Bifold doors are an excellent way to bring the outdoors in and can even help to increase property value. You can read our guide to utilising natural light with bifold doors here. However, when you purchase a bifold door, it is also important to consider how you will install it, and whether you will require expert assistance. You should also be aware of what you need to prepare prior to installing your bifold doors.
In this guide, we take you through the entire process of installing bifold doors, answering any common queries you may have.
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Find out what you should bear in mind before installing your bifold doors.
Read when you may need to check planning permission and get a survey done before installing your doors.
Find out how to prepare your space for bifold door installation.
We answer common queries on buying and installing bifold doors.
What should you consider before having your bifold doors installed?
Before getting your bifold doors installed, you need to establish the following:
- Whether your space is suitable
- How you’ll incorporate the doors into your home’s overall design.
Most bifold doors can be custom-built and made to fit all sorts of spaces, including unconventional apertures like corners and bays. So, in almost all cases you’ll be able to install exactly the doors you want.
The best place to start is by speaking to your local installer. We recommend finding your closest Origin Premium Partner here; they will be able to:
- Give advice as to where our doors would be best fitted in your property
- Advise on what size frames you could install
- Advise on what sized frame and set configuration will be possible in the opening.
If you have looked through our brochures and still have questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us or your local installer. Whether you need technical guidance, or help finalising specification, our team of experts and selected Premium Partners are all available to discuss your door requirements.
All our Premium Partners have been specially selected and are highly knowledgeable of all Origin products. They will be able to give you the best level of service from purchasing to installation, to ensure the best possible Origin experience.
Watch our video on bifold door installation to find out more.
Are you interested in finding out more about the different glazing options for bifold doors? Read our guide to double vs triple glazing options for bifold doors.
Unlike any other door, our aluminium bifolds provide a completely uninterrupted view once open, and the flexibility to enjoy your indoor and outdoor space as one. Our doors are also available in 150 RAL colours, allowing you to perfectly match your doors to your home’s style.
Shop our aluminium bifold door range.
Are you choosing a type of bifold door glazing option? Read our complete guide to double vs triple glazing.
Do you need planning permission to install bifold doors?
In most cases, fitting bifold doors will be classed as a permitted development, which means you don’t need planning permission. However, there are circumstances in which different restrictions apply. For example, if your home is in a national park or is a classified building. For this reason, it’s always best to check with your local council.
We’d also recommend having a survey carried out on your property. This will highlight any issues that might crop up when creating the aperture and installing the doors.
To find out if you need planning permission for your new doors, visit the government’s online Planning Portal.
To see which configurations Origin can offer, use our online bifold door configuration tool.
Are you choosing between bifold doors and sliding doors? Read our guide to sliding doors vs bifold doors here.
Preparing your home for bifold door installation
Creating the aperture
Creating the opening for the doors is a job for an experienced professional and will need to be done by your builder. After the aperture has been created, your local installer can then come and survey the area, ready for installation. To avoid leaving your home exposed to the elements, the installer will create the aperture as close as possible to the date they plan to fit your doors. Once they’ve made the opening, they will securely board it up until they return to install the doors.
Since our doors are made bespoke to every opening, we advise your aperture is created prior to ordering your products to ensure a perfect fit.
Want to make sure you choose the right bifold? Read our guide to choosing a high-quality new bifold door here.
Installing the lintel
Creating an opening for bifold doors can weaken a load-bearing wall. Removing part of the wall means there is less to support the weight of the upstairs floors and the roof. If the work to make the aperture isn’t done correctly, this can put pressure on the wall and even cause it to collapse.
To avoid this problem, a rolled steel joist (RSJ) can be inserted at the top of the aperture as a lintel to redistribute the weight.
Installing the doors
Try to leave as short a time as possible between when your doors are delivered and when the installers come to fit them. Origin will ideally arrange delivery to the trade partner to ensure they arrive to your home with everything they need, the day of the installation. However, if required, delivery can be arranged to your home address or on the day of installation.
How long will it take to install bifold doors?
The time it takes to install a set of bifolding doors will depend on the configuration you’ve chosen. However, on average, a three-door set will take around a day to fit. Once the frames are in place, the installers will put in the glazing.
Still unsure as to why you should go with aluminium? Read our guide to the different door materials here.
What lead times are available for bifold doors?
Instead of giving a set lead time, Origin allows you to specify when you want your goods delivered. So, if you want your products in a day, a week or a month, Origin will deliver. When ordered in a popular colour, our bifold doors are available in as little as 24-hours. Find out more about Origin lead times here.
We offer a choice of over 150 RAL colours, but many of our customers prefer to stick to the more familiar choices of:
- White
- Grey
- Black.
If you are struggling to decide what colour to go with, read our bifold door colour guide to find out more.
Are you looking for a grey, durable bifold door? Our recommendation:
Shop our aluminium bifold door range.
Want more information on which Origin Bifold system will work best for your home? Please contact your local Premium Partner, who will be able to answer all your questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lead door when buying bifold doors?
The lead door is the panel of the door that opens first. It also contains the multi-point locking system. When you want to go through to your garden without folding all the panels back fully, the lead door acts as a regular door.
Be aware that certain configurations can’t be fitted with a lead door—for example, an even number of doors that fold open in one direction. Although there’s nothing wrong with this configuration, not having a lead door means no multi-point locking system, which makes the doors less secure. It also means there will be no handle on the outside of the door set, therefore, we often recommend this kind of configuration for a balcony, or similar spaces.
Configurations with an even number of panels can have a lead door if the set has doors folding left and right (for example, a six-door set with three opening left and the other three opening right).
It’s always a good idea to discuss your preferences with your installer, as they will be able to advise you on the best configuration for your home.
To find out more about the features of the Origin bifold, read our complete buyers guide to bifold doors for more information.
What bifold door security options should you consider?
UK building regulations say that any bifold doors installed as part of a project being built from the ground up (new-build properties or extensions to existing homes) must conform to PAS 24 standards.
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).
Read the guide to bifold door security here.
Why should you choose a made-to-measure folding door?
Having an external bifold door made-to-measure gives you complete control over many aspects. Having doors that don’t fit and aren’t installed correctly, can cause damage to the products and effect the way they work. To avoid that, Origin Bifold Doors are made to meet your exact requirements.
You can specify:
- Overall size
- Number of panels
- Amount of panels (up to twelve)
- Configuration (even Corner Bifold Doors can be manufactured)
- Internal and external colour
- Preferred threshold
- Whether the doors open inwards or outwards
- Style of handle
- Hardware colour (with over 150 RAL shades and finishes, including wood grain, to choose from).
Are you looking for a modern, sleek aluminium sliding door?
Our recommendation:
Delivering first-class design, our sliding door range provides the most spectacular finish for any building project. Available in four different sightlines across two different sliding door systems – the Origin Artisan Slider and the Origin Patio Slider – we have some of the slimmest sliding doors on the market.
Shop our aluminium sliding doors here.
Still not sure which Origin door would work best in your home? Contact your local premium partner, who will be able to advise you as to which product would suit your households needs best.
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How to identify high-quality bifold doors
A full buyers guide to buying aluminium bifold doors
Bifold doors and homeworking – utilising bifold doors
