Choosing a Material for Bi-Fold Doors: 3 Factors to Consider Before Buying

Posted on: 13 March 2018

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Bi-fold doors are the perfect option for connecting your home to the garden. These doors light up the house by allowing natural light from outside to pour into the room. Also, they connect the interior and exterior spaces, especially during the summer when homes are usually buzzing with outdoor activities. If you are thinking about installing these beautiful and convenient doors in your home, you need to consider the best material for your home. This will help you to select a material that will blend seamlessly with the rest of your home.

Here are the key things that you should consider when choosing the ideal material for your bi-fold doors.

Maintenance requirements

Bi-fold doors experience a lot of traffic, especially during the summer months. You need to go for a material that you can comfortably maintain. For example, if you have young kids that can scratch the door or stain it, you need a material that's resilient to that kind of abuse. The most common bi-fold door materials are timber and aluminium. Wood is high-maintenance and can easily warp or chip on impact. On the other hand, aluminium is quite resilient as it is a metal, and you don't have to worry about it wearing out or catching permanent stains.

Staining options

When choosing a material for large fixtures like bi-fold doors that open into your garden, you need to consider the colour options. These doors play a critical role in determining the aesthetics of your home and outdoor structures such as the patio. When selecting a material, go for one that offers a variety of staining options in your preferred colours. In this case, both aluminium and timber have great colour choices that you can choose from. However, aluminium can be powder-coated, while wood requires liquid paint.

Powder coatings are more durable than liquid paint. They do not chip on impact or fade after exposure to the sun. Therefore, if you want to paint your doors, aluminium would be a great choice. However, if you'd like to maintain the natural colour of the material, wooden bi-fold doors would be an excellent choice for the home.

Durability

Home renovations are not every homeowner's cup of tea. That's why you need to consider the durability of the material before buying. Go for a durable material that will last for at least a decade without routine repairs. Both timber and aluminium are durable, but wood requires proper maintenance to last long. You need to apply a sealant that will protect it from moisture and prevent warping.

Contact an expert for bi-fold door selection and installation services so that you can get the most out of your new doors.