AluminiumKensington & Chelsea1 min read

Can you replace rotten French doors with aluminium bifold doors?

Yes. Aluminium bifold doors can replace timber French doors without changing the size of the opening, provided the opening is suitable for the new frame. The first step is to check the condition and dimensions of the opening once the old doors are removed.

Old timber French doors often show their age in more than one way. The wood can become soft or rotten, the doors may start catching when opened or closed, and gaps can let cold air and wind into the house. If the doors lead to a garden, these problems affect an entrance you may use every day.

Replacing French doors with aluminium bifold doors changes how that entrance works. Instead of two hinged leaves, the new panels fold and stack to the side. This can create a wider opening between the room and garden without necessarily making the opening in the wall any bigger.

That was the approach at a house in Chelsea, where rotten timber garden doors were replaced with aluminium bifold doors. The old doors looked poor, let in draughts and had become difficult to open and close. The replacement was manufactured for the existing opening, so its dimensions did not change.

Aluminium — Old, rotted wooden doors that were crying out to be replaced. — Old, rotted wooden doors that were crying out to be replaced.

Aluminium — New bifold doors breathing new life into the property and setting a new standard. — New bifold doors breathing new life into the property and setting a new standard.

Does this apply to your house?

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Frequently asked

Can bifold doors replace French doors without building a new opening?

They can. A French door opening can often accommodate a bifold door system, but the new frame has to be made for the space available. Keeping the opening at its original size avoids changing the width or height of the wall opening, though the old doors and frame still have to be removed. The survey is where this starts. The installer needs to measure the opening and discuss the proposed bifold layout before the doors go into production. The size of the opening influences how the panels can be arranged, where they will fold and how much clear space will remain when they are open. Do not assume that the dimensions written on an old French door quotation will be enough to order the replacement. The new aluminium bifold doors need measurements taken for the actual opening and the system being fitted.

What should be checked when the old timber doors are removed?

A rotten door frame can hide the condition of the surfaces behind it. Once the old French doors are taken out, the installer can see the edges of the opening more clearly and check whether anything needs attention before fitting the new frame. The threshold also deserves a close look. It is the part you step over on the way to the garden, and its position affects both access and the way the bottom of the door is finished. The new threshold needs to be considered alongside the existing floor levels inside and outside. Finally, the aluminium frame needs to be fitted and sealed around the opening. New bifold doors will not solve a draught problem if gaps are left between their frame and the surrounding structure. At the Chelsea property, stopping the cold air and wind was one of the practical reasons for replacing the deteriorated garden doors.

Are bifold doors better than French doors for garden access?

They offer a different type of opening. French doors have two leaves that swing on hinges. When you open aluminium bifold doors, their panels fold together and move towards one or both sides of the doorway. For a homeowner who wants to open up the room to the garden, that folding arrangement can be useful. The panels do still form a stack when fully open, so they do not disappear altogether. You need to decide where that stack will sit and whether it will get in the way of furniture, a garden path or the space you use outside. French doors can also be convenient when you want to open a single leaf for a quick trip into the garden. With bifolds, everyday access depends on the chosen panel arrangement. Discuss how you normally use the doorway, not only how you want it to look when every panel is open.

What should you choose before ordering aluminium bifold doors?

The first decision is the panel layout. This determines how the bifold doors open, which way they fold and where the panels sit when stacked. A drawing of the proposed arrangement makes it easier to check that the opening direction suits the room and garden. You should also discuss: - How often you use the garden doors for everyday access. - Whether furniture or outdoor features could obstruct the folded panels. - The threshold and the floor levels on both sides of the doorway. - The appearance of the frame and panels when the doors are closed. - The condition of the existing opening and any work it may need. These choices should be settled before manufacturing. Bespoke bifold doors are made for a particular opening and layout, so changing the way the panels operate later is not a small adjustment.

What is involved in replacing rotten French doors with bifolds?

The job begins with a survey of the existing garden entrance. After the new doors have been made, the old timber French doors and their frame are removed. The exposed opening is checked, the aluminium bifold frame is fitted, and the panels are set up so they open, fold, close and lock as intended.