These days, when someone is extending or refurbishing their home, incorporating a set of sliding or bi-fold doors into an open plan space is almost a given.
A big expenditure for most homeowners, these doors can really make or break the space, so it is important to be able to advise customers on what will work best for their home. Here at Tradesman Saver, leading provider of public liability insurance in the UK, we’re here to offer advice on the benefits of each type.
Bi-folds vs Sliding Doors
The first big point to tackle is how much connection to the outdoors does a customer want to create? If they are after a completely seamless transition between inside and outside, bi-folds are the best option as the entire wall of the home is effectively removed when the bi-fold is open.
Whereas, with sliding doors, one pane will remain in place with the others aligned behind, so you will not be able to achieve that same uninterrupted connection to the outdoors.
However, it’s important to consider the practicalities of the space available if a customer is keen on bi-folding doors. Is there enough space for bi-folds to open? Should they stack inside or outside when open, to the left or the right? Or both? Corner openings are also an option.
If you are working on an extension with a deck or patio backing onto the house, does the customer envision putting garden furniture in that space and will there be enough room if the bi-fold door folds outwards? These are all questions you can put to your client to help them think about which doors will work best for them.
Perhaps the goal of the renovation instead is to maximise the view. In that case, sliding doors are often the better choice having fewer and slimmer frames. They are also space saving compared to bi-folding doors as they don’t require additional space to stack panes.
Sliding doors can create a near-uninterrupted wall of glass spanning the back of the property, something harder to achieve with bi-folds.
Schüco – The Lodge, Oct 2021
High quality doors benefit you and the customer
These doors should be viewed as an investment. Most people are working to a budget so will have to decide where to save and where to splurge. With large, glazed doors it is always worth investing in a quality product. And that is something worth communicating to customers.
Choosing well-engineered, high-performing doors gives the customer assurance that the doors will last for years to come. It also gives installers and tradesmen the peace of mind that they won’t have to come back to the property to fix issues with the doors further down the line.
Stewart Moore, Director of Bankhead Developments, managed a residential project where Schüco doors were installed. He highlighted the benefits of choosing quality, saying:
“I always recommend Schüco for its high quality and precision German engineering. Doors and windows are a big investment, so it makes sense to choose products that are going to last a lifetime, rather than lesser quality products that are going to end up causing problems and costing more in the long run.”
The founder of Design, Renovation and Build team, Rav Dhuna agrees. He had three sets of Schüco bifold doors installed on his own home. Rav commented:
“The Schüco doors were installed eight years ago and are still as good as new. There’s a large six-pane bi-fold door and two smaller bi-fold doors that tilt and turn which is useful for ventilation without having to open the doors fully. I chose Schüco for its durability and quality.”
High-quality door systems will also offer customisation options that other doors often won’t. For example, Schüco sliding and bi-fold doors can be purchased with a level threshold, a practical option for future-proofing a home. These are the sorts of details worth knowing about so you can provide your customers with a breadth of knowledge about the options available to them.
About Schüco
Schüco has been operating in the UK since 1984, designing and engineering high-quality and high-performing doors, windows and façade systems. Working with its fabricator partners who manufacture and supply the products, Schüco has helped transform countless houses and residential developments by bringing bright spaces and a luxury feel to homes across the UK.
For more information visit www.schueco.com/uk
