Aluminium bifold doors make an attractive addition to any home, allowing you to make the most of natural light while enjoying excellent views. Although aluminium bifold doors are extremely easy to look after, they do require minimal maintenance to ensure they last for years.
Here, we take you through useful maintenance tips for your bifold doors, as well as advice on operating your doors and resolving common issues.
In this guide:
Expert tips on operating your new Origin Bifold Door.
Read our top maintenance tips, such as cleaning tricks for sparkling glass and doors.
We take you through how to resolve common issues with bifold doors.
We answer common queries on maintaining aluminium bifold doors.
Operating your patio doors
Once your aluminium bifold doors are installed, it’s important you know how to operate them properly so you can enjoy all the benefits they bring without any hassle. There are two main types of door systems - systems with a lead door, and systems without a lead door.
Systems with a lead door
A lead door is the panel which contains the locking system and acts as the access door, when going in and out. You can use this door to easily move between the outside and inside without folding back all the other panels.
Opening the doors
Insert the key into the lead door, turn 360° and remove.
Open the door fully, attaching it to the magnetic keep on the adjacent door.
Rotate the slave handles 180° to release the doors.
For doors opening out, push the door frame above the slave handle and open the doors fully, ensuring the lead door remains against its magnet at all times.
For bifolding doors opening in, pull the door sash inwards and guide the doors open.
Closing the doors
Place your hand between the first and second doors and guide the doors along the track.
For doors opening out, pull the D-shaped handle to close the doors. Lock them into place by rotating the slave handles 180°. For doors opening in, push the frame until the doors are shut.
Repeat the previous steps until all slave handles are in the locked position.
Using the lead door handle, pull the door from the magnetic keep and close.
Lift the handle up to engage the locks.
Insert the key, rotate 360° and remove.
Are you looking for a modern, durable external bifold door?
Our recommendation:
Origin Aluminium Bifolding Door Sets
Unlike any other door, our aluminium bi-folds provide a completely uninterrupted view when open, and offer the flexibility to enjoy your indoor and outdoor space as one. Our doors are also available in 150 RAL colours, allowing you to find the perfect style for your home.
Shop our aluminium bifold door range.
Systems without a lead door
Systems without a lead door can be split into two in the middle so both sets of doors open outwards from the middle and the central set of doors can act as access doors.
Opening the doors
If keyed locking is installed, insert the key into the lock, turn 360° and remove.
Rotate all slave handles 90°, so they are now positioned horizontally.
For doors opening out, push the door frame above the slave handle and open the doors fully. For doors opening in, pull the handle to open.
Closing the doors
Place your hand between the first and second doors and guide the doors along the track.
For doors opening out, pull the D-shaped handle to close the doors. Lock them into place by rotating the slave handles 180°. For doors opening in, push the frame until the doors are shut.
Repeat the previous steps until all slave handles are in the locked position.
If keyed locking is installed, lift the master handle up to engage the locks.
Insert the key, rotate 360° and remove.
Helpful tips
Always remove the key from the lock to protect the lock and adjacent doors from damage, as warranties don’t usually cover this.
The lead door is always the first door to open and the last to close.
The lead door must remain attached to the magnetic keep when the doors are open and in operation.
Slave handles should not be used to pull the doors along the track into the closed position.
Read our guide to choosing a secure bifold door here.
Maintaining your doors
Having bi-fold doors is a great way to open up your room and let in the maximum amount of light. This, however, is only the case if they are clean and you can actually see out of them! Here are a few tips to take the backache out of cleaning your bi-fold doors and windows:
Cleaning the glass
There are many old wive's tales advising us how to clean windows, and most involve vinegar and elbow grease. Whilst a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar can be an effective cleaning solution, it will leave behind a vinegary smell for a while, so it isn’t the answer for everyone.
Soap and water also proves to be a popular option. However, go easy on the suds as they can leave behind a streaky residue if you’re not careful.
Regardless of what cleaning product you use, whether it’s a shop bought spray or a homemade solution, the most important thing to get streak free windows is to use the right tools to apply it. Many of us make the mistake of using kitchen towels, however, they can leave linty streaks on the glass. Microfibre cloths and squeegees are the best option for a streak-free finish.
When cleaning the glass, ensure where possible that the solution doesn’t run onto the frames too much. Additionally, don’t forget to remove all jewellery, rings, and watches as they can easily leave scratches on the glass.
Read our guide to cleaning bifold doors here.
Cleaning and maintaining the frames
In the majority of cases, cleaning the frames of your bi-fold doors will not require more than a quick wipe with a non-abrasive cloth or sponge soaked in warm water and a mild detergent.
Resist the temptation to use any type of heavy-duty household cleaner as you could cause damage to the frames or powder coat finish. Paraffin-based cleaning solutions and non-abrasive liquid cream cleaners are generally fine for shifting more stubborn stains but seek advice from your supplier first.
If there are any stubborn stains that won’t shift with washing, try using an ink rubber to lift the mark. You will know immediately if it is going to work, so don’t keep scrubbing away if you can’t see an initial change.
Cleaning the tracks and seals
It is important that you ensure that the tracks at the bottom of the doors are clean and free from large stones and debris. Any large objects can impede the smooth running of the doors and potentially cause damage.
The most effective way to clean the tracks is to use a vacuum cleaner nozzle. Run it along the tracks to remove any debris that has collected inside.
With some doors, is it advised that you lubricate the tracks and mechanisms with a silicon spray. Focus on the area where the wheel and guide disks connect with the tracks to ensure smooth running. Again, check with your supplier to make sure that this is appropriate for your specific model of doors and take advice on what product they would recommend.
In salt water environments, the external surface of the doors should be washed down with fresh water on a weekly basis as it is common for salt deposits to build up.
Gently run across the gasket seals with a light, soapy solution and non-abrasive cloth. Avoid using solvent-based cleaning products on the seals. It is also recommended that silicone spray is applied to the seals annually.
Read our expert guide to cleaning a bifold door here.
Maintaining the locks
Applying a small amount of silicone spray to the lock and key will ensure that the locking mechanism is dust-free and not prone to sticking. Lightly spray both the lock and key and then insert and remove the key a few times to ensure easy operation. We do not recommend the use of oils such as WD40 due to these items causing rust over time.
Why is it important to choose a high-quality aluminium door?
Although occasional maintenance and cleaning is required with every type of bifold door – choosing a high-quality door will minimise the risk of potential issues and the need for repairs. Low-quality or medium-quality bi-fold doors will only meet industry standards for withstanding wind and rain. High-quality doors will exceed them. It is also important to look for a high-quality supplier that offers bifold doors with the most stringent security features. To keep your home secure, we recommend that you only use products that have passed PAS 24: 2016 testing, even if you’re only replacing existing doors. You should also look for features such as:
- multipoint locking systems—3-point or 5-point are standard (although Origin doors have a unique 8-point system to enhance security)
- kitemarked locks, with security cylinders that have proven to guard against snapping, picking, drilling and bumping
- secure hinges
- heavy-duty handles
- toughened glass (though this is sourced by your installer if requested).
Choosing a high-quality aluminium door with excellent security features will keep both you and your home safe, whilst minimising the need for expensive repairs.
Read our guide to aluminium quality.
Contact us today
If you have a question about maintaining or operating your doors or have an issue with your doors, we recommend speaking to your installer, however, if this isn't possible you can speak to one of our highly trained premium partners for advice.
For more information on Origin's bespoke bi-folding doors, contact your local installer today.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you clean your bifold doors?
Origin Bifold Doors need occasional cleaning; however, this depends on where you live, as well as how often you use them. If you live close to the sea, for example, we recommend you clean the exterior surface of your doors at least once a week. In more rural areas, it can be less than this frequent than this.
Why is proper maintenance so important?
Maintaining your folding door properly means that you are prolonging the life of your patio door, ensuring you make the best impression when guests visit your home. Maintaining bifold doors and ensuring proper care also minimises the need for additional costs. Choosing a high-quality supplier such as Origin means you can rest assured that your doors will last you for years to come.
Are bifold doors a security risk?
By not choosing a top-quality brand, you might create additional security risks. However, Origin’s premium product ranges all have major security benefits. All doors have robust 4-level security to give you peace of mind when it comes to your home and family’s safety.
What do you need to do to prepare your home for bifold door installation?
It is essential that for wide openings, no weight from the house is transferred onto the bifold doors. For this reason, your home may require a steel beam above the entrance to support the weight of the walls above. Consult a builder or local installer to gain an understanding of your building’s requirements.
Why should you clean bifold door tracks?
It is important that you ensure that the tracks at the bottom of the doors are clean and free from large stones and debris. Any large objects can impede the smooth running of the doors and potentially cause damage.
Find out more about our aluminium bifold door and window range here.
Are you looking for a modern room divider for your home? Shop our range of aluminium internal doors here.
