It is becoming increasingly popular throughout the UK to embrace outdoor-indoor living by installing bi-fold doors in homes. These types of doors can open fully to the outside world so you can expand your living area and encourage you and your family to spend much more time outdoors together. You have various options available of materials when you are looking to install bi-fold doors in your home, so you will need to consider the pros and cons of each before deciding what to use. Below are some of the various materials you can consider helping you make an informed decision and select the best option for your home.
The Best Option For Strength
If you are looking for a robust material that will last, you may want to consider investing in aluminium bi-folding doors. Aluminium is much stronger than wood, uPVC, and composite doors, so you know it will last. It is also much easier to create bespoke designs using aluminium, so it will give you more choices when looking to have these installed in your home. They also have excellent thermal properties, and unlike wood, they will not expand and contract, which can warp the frames.
The Best Option For Strength For Thermal Efficiency
If you want to choose the materials for your bi-fold doors based on thermal efficiency to ensure your home stays warm and cosy, then aluminium is an excellent option. Although metal conducts heat, the insulation used in modern door frames provides excellent thermal properties and stops the heat from draining out of your home through your windows and doors. Timber is also an excellent choice when basing it on the material’s thermal properties, and uPVC bi-fold doors come in at a close third.
The Best Option For Maintenance
If you want something that is simple to maintain and will not require too much looking after, then again you may want to consider aluminium doors. You can clean the window frames easily using water and a sponge, and unlike wooden doors they do not require painting regularly. The colour will also not fade as uPVC frames do, so out of all the options available, they are one of the lowest maintenance window and door frames you can choose.
The Best Option For Price
If you are looking to base your decision on the overall cost, then the cost of aluminium bi-fold doors may put you off. Wooden doors can also be expensive as a lot of skill and craftsmanship goes into making them. The most cost-effective solution for bi-fold doors is uPVC, as these are mass-produced in a factory, which helps keep the production cost down. Whichever materials you choose, most windows and doors will come with a 10-year guarantee, which can give you peace of mind when investing in your home in this way.
When you are looking to install bi-fold doors in your home, take your time making your decision of which material to use. Explore all the options available and speak to local installers and ask for their advice. You can transform your home and embrace outdoor-indoor living in your home and create an environment that is perfect for you and your family.