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Bifolds - is 2.4m enough to bother?

7 years ago

Hi, we'd like to put bifolds in our dining room but we only have 2.4m to work with.

I think there will be too much frame with a 3 bifold door option but then a 2 door option would be pretty pointless.
Has anybody else been in a similar situation with photos to share..?
Most of the showrooms we've been to show a much bigger space so it's hard for us to visualise.

Thanks

GW

Featured Answer

Heather Parish

7 years ago

I would definitely say it's worth it, our bi-folds are 2 panes and about 2.2m. They let in so much light and allow the garden and dining room to become one room when open.

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Comments (29)

PRO
Croydon Window Company Ltd
7 years ago
Hi Georgina, Here're some images of a small opening with our bi-folds that

we installed for our clients...
PRO
Exact Architectural Glazing
7 years ago
Hi Georgina

The bifold doors on this extension are 2335 x 2500mm (L) and 2350 x 2500mm (R).

Rear Extension, Godalming · More Info

Rear Extension, Godalming · More Info

I hope that helps you to visualise them in your space!

Feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss product options - 01428 748255, sales@xactbp.co.uk.

xactbp.co.uk
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We have been through the same. Our gap is 3.4. We were advised that you need to look for bifolds run along the bottom and do not hand from the top. We debated sliders due to the slightline but felt as it is such a small space that we would lose too much of the opening with sliders so opted for 4pane sliders to keep along with other lines on the house. I advise regardless to think about: Lines …try to stick to three doors due to the three pane glass in your gable window so things feel more uniformed and less messy Tracks …sliders can have wide tracks Openings …what space is left for you to walk through when the doors are open Outside space…how will you use the outside space as don’t forget bifold stick out All of these are things we debated to get to our decision
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Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks both that helps
Claire Nicholson
7 years ago
Hi Georgina,

Have you got 2.4m for the actual opening or do you need to leave wall on either side out of that too?

We've just had 2.4m bifolds put in as part of s big renovation and I'd absolutely say they're worth it but I guess it depends on what you're looking to achieve, as in another space where we were considering bifolds just next to them, we've put a 2m fixed pane in instead and the view is far more beautiful without the divides from the panes.

Here's a few pics if it helps (excuse the fact it's clearly not finished and most of the furniture is missing!); the bifolds are 2.4m actual opening and the fixed pane is 2m x 2.1m

Hope it helps!

Claire
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Oh Claire that is really helpful to see.
Love the fixed window and the whole kitchen. It looks fantastic!
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Oh we have 2.4m for the opening. Same as you.
Claire Nicholson
7 years ago
In which case I'm biased but I'd definitely say it's worth it... it's completely transformed our space.

This was the window the bifolds replaced and it totally transforms the light and feel of the room

(In the interest of being honest I should also mention we have an amazing interior designer, Gina from Create Perfect on here, who came up with all the plans and ideas for us, so I can't take the credit )

Loads of luck with your project and make sure you post some before and after pics- would love to see how it all ends up!
Claire Nicholson
7 years ago
Apologies Georgina I should also have pointed out that the sight lines on our doors are quite thick too as I really wanted timber with Oak inside. You would be able to get much slimmer sight lines for the 2.4m if you chose aluminium; it just wasn't quite right for the look we were going for
PRO
IDSystems
7 years ago
We would like to completely with what Claire has said, and if anything between 2.2m to 3m is almost exactly the size at which bifold doors work best.

You are right to query the width of the aluminium profile, our range is manufactured in Germany by SUNFLEX and the two aluminium systems have narrow sightlines of just 114mm. The SF55 is an award-winning system and by far our best seller, the SF75 is designed for the ultimate thermal performance and triple glazed as the lowest U-value on the market.

Below are a selection of bifold door images from our previous projects, including ones with c.2.4m openings.

If you need any further information you can download our bifold door brochure (packed full of information and unique features) here or you can call our project advisors on 01603 408804 or email info@idsystems.co.uk.

Award Winning Bifold Doors · More Info

Award Winning Bifold Doors · More Info

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PRO
The Sash Window Workshop
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi Georgina,

Below are some images of our timber Bi-Fold doors. To give you an idea on sizes, the first image is approximately 20cm wider than your opening.

For more information on our Bi-Fold doors, please visit our website.

If you would like to receive a free, no obligation quotation, please contact our team on: 01344 868 668.
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks everyone. I've attached a photo of what it currently looks like. I really can't decide whether to bother.
Maybe we should just widen the gap......
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Better photo!
Please note the wall to the left has just come down due to us knocking through into the kitchen.
Jonathan
7 years ago
In my opinion what you have looks fine and gives you access to the garden which Claire did not have previously.
If you do change to floor length glass doors (btw bifold are not your only opening option) it will be additional cost but you kinda have to do it now if you will ever want them because whenever you do it you will have expense with relaying floor where knibs of wall have been removed (and having just taken down the kitchen wall I assume you are going to have to do the floor now).
PRO
IDSystems
7 years ago
It is completely up to you. The space that you currently have is big enough to accommodate a 3-panel bifold door set, but if you are removing the wall and combining the room with the kitchen then you do have the option for increasing the size of the doors.

I guess it comes down to how much space you have in the kitchen, if you have a large kitchen and can utilise some of that space then by all means go ahead and increase the size of the opening, if you need all the space in the kitchen you can get then there is nothing to stop you having bifold doors in the current opening - either way you are going to need to take out a wall and remove the dwarf walls below the windows so the cost shouldn't be significantly different either way.
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
True IDS. For some reason, it's too difficult to run the doors along the whole back wall. Something to do with a load path being impacted, because of all the internal walls that we've already knocked down.
So anyway we need to work with the current opening. Either way, the dwarf walls are going. I think it will look good with the bifold; it's just the change won't be that dramatic.
Claire Nicholson
7 years ago
Hi Georgina,

It that your only access to the garden from the new knocked through kitchen / diner or have you got another exit from the kitchen?
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Claire, that would be the only access to the back.
However, we have a utility room to the side of the house with access to the back, so that's where I would go to hang out the washing.
And bins are kept at the front of the house so that's not a problem.
Claire Nicholson
7 years ago
I'm sure I'm being a bit dim (!!!) but if the dwarf walls are definitely going but you're unsure on bifolds what is the alternative- are you thinking French doors and fixed panes either side?
Georgina W
Original Author
7 years ago
Probably sliding?
I don't know?
I just know I want lots of glass, so as few frames as possible.
Currently we have 4 panes I guess, so moving to 3 panes would be an improvement.
I've put a picture of what it looks like today.
Claire Nicholson
7 years ago
Wow! What a difference! That looks fab!

I think you'd get a lovely clean look and connection with the garden if you did go for bifolds- I thought long and hard about sliding as well as fixed panes and have to say on a day like yesterday being able to open it all up and have nothing left in the way really does connect the outside and inside.

Are you getting a whole new kitchen or working with what you've got? What will be below the window?
PRO
IDSystems
7 years ago
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Great work!

In terms of sliding doors, at 2.4m there is possibly just enough room to fit a three panel door in, which would reduce the amount of frame. As a guide our bifold doors have intermediate frames of 114mm which makes them amongst the narrowest on the market, we have two sliding door systems Grand Slider II (83mm frame) and theEDGE (24mm frame) so it does make a difference, however you'd only ever be able to have 2/3 of the opening open, compared to the whole opening with bifolds.

The image of theEDGE is obviously of a much larger system/opening but shows how the profile looks in a 3 panel set.
Halael Mitchell
3 years ago
Georgina what did you do in the end? I am stuck on the same question at the moment- want lots of glass and not lots of frame but love the idea of being able to open it all up! Bifolds v sliders is proving difficult but this thread has been really helpful. We have a 2.5m opening at the back of our reno ATM.
Ellie
3 years ago
Sliders definitely for me, even more so for a small opening. We have 3.5m 2 pane slider
Georgina W
Original Author
3 years ago
Bifolds all the way. We ended up getting a bifold window as well.
I love it.
Will take a photo tomorrow when it’s daylight.
Halael Mitchell
3 years ago
Amazing yes please! Would love to see pics Georgina! And Ellie would love to see pics of your sliders as well if you don’t mind?
Halael Mitchell
3 years ago
This is our space- very narrow so need as much light as poss! 🤞🏻
Georgina W
Original Author
3 years ago
Are you having a roof window. I hope so.
In terms of whether to go for sliding or not, I guess just think about how often you might open them ie if you are south, west or east facing then the room will get hot at some part of the day.
On warm days it’s lovely when the whole doors are open. It really brings the garden in.
In time you won’t even notice the sight lines.
Here are some pictures - we’ve had two kids since this was done (the first baby came the week after the doors went in). So please ignore the mess.
Georgina W
Original Author
3 years ago
In terms of light, the roof window added more light than we ever could have imagined. I would spend the money on the ceiling rather than the doors if I had a choice.

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