Bifolding vs Sliding vs Slide-Swing Glass Doors
Bi-Folding Doors were the best patio doors available for garden access, from the beginning of this century and for the next ten years or so. For many homes, bi-folds opened up the whole of the wall, giving rise to the phrase “bringing the outdoors inside”. Their ‘concertina’ design of double-glazed doors with necessary sturdy hinges meant that the sightlines could be quite wide (although SunSeeker Slimline Bifold Doors had the most narrow frames and slimmest profiles).
Sliding Doors could provide more panoramic viewing as the panels were constantly supported and, therefore, the frames around the glazing could be narrow. The downside is that at least one door had to remain ‘in situ’ which limited the access to the patio. A wide aperture of 4 metres may enable an access space of 2 metres with some sliding door systems. However, a narrow aperture of 2 metres would only provide approximately 1 metre of access between the house and garden. This is where bi-folds provided a better option over standard sliding systems, a folding door with a 2-metre width would fully open to enable virtually the whole aperture to be useable – no squeezing through, one person at a time.
French Doors are suitable only for openings with a width of under 2 metres.
Slide-Swing Doors is a description of the way our UltraSlim system works. The sightlines and profiles are the slimmest available (excluding Frameless Glass Doors) with 19mm aluminium side frames – with up to 97% glass widths for virtually uninterrupted, clear viewing. The style may also be referred to as slide & turn or slide & pivot doors. SunSeeker UltraSlim Doors are unique.
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- Bi-Folding (zig-zag) Doors
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- Sliding Doors
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- UltraSlim slide-swing doors
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- Frameless (single glazed) doors
In line with home-improvement projects, the popularity of slim frames has increased, despite operating difficulties throughout 2020. Which door system is best for you? When choosing a patio door, consider the available space and the look you wish to achieve. Budget is often an overriding factor as the best will be more expensive than the norm. However, consider the life-span of the items you are installing – doors are an essential life-style element that will remain a ‘wow’ factor for several years and could increase the desirability and value of your home.
Safe, Secure, Energy-efficient
Slimmer frames do not reduce security. SunSeeker UltraSlim doors have a double-shoot-bolt mechanism so that the glass doors are securely locked.
Double-glazing in all our door systems bears the British Standard kitemark. Together with the ‘thermally-broken’ aluminium frames, our doors are extremely energy efficient.
Options include:
- aluminium frames are available in a choice of more than 200 RAL colours (some at additional cost);
- glass units can be supplied as tinted (more glass options)
- integral blinds
