Are sliding patio doors the new bifold doors?
Sliding patio doors are suitable in both traditional and contemporary homes alike but are particularly useful where space is limited.
There is no denying the way in which large, uninterrupted panes of glass can transform an interior living space. One of the most popular additions to traditional and contemporary homes alike is the installation of an exterior accessway. If you’re also looking to open up your home and create a seamless transition between your interior spaces and your garden or patio area, you might be considering the installation of a traditional patio door or even a modern bifold door.
There are plenty of benefits to consider when choosing to install a patio or bifold door. Combining modern conveniences such as optimal energy efficiency ratings and improved security with elegant, contemporary style, both patio and bifold doors can elevate your home with an influx of natural light as well as improved ventilation. Ideal whatever the season, both patio and bifold doors can enhance your home with indoor-outdoor flow and plenty of airflow in the warmer summer months while continuing to keep your home warm, dry and light during the chillier winter months. By creating a seamless transition between a home’s interior living spaces and outdoor areas such as a patio, garden and/or pergola, both bifold doors and patio doors can foster an unparalleled sense of intimacy within your property that can dramatically improve the mental wellbeing of you and your family.
The benefits of a bifold door
If you’re looking to add a contemporary flair to your home, a bifold door may be for you. Giving you all the benefits of a large window with uninterrupted panes of glass, minimal hardware and a wide, panoramic vista of your outdoor spaces, bifold doors are engineered with an unique ability to fold back on themselves – functioning almost like an accordion. Engineering with a durable aluminium track, bifold doors fold back smoothly to create a seamless transition between your interior and exterior spaces. Perfect for large parties or more intimate social occasions, a bifold door also allows for an influx of natural light even when locked securely during the colder months of the year.
How is a bifold door different from a patio door?
In regard to operation, bifold and patio doors are quite different. While bifold doors usually have a minimum of four leaves that fold back on one another to create an interrupted vista of your garden or patio, a traditional patio door slides back seamlessly to open on one side. When shut, a patio door offers two expansive panes of glass whereas a bifold door features more hardware that can block your view.
Choosing a sliding patio door
Sliding patio doors are suitable in both traditional and contemporary homes alike but are particularly useful where space is limited. While bifold doors stack neatly to the side, patio doors slide back on a smooth track, allowing homeowners to utilise both their interior and exterior space. Due to the way a patio door is engineered and operates, its operation requires less space than a bifolding door.
Patio doors have a long and vast history both here in the UK and abroad, and are the traditional option on the market for British homeowners. The ease of a sliding patio door delivers a simple, no-fuss accessway, and is ideal for people looking to easily access their courtyard or garden with minimal hassle. Like bifold doors, patio doors can be opened to maximise airflow within your property and foster that much revered indoor-outdoor flow in the warmer summer months.
Energy efficiency
Thermal retention and energy efficiency ratings are of the utmost importance to most homeowners, especially in the UK where the effects of adverse weather and a lack of proper insulation can wreak havoc within a home. These days, both patio and bifold doors are engineered with optimal energy efficiency in mind and are manufactured with thermal break seals, durable frames and quality double glazing. Essentially, modern bifold and sliding patio doors keep your property insulated in even the harshest of weather conditions, while still allowing an influx of natural light.
Sliding patio doors and bifold doors at Majestic Designs
Bifold doors usually have a minimum of four leaves that fold back on one another to create an interrupted vista of your garden.
So are sliding patio doors the new bifold doors? While bifold doors have become increasingly popular in recent years, there’s also no denying the enduring popularity of traditional patio doors. At the end of the day, choosing between the two will come down to your own tastes as well as the unique specifications of your home such as available space and preferred aesthetics. If you’re having trouble choosing between a traditional sliding patio door or an innovative, distinctly modern bifolding door, the team at Majestic Designs will be able to guide you through an at-home consultation and help you decide.
For more than 19 years, Majestic Designs has been engineering our range of bespoke patio and bifold doors in our state-of-the-art factories. Located in Cheddar, our FENSA accredited and MTC registered leading installers have cultivated a country-wide reputation for superior craftsmanship and friendly, approachable customer service. Engineered with optimal energy efficiency and thermal retention in mind, you can rest assured whatever door you decide on will be manufactured to the unique specifications of your home, resulting in a truly bespoke finish for you and your property.
If you would like any more information about our range of bifold and sliding patio doors or would like to book your at-home consultation, then contact the team at Majestic Designs today.
