Whether you are
looking for doors to fit a wide aperture leading from your home to your garden
or you want to create a stylish entranceway,
there are many kinds of doors to choose from.
Furthermore, your
final choice will not only have an impact on the appearance of your property,
but it will also have an impact on how you use the space.
Before you rush
into a decision, take a look at our quick guide to bi-fold, sliding, side-hung
and pivot doors and
see which will work best for your home and your family.
Bi-Fold Doors
Bi-fold or
bi-folding doors have increased in popularity in recent years as their
concertina style sliding mechanism offers the opportunity to open up around 90%
of the aperture.
When the doors
are fully open, each door ‘leaf’ simply stacks up against the other to take up
the minimum of space. They also offer the option of being stacked on the same
side of the aperture or being split so that they stack either side.
Sliding Doors
Sliding doors
can consist of anything from two to four panels of large panes of glass which
offer uninterrupted views. Some panels remain in situ while the others slide to
open up the aperture. A popular choice in many modern homes, they can operate
in several different ways.
·
Slide – this is the most common
option where the doors move along tracks in the frame.
·
Tilt/Slide – the door can
either slide across a track for access, or
it can be tilted inwards to increase ventilation.
·
Lift and Slide – these doors
are opened by turning a handle which lifts the door up. This has the effect of
reducing friction so that the door slides more easily.
Side-Hung Doors
Side-hung doors
can either be hung so that they open inwards or outwards and single side-hung doors
are most commonly used for front entrance doors or back doors. In addition,
many people choose to hang double side-hung doors or French door to open up
living spaces to external areas. French doors are often installed in more
traditional properties.
Pivot Door Systems
Many architects and homeowners are choosing to install a pivot door system,
especially in more contemporary homes. Pivoting doors are not only unusual and stylish, but
due to their mechanism, it’s possible to
use a wider door than would be possible
with a standard side hung door.
As the name suggests, the door moves by turning on a pivot
which is usually located about one-third
of the way across the bottom of the door. They are an increasingly popular
option for impressive entrance ways especially as they can be made of any
material including glass.
The Bottom Line
Before you choose a new door, you need to think about the
space you have available and how you’re going to use that space. However, you
also have to think about your budget as some door systems are more expensive
than others.