The Cost of External Bifold Doors

External bifold doors offer a powerful way of opening out space within your home - as well as helping break down the barrier between your home and your garden. But what exactly are bifold doors? Their construction, consisting of a series of panels attached via hinges in a concertina arrangement, means that they can be made far larger than standard external doors. Moreover, since they can collapse into an area smaller than even the smallest panel, they can be opened more fully than a traditional sliding door, whose panels stack behind one another. Folding doors also offer a bit of visual interest for your home: they are, after all, great to look at.

But these virtues come at a cost. Let’s take a look at just how much a folding door will set you back.

How expensive are bifold doors?

External bifold door prices tend to be slightly higher than those of more traditional designs (owing largely to the complexity of the design), and slightly higher than those you might use for interior spaces (since they need to be made far more robust, and must comply with stricter building regulations).

There are several factors which will influence the cost of the door. The first and most obvious of these is size:  larger doors, requiring more raw materials and labour to create, will command higher prices. The chances are that you’ve already got an opening in mind, and its size will restrict your options: there’s little point, after all, in buying a door that’s too big for the aperture (unless you intend to expand said aperture, which will make things more expensive).

Folding doors come in many different configurations, and this is especially so for external doors. You might opt for a traditional door that extends from one side, or you might go for a ‘French-fold’ arrangement, where two sets of identical panels extend to meet in the centre of the door. One alternative is to have a single door on one side, and a longer strip of panels on the other - that way you’ll be able to move from one side of the door to the other without letting in too much cold air.  Other variations in design stem from the size of the panels; you might opt for many small panels or several larger ones. Each of these factors will have an influence on the ultimate price of the door.

What are External Bifold Doors made from?

External doors come in several materials. In the main, there are wooden, aluminium and uPVC doors. Aluminium offers the greatest strength, making it possible to have thinner frames and more glazing, which allows more natural light to enter the interior. uPVC, though cheaper, is weaker, and thus will restrict the flow of light into the room. Timber tends to make the best aesthetic match for most homes, though it’ll command a higher price. You’ll also need to consider that wood requires occasional maintenance to look and function well, but that it’ll last for decades if properly cared for.  It’s worth remembering that there are myriad sorts of timber, each of which is priced differently - pine, for instance, tends to be cheaper than oak.

To tailor your door to your taste, and to the surrounding décor, you might consider applying your own finish. Wooden doors can be painted or stained, which will protect them against wear-and-tear while giving them that classic look we all love. uPVC doors, on the other hand, can’t be modified in any way - you won’t even be able to install locks into them. When we consider how important security is to an external door, this is a factor worth considering before placing your order.

The glazing itself will also contribute to the price. You might look for something partially frosted, to preserve your privacy. This will cost a little extra. The precise arrangement of the glass panels will also make things more expensive - generally speaking, the more ornate something is, the more work is required to create it, and the more expensive it’ll be.

We should also consider that, as with many things we buy for our homes, the brand responsible for a bifold door will contribute to its asking price. If you want the assurance that comes with a recognised, reputable brand, then you might be willing to stump up the extra cash. If you’re looking for a bargain, on the other hand, you might consider it worth taking a risk on a lesser-known manufacturer. To make a more informed decision, try speaking to people who’ve already got one installed about their choice. If they’re happy with their brand, the chances are good that you will be, too.

How much do our bifold-doors cost?

Here at Vivid, we stock a range of folding solutions that are sure to look great on your patio. They range from totally unfinished pine doors, which start from £969, right through to slim-profile aluminium doors which command north of £2,000. We’ve doors in arrangements to match whatever opening you have in mind - so be sure to examine the options carefully. As ever, our staff are knowledgeable and friendly; contact us if you have any questions about what’s on offer.

How much is bifold door installation?

One factor we’ve yet to consider is the labour involved in getting a folding door into position. This is one cost that you might elect to cut by doing the job yourself. Installing a bifold door  is not a job that requires too much skill, provided that you’re patient and take the time to re-check that the door is square and true at every stage of the installation and that you recruit a suitably strong and DIY-savvy friend to help.

Alternatively, you might seek the services of a local builder, joiner or handyman to do the job for you. It’s important to use someone who’s reputable, as you may end up paying for poor workmanship in stress and frustration further down the line. The cost of such a service will vary, and thus it’s worth shopping around to find the best price for you.