and bifold doors.
Bifolds can be fitted along the length of the rear wall. They also work on corner openings to accommodate wrap-around patios and to give modern extensions that wow factor. This configuration isn’t possible with French doors. Similarly, if you have a bay opening, sliding patio doors won’t work but bifold and French doors will.
Weatherproofing
Your local climate is something else you might want to consider when you’re picking doors for your patio.
If you live somewhere that’s quite cold in winter, then you might wish to consider thermal efficiency. Generally speaking, the more glazing you have, the less efficient your doors will be. So large bifold doors will have a greater impact on your home’s energy efficiency than a single set of French doors.
Most sliding and French door styles have a raised threshold, so they’re considered a slightly better option for patios that are exposed to wind and rain. You can configure bifolds with what’s known as a weathered threshold to boost protection against the elements. But doing this means you lose one of the main benefits of bifold doors – the seamless transition to the outside.
Accessibility and flexibility
The final things to consider when you’re choosing your patio doors are how convenient they are to use and how accessible the opening is.
As we’ve just discussed, bifold doors are typically fitted with a flush or recessed bottom track. This not only gives you the potential to create a seamless indoor-outdoor space but also gives you step-free access to the garden. So, this option is ideal for wheelchair users and minimises the potential for trips and falls.
This doesn’t mean that French doors are a no-no. They can be built with a low upstand or mobility threshold. But as these aren’t standard options, you may be a bit more limited in choice.
It’s also wise to consider which is the most convenient option for you. If you want maximum control over the ventilation your doors provide, then sliding patio doors might be best. These can easily be opened a small way whereas this is trickier with bifold doors which are really designed to be either fully open or fully closed.
