Sliding Doors: Bifold Doors Vs Sliding Glass Doors

Replacing your traditional doors with bifold or sliding doors can improve the appearance and the value of your Perth home. Moreover, with different types of sliding doors available, you can easily find something to complement your style. But how do you choose which is best for you?

If you’re looking to open up your home by installing either bifold or sliding doors having, but have the dilemma of not knowing which door to go with, you’re in luck. We sell these two sliding doors here at Ross’s; therefore, I am just the person to help you decide.

Continue reading this article as I look at your options closer and outline the pros and cons of each. Hopefully, this article will help you decide which type of sliding door to purchase for your home renovation.

Sliding Glass Doors

If you’re leaning more towards sliding glass doors, then it’s important to understand how they work. Firstly, know that sliding doors consist of two panels – one panel is fixed, while the other panel slides across to open.

As there is a fixed panel, understand that you cannot completely open sliding doors; only one of the two panels can ever be opened. However, unlike traditional doors, sliding doors do not protrude out or swing open. Therefore, they are often considered the ideal solution for ventilation, aesthetic and space considerations.

Sliding doors are a very affordable solution for any home. In fact, our range here at Ross’s starts at just $785 for a 1570x2143mm frame.

Pros and cons of sliding doors

Sliding doors are no doubt the more popular option of the two doors. This is primarily because they are a much cheaper option, but there are other advantages.

Sliding doors can accommodate large glass panels, which offer unobstructed views; our sliding doors here at Ross’s are available as large as 2410x2143mm. It is also important to note that sliding doors are also available in wider configurations than bifold doors.

As mentioned, sliding doors also do not protrude out, and they open and close in line. This makes them a very practical and popular choice for outdoor entertainment areas. In addition to this, they can accommodate flyscreens, and you will find that they are far easier to install than bifold doors.

While sliding doors are great in many respects, they do, of course, come with some drawbacks. The larger you want your sliding door panels to be, the wider your track width must be. This can cause issues and become a tripping hazard, especially with kids in the house.

In addition, sliding doors only offer a maximum opening of 75%, which is less than bifold doors. They can also be somewhat inconvenient to open and close frequently.

Bifold doors

Bifold doors are undoubtedly a popular choice for sliding doors in Perth; however, they come with a price tag. Bifold doors are most commonly used between living areas and outdoor entertainment areas, as they can seamlessly merge two adjoining areas together better than any other sliding door. These doors feature a classic design and offer a resort-like appearance to a space.

Bifold doors typically consist of two foldable door panels, hence their name. Depending on the configuration, these panels can be folded in one direction or even in both directions. Bifold doors are commonly configured to have an active door, which can be opened without opening the entire door system.

While bifold doors would certainly be the preferred option by all, you must keep an eye on the costs. As a rule of thumb, bifold doors cost about $1,000 per panel. This means that if you want bifold doors to span 4 metres, you will need to fork out a minimum of $4,000. The high cost is one reason why many people simply cannot consider bifold doors as an option, despite all the advantages they offer.

Pros and cons of bifold doors

Forgetting their expensive price tag, there are many reasons why I love bifold doors. First, bifold doors are exquisite in appearance and offer a sense of modern luxury that cannot be achieved with other sliding doors.

Bifold doors can also open entirely, offering you a seamless view of the outdoors. In fact, most outward-opening bifold doors can open up a room by up to 90%. This allows you to create an illusion of a larger home. Accommodating double-hung windows allows the breeze to flow into your home without opening the bifold doors.

While bifold doors offer a range of advantages, as I mentioned, they are quite expensive and deter most people from considering them. One such deterrent is the fact that bifold doors generally hang from the top, meaning additional structural supports are needed to withstand their weight. In addition, bifold doors can leave gaps to accommodate hinges and for the door to hang from the track. This causes issues with water penetration and energy efficiency. Bifold doors also have limited options for screening, unlike sliding doors.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking at purchasing sliding doors in Perth, you need to know the differences offered between sliding glass doors and bifold doors. Both sliding and bifold doors are aesthetically pleasing to look at and offer wonderful ventilation and space-saving. However, there are pros and cons to each. Reviewing these will eventually help you determine which sliding door solution best suits your needs – and budget.

For quality sliding glass doors and bifold doors in Perth, come and see us at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We are a leading retailer of home improvement products, and we have supplied sliding doors to hundreds of customers across Perth. We have a reputation for offering high-grade products at the best possible prices. You cannot expect to find better-sliding doors in Perth than what we have to offer.

Do note that we offer bifold doors as a special order only. This means that you will not see these products listed on our website. To place an order, drop by our showroom in Guildford, or give us a call to discuss your requirements. We’ll be happy to assist you with your sliding door needs. We can also provide a custom-made service to ensure the perfect size for your opening, saving you money on replacement. Contact us for a quote on a custom sliding door.

If you have any queries regarding sliding doors or bifold doors, please feel free to get in touch with us. We’ll put you through to one of our expert salesmen, who will assist you in every way possible.