February 8, 2010

Japanese Shoji Blinds

Japanese Shoji Blinds

Bi folding, sliding panel or French doors?

Looking at your budget and the door width will help determine which patio door style is right for your home. If you have only 1.2 metres (about 4 feet), a sliding door is out of the question, as only half the width allows access therefore you can choose from centrally opening French doors or side-opening bi folding door.

At the other end of the scale, if you have six or seven metres of width, installing several sets of French doors would be impractical. In fact, the only satisfactory solution would be bi folding-sliding doors, which would open up virtually the whole width of the aperture when required.

Bi folding-sliding doors are a combination of the best features of both French doors and sliding-panel patio doors.

Choosing bi-folding patio doors.

There are now very many companies offering bi-folding doors. Your first decision has to be between p.v.c., aluminium or wooden frames. A second decision might be whether to fit them yourselves or have them professionally installed by the supplier.

For security purposes, choose a good quality product. The decision regarding materials can be narrowed down if you need to complement existing frames.

If existing frames are of stained wood, then your choices are timber-framed bi-folds, wood-effect p.v.c. or perhaps powder-coated aluminum bifolds in a complimentary colour (such as sepia).
If the existing window frames to be matched are of white p.v.c. or painted wood (any colour, e.g. green or black), the choices are white p.v.c. bi-folds, powder-coated aluminium bi-folds (white or any RAL colour powder-coated aluminium bi-folding door frames) or unstained timber frames that can be painted each year.
Finally, if the existing frames are old ‘Crittal’ metal with single glazing, have them all replaced – you should recoup some of the money in reduced household heating bills.

If you have an enviable view to be seen through the glazing of closed doors, consider not only the width of the glazed door panel but the total of all frame widths across the span.

Aluminium frames are strong and narrower than wood or p.v.c. which, depending on quality, can vary greatly.
Good quality p.v.c. frames tend to be reinforced with internal aluminium for strength but cheap plastic door frames (usually the widest to compensate) can be fairly easily broken by someone with determination.
Soft wood is easily damaged, by humidity as well as a variety of metal objects.

If your budget allows, have the doors made to fit the aperture and installed professionally. This way, they are manufactured to fit your exact requirements and installation is less than half-a-day’s disruption and minimal making good. Not only that but doors that fit correctly will not require in-fills at the edges, therefore they offer increased insulation and security.

Once you have made your basic choices, the supplier will offer other options such as different types of glass, handles, locks, integral blinds, etc. Many companies have web sites with comprehensive product information.

Some patio doors can be un-locked from outside therefore it is vital to use a well-respected company with a professional installation team, as they will have access to your patio door keys. Here are some tips to consider when selecting which companies to short-list:

A product manufactured in the UK, rather than a cheap import, has a lower risk of uncontrollable delays, damage in transit and non-conformance to British standards;
A reputable company with their own installation team will fit the product quickly and should avoid contentious issues regarding the product not functioning correctly;
Ensure that the product adheres to current building regulations for U-value and safety glass, as standard;
Check if strong hinges have been specified, sufficient for the weight of the doors, and that locks are secure, easy to operate and dependable (shoot-bolt/multi-lever)
Ensure that there is a minimum of two years’ guarantee so that the doors have performed in all weathers;
Look for reviews and testimonials about the companies you are considering buying from and, if possible, view a local installation;
Ask to try the product, either in a showroom or an installation site, so that you know what to expect in terms of smooth operation, amount of strength required and how solid the door units are;
If you choose p.v.c., choose a high quality product with metal-reinforced frames;
If you choose timber, try to budget for hardwood rather than softwood;
If you choose aluminum, ensure that it is “thermally broken” for optimum insulation properties.

One final tip – avoid hard sales techniques and heavy discounts. A good product will sell itself and the price should have been fair in the first place.

Fitting good quality doors and windows will make your home more secure, will reduce your heating costs and should increase or maintain the resale value of your property.

Based just off the A1 motorway, situated between London and the Midlands, SunSeeker Doors Ltd are UK manufacturers of made-to-measure powder-coated aluminium framed bi folding doors. Further information and client testimonials can be seen on their web site, http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk

SunSeeker Doors also supplies and fits frameless glass room dividers.

A client of SunSeeker Doors, the author provides writing and design services, http://www.thebpc.org.uk