At Northwest Bifolds we specialise in bifolding doors from the market leader Origin with their dependable 20-year warranty. We also provide AluK folding doors that are affordable and high quality. The Schuco bifolding door offers excellent engineering and the slimmest sight lines.Whichever of our quality bifolding doors you choose, they all share common terminology. We have put together a bifolding doors glossary of terms to help you understand these exceptional doors better.
Bifolding Door System.
The bifolding door system refers to the brand name of the bifolding door from the aluminium systems company that designed it. Origin, Schuco and AluK are all systems companies with their range of windows and doors of which bifolding doors form part of that range.
Our Schuco door is the ASS70FD, and our AluK product is the Optio BSC94. The Origin door system is our best selling product for which we are approved installers.
Bifolding door configuration.
Configuration refers to how you can design your bifolding door with our expert help and advice. The number of folding panels to the slide and fold direction as well as whether you want your doors to open in or out. These options fall under bifolding door configuration.
Colour choices, handle options, thresholds and even colour matched gaskets and hardware available with Origin bifolding doors are also part of the configuration.
Bifolding door threshold.
Most bifolding door systems come with the choice of a standard threshold with a full rebate or a lower level threshold. The selection of the threshold depends on the location and use of your door. Some doors with a low threshold are only suitable for internal use with minimal weathering.
Whether you require flat floors with a low-level threshold, we can help you choose this right to ensure your new bifolding door meets your requirements.
Bifolding door sight lines.
How your doors look in the closed position is a consideration for many looking to buy a bifolding door. The sight line refers to how much visible aluminium you see on your doors, especially when they meet together. Our Schuco doors are the slimmest with an impressive 121m sight line. Our Origin doors are still narrow at 154mm.
The thinner door sight line does not mean it is a better door. Contact us to view the profiles and for more information.
Traffic Door.
The traffic door is a fantastic feature on a bifolding door enabling it to be useable and functional whatever the weather. Traffic doors work just like a regular hinged door that you can use to get in and out without folding all the doors back. Most bifolding door configurations can accommodate one or more traffic doors.
If your new folding door is the only back door to your garden, we recommend you configure your door set with a traffic door.
Bifolding door outer frame.
The frame surrounding your bifolding door is the outer frame, fixed to the structure and used to support the door panels. On the outer frame you may find a trickle vent, the lock keeps and other components. Outer frames feature grooves that also hold the gaskets and seals keeping the door weather resistant.
Trickle Vent.
Building Regulations call for proper trickle ventilation to be provided in new windows and doors (or elsewhere in the room). A trickle vent is a slimline controllable ventilator that allows a consistent airflow into the room.
On a bifolding door, a trickle vent can be fixed to the frame or even on top of the door sash, depending on the system.
Bifolding door cill
The bifolding door cill is an aluminium profile that sits beneath the door threshold. It is designed to deflect rainfall down the glass, the door and deflect away.
A cill is not essential with every door. The requirement for a cill and the size is determined at the time of the survey.
Thermal break.
Bare aluminium is not the best conductor of heat. To create energy efficient and warmer bifolding doors, the aluminium profile consists of a thermal break.
A thermal break is a polyamide insulating material that forms a bridge between the inside and outside faces of every aluminium section found on a door. In conjunction with the energy efficient glass, thermal breaks help doors achieve low U-Values.
Bifolding door U Value.
The energy efficiency of a bifolding door is measured in U-Values, the lower the value, the more thermally efficient the door.
Our bifolding door systems are designed with quality and energy efficient glass to give you low U-Values and help keep your home more comfortable.
Polyester Powder Coating
Polyester powder coating is the method used to colour and protect aluminium bifolding doors. This dry paint process has been in use for over 35 years in the UK and is the best way to give you a choice of matt or gloss colours and even different colours inside and out.
A bifolding door is available in over 150 different colours.
Intermediate or slave door leaves.
A bifolding door consists of a master door and slave doors with most configurations. Any door that is not the main locking door is referred to as an intermediate leaf or a slave leaf.
Bifolding door hardware.
The hardware on a bifolding door is what enables the doors to hinge, slide, fold, stack and lock.
The carriage and top guides are found in the frame head and cill comprising rollers and guides to keep your doors in place as they move. The shoot bolts and gear box are found on the slave door leaves giving locking points and additional security. The slave handles are what you use to pull the door panels shut and then lock.
These are just some types of bifolding door hardware.
Northwest bifolds are bifolding door specialists transforming homes in Liverpool and the North West region. Contact us today for a free quotation and to view our range of quality bifolding doors.
