How do you choose the perfect bi-fold doors for your home?

How do you choose the perfect bi-fold doors for your home?

Modern home designs focus on combining functional and utilitarian features with timeless design and impeccable appearance. This applies equally to all elements of external architecture, which should form a harmonious whole, and one of the most important are doors and windows. It is on them that the end result largely depends, which is why manufacturers of woodwork strive to provide a wide range of their products that will meet the expectations of users and the ingenuity of architects. Exterior double doors for the house are an interesting proposition for buildings with a larger volume, which is worth considering. The attractiveness also relates to functionality, since through the entrance equipped with double doors you can freely carry all the larger items that will be brought in or out of the house.

Types of double doors – what options are available?

With regard to the size of the wings, double-leaf exterior metal doors can be divided into symmetrical and asymmetrical. Here the choice of one of the available solutions is determined by the size of the entrance opening and installation possibilities – according to the Polish standard, the width of the passage in the light of the frame after opening the main door leaf should be at least 90 cm. Therefore, the most common choice is a stylish double-leaf exterior door, whose wings are asymmetrical, for example, combinations of 90+30 or 90+50 centimeters. However, if the niche is about 200 centimeters and allows the installation of larger door leaves, then symmetrical double doors with a division of 90+90 centimeters will work great. When ordering doors to size, it is very important to accurately calculate the width for the passive leaf. For example, if the opening in the wall is 1400 mm, the width of the passive leaf should be calculated by subtracting from its dimension the width of the installation opening of the active door and the width of the masking strip, located between the active and passive leaf. A wide entrance is a convenient solution for residents of the house with limited ability to move freely, for example, elderly people who move with assistance or use wheelchairs.

Criteria for the selection of double doors – what to pay attention to?

Double doors are certainly practical, but there is not always a rationale for deciding to install them. If the project does not provide for them, then such a decision must be preceded by careful discernment and calculations. To install modern external double doors at the entrance to the building there should be enough free space. If this space will be limited and will make it difficult or impossible to carry out the necessary work, it should be abandoned even at the stage of designing the house. Double glazed exterior doors are additionally equipped with glass, so that more sunlight freely enters the house, which has a positive effect on the well-being of householders. The illuminated entrance hall or hallway gains more life and can thus be arranged in dark tones, which in the absence of windows and full doors would be a debatable and impractical solution.

Style and design of double doors – how to match the interior design

When it comes to design, top manufacturers offer their customers not only a wide range of colors or patterns of exterior panel finishes. They also include entablatures, fanlights, glazing and appliqués, including for passive sashes in various configurations, allowing customers to match the appearance of the door to their own expectations in detail. Wooden double-leaf exterior doors are much less practical and require more care and more frequent maintenance to keep them in perfect condition, hence most customers opt for steel doors. Certainly, an important criterion is the choice of color and design of the leaf itself as well as the handles or lock covers. Since they are located at the front of the house and are an element that draws the attention of passers-by or visiting guests, they must blend well with the facade and window woodwork. The choice of colors remains a matter of individual choice, of course – contrasting or subdued, breaking patterns or fitting in with the surroundings. The most popular are still woodgrain designs and neat anthracite, but customers have the option of configuring double doors according to their own taste, for example, in vivid colors with black accessories.

Bi-fold door materials and finishes – which are the most durable and aesthetically pleasing?

Made of galvanized steel sheet, the door leaves can perfectly imitate the texture of wood, and the best manufacturers offer designs in oak, walnut or mahogany colors that look identical to natural wood. A material that does not corrode, lose color or fade, and is resistant to changing temperatures and precipitation is an optimal choice. Complementary details of the selected double-leaf exterior metal doors are most often in inox steel color, but black is also an original-looking solution, intriguingly contrasting with bright colors of the door. Embossing and moldings, either horizontal or vertical, are used to give optical lightness to massive, wide wings, so it is also worth noting their use.

Installation and maintenance of double doors – how to ensure their long-term use?

Care and millimeter precision are always required during door installation, from measurements to final adjustments. This not only guarantees proper functioning and quiet closing and tightness of the door, but most importantly extends its life. Periodic checking and lubrication of moving parts, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions, will make them move and close lightly. In the case of double-leaf doors, installers must ensure that the two leaves fit properly in relation to each other. When they are badly balanced or improperly installed over time, they can sag on their hinges, snag on the ground and simply look bad. On the technical side, it is most important to keep the sashes balanced to avoid problems with their operation. Owners of double-leaf doors must remember to regularly maintain the hinges, which will ensure that the doors close and open correctly throughout their lifetime.