Bifold or French doors?
Bifold or French doors? In short: French doors for an opening that two door leaves can cover, from 1,200 mm; bifold doors for a wider opening that has to open completely, up to 6.00 m in our layouts.
French doors vs bifold: the opening
Both leave nothing in the opening when fully open. French doors are two leaves that both swing away; bifold doors are two to six leaves that fold together to one side.
Width
French doors are always a pair, so the width is limited to two door leaves; the opening starts at 1,200 mm. Bifold doors grow with the number of leaves: our 2-panel layout goes up to 2.05 m, the 6-panel up to 6.00 m.
Space and wind
French doors swing inwards or outwards, so you keep that space clear, and an open leaf can catch the wind and slam; plan for door stays. Bifold leaves end up as a stack against the reveal, inside or outside; the more leaves, the bigger the stack.
Everyday use
With French doors you use one leaf every day; the other stays bolted. A bifold from three panels has a traffic door for that. The 2-panel bifold has none, so you fold the whole door open to go out.
Material and price
French doors come in uPVC and aluminium, and uPVC is the cheaper of the two for a door. Bifold doors are aluminium only, priced per leaf, with hinges and locking points at every joint. Compare them on your opening with a quote for each.
French vs sliding vs bi-fold doors
A sliding patio door is the third option: up to 6,500 mm wide and the least frame in view, but one panel always stays in the opening. For the view, sliding; for the fully open wall, bifold; for a couple of metres that open completely, French doors.
Frequently asked questions
External bi-fold, French or patio doors?
Up to about two door leaves wide and opening completely: French doors. Wider and fully open: bifold. Wide with the most glass and fewest moving parts: a sliding patio door.
Which is cheaper, French doors or bifold doors?
For an opening two leaves can cover, usually French doors: they also come in uPVC, the cheaper material for a door, while bifold doors are aluminium and priced per leaf. The quote gives certainty.
Which insulates better?
That depends on the profile and the glass, not the type. The Reynaers ConceptFolding 77 bifold has a frame Uf of 1.66 W/m²K; for French doors the Uf is on each profile page.
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