Bifold doors have taken the home improvement industry by storm in the last decade, and continue to be one of the more popular choices for the rear of the home in place of patio or French doors. As this type of door continues to be improved upon and developed, more options have become available which are attractive, cost effective and thermally efficient.

Bifold doors are a flexible choice, allowing homeowners to make the most of the connection between their home and outside space. Made up of multiple door ‘leaves’, bifolds can occupy a huge range of opening sizes. These leaves fold to one side in a concertina motion, revealing the full width of the opening, something which can be used to great aesthetic and practical effect.

The door-leaves themselves each consist of a plain glazed panel set into a robust frame. When they are put together, it allows for a wide and practically uninterrupted view of your garden, deck, patio, or balcony and beyond. It’s not hard to see why bifolds are so popular, but with most advertising focussed on their summer benefits, they tend to get forgotten during the darker, colder months. Yes, they’re perfect for opening up your home on warm summer days and creating a seamless transition from kitchen to garden during parties or BBQs, but they don’t stop being useful once the weather turns in Autumn and Winter either.

They’re energy efficient

While you may assume that a wall which consists mainly of glass can never be energy efficient, you may be surprised at what modern design and manufacturing methods can achieve. While your current sliding or French patio doors might let in a draught or two, the new bifold doors on the market are likely to be much more efficient.

The door frames in both uPVC and aluminium bifold options are insulated to ensure very little heat can be lost. As the doors are closed and the frames fit together, high quality weather-tight seals are there to ensure a completely draught-free installation. The glass itself – which can be double or triple glazed – is toughened and of high quality.

When buying new windows or doors, the U-value is an important factor to consider. The U-value shows how good the material is as an insulator. For example, Evander's aluminium bifold doors have a U-value of 1.32, compared to that of a solid brick wall that has a U-value of 2.0 - when it comes to U-values, lower is better. Even a cavity wall, which is a better insulator overall, only manages 1.6 on the scale.

While bifold doors really come into their own during the summer, they certainly help to make winter more comfortable, particularly if your current set-up is inefficient. You will find that your heating bills go down, and that it’s easier to keep your home at a steady temperature. 

They provide flexible opening options

Bifold doors give you the ability to completely open up the gap, blurring the line of outdoors and indoors. In the summer this is obviously a desirable and practical feature, but in the winter, you’re unlikely to want to open up such a large space to the elements. Thankfully, bifold door sets are designed to be completely flexible and do not need to be opened wider than necessary when the weather is bad.

Traffic doors are a popular option – this single door is situated at one end of the bifold set, and opens just like a normal door would. However, when you want to open the full door set, it folds to the side along with the others, allowing you to pop in and out without exposing too much of your home.

Even when sliding the doors, the smooth runners allow you complete control over how far they go. This way, you can open them a small way for quick access or to create some ventilation, or open up a wider gap to get your Christmas tree through, for example!

They improve the view

One of the main benefits of a bifold door set is the large area of glazing, which allows for wider and more far-reaching views. For obvious reasons, they’re usually placed at the side or rear of a property, where it’s not easy for people to see in from the drive or the street. If you’re lucky enough to have a lush garden or a beautiful view, bifold doors can help you to feel more connected to these benefits.

However, in the autumn and winter, you can begin to appreciate a different kind of beauty, which can often be underappreciated. From the blazing colours of autumn to the frosty mornings where everything sparkles in the sunlight, and not forgetting the seasonal fireworks, there’s a lot to be said about the view at this time of year.

Children and adults alike enjoy watching snow, and having a wide-reaching view of your garden can bring the beauty of winter inside without you having to brave the cold. Bifolds are also ideal for keeping an eye on your children if they’re out playing in the snow, and kids are particularly keen on being able to keep an eye on the snowman they have built once it becomes too cold to stay outdoors.

Another added bonus that winter brings in the northern hemisphere is the fact that the stars in the night sky are generally brighter and clearer compared to the summer months due to the position of the earth within the Milky Way galaxy. Unless you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, you should be able to see stars much more easily with the naked eye, and bifold doors are the perfect way to do this from the warmth and comfort of your own home. Improving the view also means letting in more light, and in the winter this can only be a good thing. Maximising the sunlight in your home can help to lift the mood and ensures that less electricity is used on lighting. During these dull months, it can be easy to keep the curtains shut and stay cosy, but exposing your home to more natural light can do wonders for your sleep patterns and mental wellbeing.

Founded in 1984, Evander is the UK’s largest glazing and locks supplier within the insurance market. Every year they repair and replace more windows, doors, locks, garage doors and conservatories for the insurance industry than anyone else. It is also one of the largest home improvement companies, supplying and fitting garage doors, composite doors, front door canopies and windows. They also provide a national emergency locksmith and boarding-up service via directly employed engineers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

http://www.evander.com/  Tel. 0345 145 0130       

Evander is part of the VPS Group www.vpsgroup.com