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Things to consider when buying bi folding doors

With many homeowners choosing to improve their home rather than move to a new one, upgrading, renovating and extending the home is  very popular.

This is particularly the case in areas throughout the UK that are enjoying rising house prices. In these areas homeowners are weighing up the pros and cons of improving their existing home or buying a new one.

Internal Double Glazed Doors Essex

Often, when taking into consideration estate agent fees, stamp duty as well as other common associated costs, many are opting to  carry out improvements to their homes.  This has the advantage of making the property more sellable and adding value.  Whilst of course making homes more pleasant to live in.

One very popular way of adding value and increasing living space is by building an extension. For several years the trend in home extensions is very much a light filled room with an open plan living arrangement.

Why bifolding doors are popular

But by far the most popular glazed product that is installed is the bifolding door.

Bifolding doors are one unique product that, compared to patio doors, provide a way of completely opening up an entire wall and provide seamless access to your outside space.

They are also very attractive, look set to remain in fashion for the foreseeable future and aided by home improvement television programmes and lifestyle shows have changed how we use our living spaces.

Therefore with bifolding doors now so popular and the benefits appreciated how do you choose from the many types of products available?

Purchasing Bifolding Doors doors can appear a complicated process. With different materials to choose from such as PVCu, timber and the more popular aluminium what should you consider if you’re in the market for a bifolding door?

Why buy a bifolding door?

Bifolding doors are versatile and flexible. Clever engineering and design now means they do much more than simply slide back in the summer.

One clever innovation with modern bifolding door products is that they can be used all year round. Design your bifolding doors with an access leaf and you can enjoy simple exit and entry without having to slide all the doors back every time.

What is best PVCu, Aluminium, Timber or Glass?

Each material has its place in the market. PVCu doors are great for those on a budget that simply require a bifolding door at the lowest possible price.

PVCu doors however provide very thick sight lines compared to aluminium and the doors when closed (as they are most of the year) can appear bulky. PVCu also expands 2.5 times more than aluminium. Professionals in the trade have historically stated that when it comes to bifolding doors aluminium is best, but that is changing.

Timber bifolds are ideal if you want the warm natural feel of wood. Again their sight lines will be thicker but timber bifolding doors also have their merits in the right property.

Glass Bifolding Doors or Frameless Bifolding Doors are a product you may not be aware of. These doors are a departure from traditional construction of doors where each door leaf has a perimeter frame.

Glass bifolding doors feature ultra slim top and bottom rails normally found in the glass door leaves used in many retail outlets and frameless glass doors and screens.

Between each door leaf is only glass along with a sophisticated slimline gasket ensuring weather resistance. There is no intermediate frame meaning when the doors are closed, you are enjoying better views having no aluminium framing in the vertical positions between each panel.

What colour should I choose for bifolding doors?

The sophisticated powder coating technology used in aluminium doors and windows now gives homeowners virtually unlimited colour choice including different colours inside and out.

It is also popular today for customers to choose white windows in their homes with contrasting colours on bifolding doors and french doors, such as grey or black.

Grey remains one of the most popular colours, but did you know that there are over 20 different shades of grey available?

With over 250 possible colours available in doors there is certainly choice. Our advice is to opt for the colour that will best suit your home, interior decor or any other factor important to you. There is nothing wrong with choosing bold vibrant colours such as yellow, red or blue either.

What about security on Bifolding Doors?

Quality bifolding doors will have been tested to the relevant standards.

The rear of the property is often the target area for opportune burglars as in many homes the back is hidden from view.

Door and window security is uppermost in the minds of homeowners and the expectation is that all doors and windows have to be secure.

Bifolding doors need to be particularly secure given their large glass panes and moving panels.

Even uur own frameless glass doors are independently tested to one of the highest standards in security – PAS24 2012. This enhanced security standard proves that our doors have been subjected to sustained and timed attacks and remained locked tight and secure.

We still achieve this high security test standard even though our doors have significantly less framing than any other typical aluminium bifolding door.

Try before buying bi folding doors.

Not all bifolding doors are the same so it makes sense to shop around and see what products are available.

What you will find in many typical double glazing showrooms is common makes of doors that are widely available.

Our own glass bifolding doors are significantly different from the many doors you will see. They are unique and benefit from all the advantages of aluminium bifolding doors but with virtually no frame other than at the head and sides.

Despite this lack of visible framing, our glass bifolding and sliding doors are highly secure and ultra weathertight.

If you are in the market for a bifolding door and wish to see a product that stands out from the mainstream, contact us for more information and prices.

We also offer a full range of aluminium windows, bifolding and sliding doors,
and front doors as FGC Bespoke Aluminium.

Visit the FGC Showroom

You can now visit our showroom in Strood, Kent.

The full range of Frameless products are on display in wide variety of configurations.

We request you contact us to make an appointment before visiting to avoid overcrowding.

Find out more about the FGC Kent showroom.

Reviews on Facebook and Google

FGCExcellentFGC4.5 Based on 42 reviews fromSee all reviews review us onWayne T.Wayne T. ★★★★★ Very happy with the service I have received, everything went smoothly no issues, I was kept up to date throughout the process and the fitting team were very professional, polite and friendly I would recommend fgc to anyone thank youKayleigh C.Kayleigh C. ★★★★★ Amazing service, great aftercare, incredible product. It was hard to find something that would fit in our house and would have been pleasing to the eye aswell as stylish and modern and unique.From sales to install was smooth and stress free amazing bunch of people to work with I had a great experienceInci P.Inci P. ★★★★★ Great product with diligent, professional staff from start to finish. Highly recommended.Paul B.Paul B. ★★★★★ Firstly I have to say a huge thank you to Paul the owner of FGC for being willing to take on the job of sorting out the extremely shoddy and poor installation of the Origin doors and windows fitted on my new build home, when it was built. And replacing the damaged gaskets. I had your guys with me for two days this week. What a breath of fresh air comparted to the people of originally installed my doors and windows. Extremely professional and lovely chaps. They worked tirelessly to sort out the many issues we had. Would absolutely recommend 100% THANK YOU !Response from the ownerGood Morning Paul, Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with us. We are absolutely delighted to receive it and are pleased we were able to resolve the issues for you. It’s been a pleasure working with you. If you have any further need in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us. Lisa S.Lisa S. ★★★★★ Very helpful and good communication, great product. Thank you.Dave S.Dave S. ★★★★★ Very happy with doors. Look great. The installation was quick and straightforward.Will recommendRH K.RH K. ★★★★★ FGC were brilliant. Great advice on the best windows to get. Extremely good installation. Always ready to solve any installation or manufacturing issues. We are extremely happy with the end result!Joy W.Joy W. ★★★★★ Frameless windows were brilliant, Liam Alfie and James were great, polite, courteous, and left the site clean and tidy. The windows look amazing, Great service from start to finish. Many ThanksRayRay ★★★★★ We love these doors and look forward to having them open a bit more once the patio has ben completed. They really have a "wow" factor and this becomes a double "wow" when people are shown how the corner can be completely opened up. It was about a year from my first enquiry to the doors being installed as there was a considerable amount of building work required to prepare the room. throughout this period I remained in touch with FGC and the service was exceptional. The installation team was on site for a day, starting early and working through to completion before driving back to Kent!! We have been really pleased with the standard of workmanship and even had compliments from other tradesmen working on the room (most of whom had never seen doors like this). These are expensive doors but the price difference from a normal set of bi-folds was well worth it for the uninterrupted view you get. The doors were installed in February but I have held off doing the review until the room was more finished so I could post a more representative picture. Once the patio is done the look will be even better than we originally envisaged. I have attached a few pictures of the room (the white table is only a temporary measure while we wait for the new coffee table).Sharon B.Sharon B. ★★★★★ From first contact to installation, my interactions with FGC have been easy, fast and professional. The end product is superb, we are so happy with our new doors - wish we had done this years ago. Well done FGC!!Jayne N.Jayne N. ★★★★★ This is the second time we have installed FGC and we are very happy with our second installation- very sleek and stylish and all staff very helpful, thanksD JD J ★★★★★ Frameless Glass Curtains have few competitors so they could take a lax approach to their work. However, that is not the case. We have had a porch installed in a space that was not square or aligned. The service from survey to finish has been above standard. Barry’s attention to detail and determination that the work would not be complete until his high standards were met was much appreciated. The communication from the admin side was clear and helpful. So all in all we will be using Frameless Glass again and have no hesitation in recommending them.Brian S.Brian S. ★★★★★ Brilliant product, what a difference, no frames to block our view of the Brecon Beacons. The service has been the best I think I have ever received and the fitting team were faultless - they travelled 5 hours to get to us in Wales, arriving 30 minutes early, working flat out without a break for 9 hours before driving 5 hours back, all without one complaint!!Catherine U.Catherine U. ★★★★★ Ordered Crittal-style French doors in aluminium. The doors look fantastic and are so much better than the ancient sliding doors I had before. The company were very friendly and easy to deal with. They were understanding of my delays due to a flood. The installers were professional and polite and poor things had to work on the hottest day of the year. Would definitely recommend FGC.Laura G.Laura G. ★★★★★ Really great service from this family run company. We love the doors and the install was top notch. Thanks!Info Oad S.Info Oad S. ★★★★★ Great service and amazing finish! Would highly recommend!paul R.paul R. ★★★★★ Highly competent office and site staff, great product and at a fair price. Couldn't be happier with the entire experience and end result.vanessa C.vanessa C. ★★★★★ From the beginning to the end, everyone at FGC have been amazing. I knew straight away that the glazing FGC would provide and install would be spectacular and how right that was! The FGC glazing allows our Edwardian stained glass door to still be a main feature and in fact it shows it off perfectly. We are so happy with the end result and can’t praise FGC highly enough, somehow 5 stars doesn’t seem to be high enough.ZorèZorè ★★★★★ Their windows are second to none. No other company in Germany, UK or anywhere else can produce such a fabulous product.Any issues that has come up, they always come & fix it. The staff are so nice and polite. For a small company they do really a great job over all. The main things are the frameless bifolds that you hardly have any frame in the line of vision and there is a 5 years guarantee. Mr & Mrs JahediFiona G.Fiona G. ★★★★★ Delighted with our new frameless glass doors. Had lots of lovely comments, even all the trades who have been working on our house have said they've not seen anything like them. Great having something a little unusual. The quality of the doors is of a very high standard. The service from FGC has been very good too, from ordering through to installation. All went very smoothly with no problems. Paid a bit more than regular bifolds, but worth every penny. Best decision, no regrets at all.Andrew H.Andrew H. ★★★★★ Great service and very welcoming for my father and I. Adrian in particular was very efficient, gave great pertinent advice and guidance on my future purchase!Des P.Des P. ★★★★★ Excellent in all aspects from initial viewing in showroom to actual installation.TonyTony ★★★★★ Excellent service and product from FGC.I have a glass-box conservatory, built with structural glass about 20 years ago. The 2 sliding doors needed replacing, along with 2 side panels, and I contacted dozens of companies selling conservatory doors and none of them were prepared to install their doors because of the perceived risks of working with structural glass.Then I found FGC who, with no fuss at all, carried out a survey, provided a very reasonable quote for the doors/panels and then installed the doors/panels on the agreed date.Communication with the FGC office was always quick and easy. The surveyor and installation team were efficient and courteous. The product works beautifully.We can now use our conservatory again. Thanks FGC.Arun S.Arun S. ★★★★★ Great company with excellent, friendly and responsive service, the guys were helpful and efficient with the installation and the slide and turn doors are a fantastic product.Matt G.Matt G. ★★★★★ Fantastic service from start to finish, from the surveying, contact with office to the workmen. I have experience through work of a number of companies providing similar products and these guys have been by far the best to deal withDavid W H.David W H. ★★★★★ FGC installed a two-panel frameless glass door at our property yesterday. Wow!! the installation is exactly as discussed, and was carried out by two of FGC's team members who were so professional and courteous. They were excellent, and we have no hesitation in recommending FGC and their team to anyone considering such an installation.We are delighted with the installation, and very pleased we chose FGC.Well done FGC!!Border S.Border S. ★★★★★ The quality of the windows / doors are second to none.The customer service was first class from placing the order to installation we were kept informed at every step.The installation team led by Richard left our house and patio cleaner than when they arrivedI would recommend FGC 100%Tony- BurnleyStephen H.Stephen H. ★★★★★ From start to finish everything was excellent.Fab u lasThank youStephen O.Stephen O. ★★★★★ BRILLIANT SERVICE FROM START TO FINISHHighly recommended.Nathan P.Nathan P. ★★★★★ We purchased a beautiful Origin sliding door and side window from FGC. FGC installed the sliding door and window on time, however the sliding door did not fit correctly. Issues can happen. FGC made the process of re-surveying and re-installation very simple. FGC is a very pleasant and professional company to deal with. We are very happy with their service and would strongly recommend them.Darius C.Darius C. ★★★★★ I love my doors! It’s transformed my place. The people are great, no nonsense, organised and efficient. I’d recommend them to anyoneAdrian W.Adrian W. ★★★★★ Excellent planning and product advice. All the staff were polite courteous and friendly.On the day of the installation, the team arrived bang on time -we live in Wales so a long drive from Kent! They had the job done by lunchtime (fitting a sliding patio door) and I have to say that on first impression of the unit, it looks and feels like solid quality.Ian J.Ian J. ★★★★★ We had a 5m stretch of these wonderful doors installed several years ago and have been very happy with the uninterrupted view of the garden that they allow from the living room. They are admired by every tradesman who sees them. A minor problem we experienced with water ingress last year was promptly and effectively resolved, and the doors were serviced for free at the same time.Response from the ownerHello Ian, thank you very much for leaving us a review and glad you're happy with your doors and our service. Elly BElly B ★★★★★ Great staff and great products! Have visited the showroom to view doors, really loved all of them! Have referred to a friend - Can't recommend enoughAdam F.Adam F. ★★★★★ Really great doors. Really are something different. Expensive, but you really pay for what you get here.js_loader

What our customers say

I cannot rate this company highly enough & would highly recommend them to

Leslie David Morgan
Les Morgan
Just wanted to say a big thank you for coming up to Manchester from Kent to service our doors. My wife and I appreciated the service and continue to be really pleased with them. Lots of friends comment on how lovely they look and the window cleaner took your card this week, he is thinking of calling you! I would happily recommend you to anyone considering having frameless glass curtains. If there is anyone in

Following the installation of our new FGC porch, I wanted to give a recommendation for the excellent and diligent service, and wonderful product we received from FGC. Numerous people have commented since we had the work done, and it has clearly added value – both visually and financially – to our property. Also, when the guys came to fit the product, it was noted that there was a slight flaw in one of the specially

Paul Jackson
Jackson

On first contact you talked and demonstrated the unit, the installers were very polite, clean and tidy. I am very pleased with the product and I would recommend FGD to other people.

Very pleased with the glass curtain doors which you supplied on time and installed very quickly. Great product that really enhances the

Brian Berg
Brian Berg

We struggled to find a supplier to fit a glass balcony. Frameless Glass however were great – they gave us a clear and competitive quote, turned up when they said they would, and just got on and did the job! Friendly guys, and we love the end result which looks good from the outside, and gives us a lovely uninterrupted view of our garden

marcus appleton
Marcus

The service I received from FGD was professional and prompt from the initial on site survey through to installation and completion. Added to this the finished product has exceeded my expectations. It has enhanced my home with style and individuality, and enabled me to make use of the space in a way that is ‘unique’.

From the start to the finish we felt comfortable with your staff and installers. It was a product just as we had hoped and envisaged for our new House double glazed, frameless glass doors in 4 openings! Perfect. The doors are a talking point and every body comments on how good they look! They are amazed when we open them to show them off. When the doors were first installed the overall affect was more

We are very pleased with the installation. It has been much admired. Mrs D,

Mrs D, Kent

The Glass Curtains are all that you promised….and are much admired. We are delighted with the transformation to the dining area now that the decoration is complete. Will forward cheque by post tomorrow( Friday)  and some pictures by E . Don’t hesitate to use us as a satisfied

“Thank you again for a great installation, we are really enjoying the extra light.” I will be sending a load more images your way at some point

Mr T – Woking
We had 3 sets of doors installed in April. We had searched far and wide for bifold doors and those supplied by FGC were undoubtedly the most striking. We have had favourable comments from visitors and the doors are functioning well. Our dealings with FGC have been excellent and they have attended since the installation to make some adjustments. Although this is an expensive product, it looks stunning and has performed well. FGC worked closely

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Published on June 3, 2015

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