{"id":2232,"date":"2019-06-07T10:02:25","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T10:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2232"},"modified":"2022-04-12T11:37:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T11:37:54","slug":"bi-fold-vs-sliding-doors-which-are-better-and-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/bi-fold-vs-sliding-doors-which-are-better-and-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Bi-fold vs sliding doors \u2013 which are better and why?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"slate-resizable-image-embed slate-image-embed__resize-full-width\"><img src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQFJXSjs4JHA2w\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=2dcD2cg3Gsxfjgbq5CMVHQ3No852J9W6HgUIX9VFbug\" alt=\"Bi-Folding Door Installation in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, by Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd\" data-media-urn=\"\" data-li-src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQFJXSjs4JHA2w\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=2dcD2cg3Gsxfjgbq5CMVHQ3No852J9W6HgUIX9VFbug\" \/><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Bi-fold vs sliding doors \u2013 which are better and why?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Believe it or not, there\u2019s a big debate about door types. Both the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/supply-only-form\"> bi-fold<\/a> and sliding varieties are highly sought after \u2013 not just because of their modern appearance, but because they allow homeowners and business owners alike to maximise space, views and natural light.<\/p>\n<p>When contemplating whether to invest in one or the other, it\u2019s not just the aesthetic you need to think about, but also practicality and whether they\u2019re the right choice for the environment in which they\u2019re being placed.<\/p>\n<p>Our team of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dortechmaintenance.co.uk\/\">maintenance professionals<\/a> are a dab-hand at installing and servicing both door varieties, and when asking them which they think is \u2018best\u2019, they didn\u2019t have one outright preference. Instead, they explained that suitability is on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<p>So, the answer to the above question is that it really depends on where you\u2019re going to put them \u2013 because space is a crucial determining factor.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The lowdown on sliding doors<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The clue\u2019s in the name with this one \u2013 this kind of door opens sideways, with the glass panels gliding behind one another. But what does this mean in terms of whether it\u2019s the right choice for you? Well, space-saving is the main advantage that springs to mind!<\/p>\n<p>Due to their sleek design, sliding installations are best for apartments or small offices \u2013 where square footage is limited and there isn\u2019t enough room for bi-folds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slate-resizable-image-embed slate-image-embed__resize-full-width\"><img src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQFZhZ_jopFh-g\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=Hvr36rRTMsM_MZYv3xU9YVK47NWXrMrsH86rLidW7JU\" alt=\"Automated sliding door installation by Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd\" data-media-urn=\"\" data-li-src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQFZhZ_jopFh-g\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=Hvr36rRTMsM_MZYv3xU9YVK47NWXrMrsH86rLidW7JU\" \/><\/div>\n<p>One crucial point to also bear in mind is that sliding doors don\u2019t allow for a fully open aperture \u2013 you can typically expect them to expose just under 50% of the space, depending on the style and configuration.<\/p>\n<p>However, if views are of pivotal importance to you, one of the key benefits with these units, when closed is they let in more natural light \u2013 and the vista is less fragmented \u2013 than using bi-fold doors with individual framed glass panels. In essence, sliding doors feature larger expanses of glass and the scenery is less compromised.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slate-resizable-image-embed slate-image-embed__resize-full-width\"><img src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQHuYJEENq2UkQ\/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=5_iD5vzKBTbfwiVQ6CRoaKpqBQYjAUOf63hVV3Uz-G0\" alt=\"Sliding Patio Door Installation at Kings Dock Mill, Liverpool, by Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd\" data-media-urn=\"\" data-li-src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQHuYJEENq2UkQ\/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=5_iD5vzKBTbfwiVQ6CRoaKpqBQYjAUOf63hVV3Uz-G0\" \/><\/div>\n<h3><strong>But what about bi-folds?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The popularity of bi-folds has greatly increased over the past few years \u2013 mainly because the concertinaed glass panels offer a real wow-factor in large, open environments. And, the great thing is that you can choose whether they open inwardly or outwardly \u2013 meaning there\u2019s less restriction when it comes to manoeuvring around a home or office furniture.<\/p>\n<p>However, consideration must be given to the floor space taken up by the door leaves when in a fully open position, as this can cause problems when it comes to positioning larger items of furniture \u2013 such as tables and chairs. Ideally, these fixtures should be situated a door-width away from the face of the bi-folding door \u2013 especially in instances where the doors have inward-facing hinges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slate-resizable-image-embed slate-image-embed__resize-full-width\"><img src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQHc1qe0CYPgYA\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=P9hFhpxqVBWhn0zoKoMkz4e_i8mf1FWtXrB1OqQUfUw\" alt=\"Aluminium Bi-Folding Door installation, at Oswestry Leisure Centre, by Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd\" data-media-urn=\"\" data-li-src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQHc1qe0CYPgYA\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=P9hFhpxqVBWhn0zoKoMkz4e_i8mf1FWtXrB1OqQUfUw\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Reiterating the importance of space, these types of doors are best for extensions or larger offices, because you can have up to seven different panels spanning the room. However, it\u2019s worth raising that this kind of unit requires more maintenance than its sliding counterpart \u2013 simply due to the greater volume of moving parts involved.<\/p>\n<p>In reality, both style variations offer an attractive, safe and robust door option. But, it\u2019s important to appreciate that while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/supply-only-form\">aluminium doors<\/a> rarely fail, their functionality is often taken for granted \u2013 with few people thinking about their maintenance. No matter which one you\u2019re leaning towards, this should always be a crucial component in ensuring your door\u2019s longevity!<\/p>\n<div class=\"slate-resizable-image-embed slate-image-embed__resize-full-width slate-image-embed--active\"><img src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQGWCyfx6rjdCg\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232-alternative\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=GtGmXN_D6bahUhF9mrTLi3QiijMsVHaP5P4N1RPYAC4\" alt=\"Aluminium Bi-Folding Door and glazed rooflight installation by Dortech Architectural Systems Ltd\" data-media-urn=\"\" data-li-src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/C4D12AQGWCyfx6rjdCg\/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232-alternative\/0?e=1565222400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=GtGmXN_D6bahUhF9mrTLi3QiijMsVHaP5P4N1RPYAC4\" \/><\/div>\n<p><em>If you\u2019d like to find out more about the\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dortechmaintenance.co.uk\/aluminium-entrance-doors-exit-doors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>door installation and maintenance services<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0we offer, take a look on our\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dortechmaintenance.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>website<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0or contact our friendly team on 01484 451177.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bi-fold vs sliding doors \u2013 which are better and why? Believe it or not, there\u2019s a big debate about door types. Both the bi-fold and sliding varieties are highly sought after \u2013 not just because of their modern appearance, but because they allow homeowners and business owners alike to maximise space, views and natural light. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[228,216,223,204],"tags":[322],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2232"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2450,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232\/revisions\/2450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dortechdirect.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}