Bifold Doors vs Sliding Doors: Which One is Right For You?

At Panoramic Bifolds, we supply and install a wide selection of bifold doors and sliding doors for homeowners in Bristol. While both these options might seem similar, they also have their differences. In this article, we will compare and contrast these doors to see which one is right for you.

What Is A Bifold Door?

It is important to understand the difference between a sliding door and a bifold door. A bifold door folds out like a concertina, allowing plenty of natural light and fresh air to enter your property. This distinctive style will add plenty of value to your home. Furthermore, you will get lots of space to open your home. This is ideal if you want a social gathering because guests will come in and out easily.

There’s also the option of a traffic door to be included, helping it stand out. When you include a traffic door, it creates an open plan space in your home and allows ease of access between the garden and patio.

What Is A Sliding Door?

In comparison to a bifold door, a sliding door will give you outstanding panoramic views thanks to its slim sightlines. In comparison to a bifold door, they don’t take up any space in your home. Our sliding doors are made by Origin in lightweight and durable aluminium. This ensures it is easy to install, maximising your home’s living space.

Another benefit sliding doors have is that they can work in limited spaces, ensuring they are versatile fits. In comparison, a bifold door needs that extra room to fold out, which will be harder for a home with a modest space.

Both Doors Have Outstanding Thermal Efficiency Levels

Thermal efficiency levels are essential because that way, your home can be warmer, and you can save money on your energy bills. Bifold doors have a distinctive thermal break that prevents heat from escaping, so your home stays warm all year round. This is perfect in the current cost of living climate where it has never been more important to save money. You and your family will enjoy a luxurious living space.

However, when it comes to which doors offer lower U Values, sliding doors just edge it. Both doors support double glazing and triple glazing. When using triple glazing, Bifold doors can achieve U Values of 1.3 while sliding doors benefit from U Values of 1.1.

Configuration Options

Customisation is extremely important when it comes to choosing a new back door. Your bifold door is limited in configuration options, coming in either 2, 4, or 6 panels. This doesn’t give the homeowner a lot of choice, which is where sliding doors come in. These options are available in over 10 panels, enabling more options in the long run.

The doors are both available in a plethora of styles and colours too. Enhance your door with over 200 RAL colours to add personality to your home.

Low Thresholds to Save Space

You might be a social butterfly who loves having people over for those Friday night gatherings to see at the weekend. Having a low threshold is essential to provide access to wheelchairs and prams.

Both doors come with a low threshold option, which protects you from tough weather conditions. Ensure that leaks and rain won’t seep into your home, so you won’t worry about mould or condensation. The doors are easy to clean as the only thing they require is a wipe down with a damp cloth and they’ll look in pristine condition.

Bifold Doors Are More Accessible

As we previously mentioned, a bifold door folds outwards. This contributes to its distinctive feel and makes it easier for a large number of people to enter. In comparison, sliding doors offer more limitations because they only slide open, which is easy for quick access. As a result, you can open and close the door as much or as little as you want.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you understand the difference between bifold doors and sliding doors. But ultimately, the choice is down to you. Both doors add character and style to your home, alongside an influx of natural light and keeping your home warm.

We have an online quoting engine to help design your door. Build the doors from scratch in a matter of seconds, and we will come back to you with a price that matches.

Or, get in touch with us on 01179 560449 where we will help answer any questions you may have.

We look forward to working with you soon.

Categories: News