Eurocell bi-fold doors: daylight believer

Client: ASF in Leicester

Project: Using a Bi-fold door in a newbuild development

Considering that housebuilders install patio doors in around 65 per cent of the homes they build, it is surprising that for many decades the typical in-line sliding door has dominated the market. Although it still remains a practical alternative on many projects, it always had the inherent problem that it only created half the opening access.

Another common type of patio door is the hinged, or French door, which can be swung either inwards or outwards. Outward-opening French doors create valuable interior space, providing more room for furniture and accessories, while inward-opening French doors do the same for a patio or decking area. Although they offer full opening access, French doors are only practical for openings of up to two metres, owing to the weight constraints on the hinges created by the glass.

For many years, sliding patio and hinged French doors have dominated the market.  Their limitations in either the opening access, or maximum opening widths, were accepted by the homeowners simply because they enabled much more light to flood into the home. This desire to maximise the amount of natural light in the home has been a growing trend for many years. It is well documented that lighter brighter homes are healthier - as well as more valuable. Many estate agents have reported that homes which feel lighter are perceived by potential home owners as ‘happier’ and therefore easier to find a buyer.

Even within the new build market daylighting, which this phenomenon is known as, is being used to great effect by many housebuilders. Many are now paying particular attention to introducing daylight where the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use.

With the requirement for more energy efficient homes, energy savings from daylighting can be achieved in two ways - either from the reduced use of electric lighting required due to adequate daylight provided through the patio door. Alternatively, passive solar heating or cooling can be provided by placing the patio door on either the sunny or shaded side of the house.

For many years, the sliding patio door market remained relatively unchanged. However, in recent years, advances in glass performance and manufacturing efficiencies have resulted in a major new designs gaining popularity.  The bi-fold door, once at the luxury end of the market, has now become more accessible to an increasing number of homeowners.

Driving this market has been the continued trend towards outdoor living and bringing the garden or decking area into the home. Homeowners are increasingly interested in creating outdoor living spaces and want a direct connection between the house and the garden and for this reason that they are increasingly seeing the benefits of fitting bi-fold doors.

Bi-fold doors operate in a concertina style, with the door sections sliding on an overhead track and neatly folding away to the sides, allowing full access to the indoors or out. Bi-fold doors have become a favourite with homeowners because it provides the advantages of a sliding patio – virtually no width restriction, with the benefits of a hinged French door – 100 per cent opening access. The style of door is perfect for both traditional or contemporary homes and especially where there is a need to create a fusion of space between indoors and outdoors.

When we were developing our range of bi-fold doors, the start point was to maximize the thermal performance as well as creating a smooth opening and closing mechanism. The latter has been achieved by using four wheel bogies, all of which have precision ball bearing runners. Our new bi-fold door is designed to coordinate with our PVC-U window and door profiles and is offered in standard colours of white, cream, grey, Golden Oak and Rosewood as well as other colours on special order. Options such as tilt and turn hardware also provide homeowners with a means to provide secure ventilation.

ASF, one of our fabricators based in Leicester, recently used our profile to supply a bi-fold door to a housebuilder who was looking to create maximum access to the garden. Being able to supply the conservatory along with the bi-fold door enabled ASF to secure a lucrative sale and one that the homeowners are highly delighted with. The effect created by a bi-fold door on a conservatory can be absolutely stunning and many housebuilders are now seeing the opportunity. Being able to create what is effectively an architectural centrepiece to the home offers housebuilders a valuable way of differentiating their properties and, in a competitive market, a much better return on investment – by selling their homes faster.

More and more homeowners are beginning to understand the benefits of bi-fold doors however their underlying concerns remain the same – security and thermal performance. In terms of the latter, many of our fabricators are offering the system with Pilkington K glass. This reflects heat from the heating system back into the home during winter, whilst preventing the hot rays from the sun in summer getting into the home and leading to problems with solar gain.

Whichever way you look at it, patio doors have come a long way from the first in-line sliders that became synonymous with many of the homes built during the last few decades. Advances in glass design and security, coupled with a desire by homeowners for more light in the home, has meant that more than ever fabricators can create valuable new sales opportunities.

For more information on the Eurocell Bi-fold door go to our bi-fold door page or contact customer services on 0800 988 3049, or email press@eurocell.co.uk

For more information on Kalglass products, telephone 01428 684478 or visit  www.Kalglass.co.uk.
To find out how to become a Eurocell window fabricator, call our customer services team direct on 0800 988 3050 or simply fill in a contact form.