At FGC, we specialise in frameless bifolding doors, frameless porches, entrance doors, balustrades and other types of glazing. The range of frameless products for both inside and outside the home is very broad and extends to more than just windows and doors.
If you are thinking about improving your home with these cutting-edge products, using the very best in glass processing, coatings, technology and design, we give answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about frameless glazing, as well as frameless bifolding doors.
Frequently Asked Questions about our frameless folding doors
We are asked a lot of questions from our customers many of whom had never heard about our doors before. Here are answers to our most commonly asked questions.
Where are your frameless bifolding doors made?
Our doors are British designed and made in Britain. We exclusively manufacture our frameless glass curtains at our factory in Kent. And we install nationwide.
FGC has designed and consistently upgraded our doors over the years to provide, what we consider is one of the best frameless bifolding doors on the market presently.
Can your doors be used inside as well as out?
We have extensively fitted our doors in many homes, offices and commercial buildings as either internal doors (or room dividers) as well as fully functional external doors.
We recommend our single glazed doors for internal applications that also feature an ultra-low threshold at only 5mm!
Whether you have our doors fitted internally or externally, there is no compromise on performance and security.
What colours are available with frameless bifolding doors?
The outer framework can be in any RAL colour of your choice. Custom colours are also available subject to additional cost.
How many panels are possible on frameless bifolding doors?
Our doors have been designed as both swing, pivoting and folding doors. This means you can have a single hinged glass door or a pair of hinged opening doors.
For our bifolding doors, we offer from three panels right up to special designs. One example of multiple doors is an installation with 18 panels at the Manchester United Training Centre.
What glass is provided on frameless bifolding doors?
The glass you see in our unique frameless glass doors is exclusive to us. This is what makes our doors so special.
We use top quality glass from the leading global glass processors manufactured from toughened safety glass. There is our special 20 mm glass spacer and not metal that you will find on other types of doors. The U Value of our glass can be as low as 1.0Wm2K. This exceeds the requirements of the current Building Regulations that state a U Value of 1.6Wm2 as a minimum.
Our glass features either 4mm or 6mm units using Saint-Gobain Planitherm 1 energy-efficient glass with argon gas between the panes.
For doors that have single glass, this is 10 mm toughened glass.
Why do your doors pivot and others fold? What is better?
The hinged bifolding door you will typically see is designed to be a slide and fold door. Whilst most quality doors use excellent running gear and hardware, they rely on the door hinges between the panels to enable them to fold.
The advantage of the pivoting and sliding action of our doors is that you benefit from no aluminium in between the doors and no visible hinges. Furthermore, our doors offer are far more convenient if you simply want ventilation without opening the doors compared to typical aluminium doors.
A further benefit is that our doors when folded fully back will take up far less space inside our outside your home than typical aluminium doors. On a four panel bifold, they will only take up 180mm of your space. This is substantially less than other quality aluminium bifolds.
What opening options are possible with frameless bifold doors?
Our doors can slide to the left or right, open in or out as well as having access leaves, double door leaves and other combinations. We are sure once you’ve seen our doors that you’ll find them more versatile than another quality bifolding door.
What hardware options are available.
We offer a wide range of handles to suit each individual door. These range from contemporary glass, polished or satin stainless steel and much more. Contact us for further information.
With all our handles, they are complemented by secure locking systems that provide exceptional security and tested meet British and European Standards.
We are confident that when you see our doors in action you will agree that they offer much more than a quality aluminium bifolding door. Contact us for further information about our range of frameless glass products.
Why are your doors more expensive than other systems?
We are the only company in the world manufacturing this door design, which is a very unique, patented product. We have no mullions (frame) between the glass doors as we use glass spacer bars where all other doors rely on aluminium. This system costs us more to manufacture than the standard bi-fold doors due to its hand-made production and unique engineering. Our advice would always be for you to view our doors and different types of systems to compare the quality.
However, our belief is the nature of our doors is such that you're not comparing a like for like product with a conventional bifolding door.
Why are your doors so special?
Our Frameless slide and stack doors combine the best features of both sliders and bi-folds. A downside with sliding doors is you can't open the entire door set fully and a downside of bi-folds can be the bulky framework and the concertina folding method.
With our doors, you can open up the whole aperture. And because of the glass spacer bars we use, there are no visible mullions. The doors can be also partially opened to allow ventilation, making them incredibly versatile. None of these features come with sliding or bifolding doors.
Are your doors kite marked?
Yes. Our doors are kite marked, but due to the location of the stamp on the glass and the design of the doors some of the stamp is hidden behind a profile. Should you or your building inspector require evidence of this we can issue a certificate of conformity.
Can I have a flush threshold?
The bottom track can be sunk into the floor with just a 5mm threshold, so virtually no trip hazard and it's wheelchair friendly.
How do the doors seal?
Our unique doors work on a sophisticated compression system. When the locking handle is turned, a side column expands, compressing the doors together making them water and weather tight.
What are your maximum door sizes?
Our doors are designed to cover standard apertures and can also span entire walls or elevations. Each panel can be up to 1.3m wide and 3.0m high. Our sizes exceed many residential bifolding door systems and go taller than many sliding door products too.
How much room do open and stacked doors take up?
Each door is a super-slim 45mm wide compared with 90mm in most other systems. Therefore, they stack neater than other products on the market.
Where can your doors be installed?
Our incredibly versatile single and double glazed doors have been installed in a variety of buildings including private and commercial properties. As well as customer homes, our doors feature in restaurants, Manchester United’s training ground, Aston Martin and Audi car dealerships, schools, McDonalds, churches and even in cruise ships.
How can I see your doors?
Our substantial Kent Showroom is the best place to view our entire range of single and double glazed frameless doors, porch doors and a full aluminium range from some of the UK's best brands.
We also have a network of existing customers all over the UK who show our doors off on our behalf - we call them our “preferred customers”. Get in touch and we will find your nearest preferred customer and arrange for you to see the doors in situ.
We offer this unique way for you to get to see what they really look like in a home. You'll also get a first-hand account of what we are like to deal with as a company.
Are your doors available with integral blinds?
Unfortunately, our doors are not compatible with integral blinds, also called internal or between-glass blinds.
How secure are the doors?
Our doors have passed an enhanced security test called PAS 24. They are extremely secure, robust and durable, they cannot be “bumped”.
What are your payment terms?
We require a 50% deposit on order, 40% 1 week before installation and the remaining 10% balance, 28 days after installation. We also offer our products on finance if you would like to spread the cost or take out a buy now pay later option.
General frameless glazing for inside and outside the home.
Is frameless glazing safe?
Yes. Frameless glazing uses toughened, laminated or multi-layered glass that is strong and safe. There is even glass that is strong enough to walk on.
Toughened glass is regular glass that is heat treated to alter its properties and give it exceptional strength. Toughened glass is a legal requirement in all doors and in windows below a certain height from the finished floor level. Toughened glass, should it break, is designed to shatter into thousands of harmless pieces that won’t cause injury. It is toughened glass that is used on the side and rear windows of cars.
Laminated glass is two or more pieces of glass sandwiched together with a plastic sheet. Should laminated glass break, it won’t fall into pieces or dangerous shards but will hold together. Laminated glass is used on car windscreens as an example. Laminated glass is frequently used in high security doors and windows or for those home improvement products certified to an enhanced security standard.
Is frameless glazing energy efficient?
Our double glazed doors give an overall ‘U’ value of 1.4 W/m2K and 1.1 W/m2K on triple glazed.
When comparing other models claiming to be frameless, many of these use single glass. Single glass does not have the energy efficiency of double glazed products and in some areas of the house falls outside the scope of current Building Regulations.
Therefore frameless doors that are single glazed are not energy efficient and suitable for internal use. For external doors we recommend a double glazed product.
How good are frameless glass products?
Like us at FGC, providers of specialist frameless products possess a lot of knowledge and expertise both in terms of glass know-how and the complex installation a frameless product requires.
Frameless glazing is technically excellent, safe, strong and long-lasting Correctly made, installed and maintained, it will give you years of reliability whether it is fitted inside or outside your home.
Frameless glazing does not provide a complete solution as the glass is limited in what it can do and how it can perform. The good news is that, should you wish to incorporate frameless glass products in your home or your building project, your architect or builder doesn’t need to have expert knowledge. This is where we come in.
What are the benefits of frameless products?
The key benefit of frameless products is their minimalist appearance thanks to the excellent views frameless products provide. Frameless products are ideal for bringing the outside into your home, enjoying all the light and glass brings while protecting you during the winter months.
Frameless windows and doors provide uninterrupted views that even a slimline aluminium or PVCu door cannot provide. Frameless products also provide a cleaner aesthetic, especially inside the house.
Is frameless glazing really frameless?
Unless the frameless glazing is ‘structural glazing’ then most frameless systems need some form of fixing method, structural support or patch fittings to make doors and windows open and close. So while not entirely frameless it has the bare minimum of metal frame.
What is frameless glazing?
Frameless glazing includes a whole variety of products for the home, from windows and doors, to balustrades, glass splashbacks, porches, rooflights and even frameless conservatories and extensions.
Internally, frameless glazing includes doors, glass staircases, shower screens, worktops or balustrades.
Frameless products have been around for over 30 years in America and Europe but have recently enjoyed phenomenal interest with UK homeowners.
Ordering, Installation and Maintenance
Can I have a flush threshold?
The bottom track can be sunk into the floor with just a 5mm threshold, so virtually no trip hazard and it's wheelchair friendly.
What are your maximum door sizes?
Our doors are designed to cover standard apertures and can also span entire walls or elevations. Each panel can be up to 1.3m wide and 3.0m high. Our sizes exceed many residential bifolding door systems and go taller than many sliding door products too.
How much room do open and stacked doors take up?
Each door is a super-slim 45mm wide compared with 90mm in most other systems. Therefore, they stack neater than other products on the market.
Where can your doors be installed?
Our incredibly versatile single and double glazed doors have been installed in a variety of buildings including private and commercial properties. As well as customer homes, our doors feature in restaurants, Manchester United’s training ground, Aston Martin and Audi car dealerships, schools, McDonalds, churches and even in cruise ships.
What is the ordering process?
Get in touch for a quote by either using the online form, calling 01732 848088 or emailing [email protected]. In order to quote all we need to know are your approximate dimensions (or send in your plans) and your location (town is fine).
If you’re happy with your quote and wish to go ahead we arrange for our surveyor to attend. Once you have signed off your drawings and contract and paid your deposit we commence manufacture and let you know your installation date. Our lead time is subject to availability, with a minimum of 6 weeks.
What happens installation day?
Our team of fitters usually arrive on site around 8 am. Most installations (dependant on the size) are completed in one day. Our fitters will tidy up after themselves and show you how to operate and maintain your doors.
For doors going into new extensions, we ask that your builder removes any boarding. For town centre properties or with parking restrictions, we would ask you to arrange these for our installers.
Is any aftercare or maintenance needed?
Our team of fitters will leave you with a can of silicone spray. Twice a year we ask that you spray the bubble gaskets and track to keep your doors gliding smoothly.
What happens if something goes wrong?
FGC will do all we can to ensure your installation goes smoothly and we maintain regular contact with you in the run-up to your installation. Should there be any problems with your doors post-installation just let us know and we will send a maintenance team out to make any necessary repairs (fees will apply for anything not covered by your guarantee.
Why should I trust FGC?
We are members of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and FENSA members. For your peace of mind, we provide deposit payment protection (T&C’s apply) and pride ourselves on our excellent aftercare and honouring our guarantee.
You can read our many testimonials and glowing reviews from our many delighted customers all over the UK.
We are on-hand to help and answer any other questions you may have about our products. Please contact us if you have any specific requests or require any other information.
