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“Bi-fold Doors are perfect for a Small Kitchen”

In the last couple of months we’ve been writing blog articles about why bi-fold doors are a great choice for your property. Their main benefit being the fact that they save on space.

This week then, we thought we’d take a look at the benefits and uses of bi-fold doors in smaller kitchens.

Why Small Kitchens Benefit from Bi-fold Doors

The Entrance Door

A standard swing door can take up space in a small kitchen, particularly if it opens inwards. You may be cooking in the kitchen when another family member comes in, opens the door and pushes the door into you because there isn’t enough space for you and the open door in the kitchen.

Of course, you could consider removing the door altogether and having an open plan kitchen, but this promotes cooking smells spreading around the rest of the house which is unpleasant and no amount of incense, scented candles or odour repelling spray will get rid of it sufficiently.

The perfect answer, of course, is installing a bi-fold door as an entrance door to your kitchen. A bi-fold door not only helps prevent cooking smells spreading to the rest of the house, but has a modern and stylish aesthetic appearance. In addition, bi-fold doors avoid the problem of taking up limited space, when compared to doors that are swung open.

What you should consider though, when purchasing the bi-fold door as a kitchen entrance door, is the material and ratio of glass included. In very small kitchens, where the door is close to the oven, glass panels may steam up and cloud over.

At Bi-fold Doors UK we are dedicated to our customers and realise that everyone has their own individual requirements, specifications, likes and budget, so every quote we offer is bespoke.
Your quote will be tailored around your product requirements, we’ll help you every step of the way from door styles and materials through to colour and door fittings.

Cupboard Doors

Bi-folding cupboard doors can also be a great space saver in a small kitchen and add unusual style to standard kitchen designs.
At bi-fold doors UK, we recommend bi-folding doors for small kitchens from both an aesthetic and practical point of view. For example, when working in the kitchen, you can keep the cupboard doors open for access to ingredients and utensils, without having open swung cupboard doors taking up valuable space.

If you are interested in bi-fold doors for a smaller kitchen, call Bi-fold Doors UK on 0843 886 8378.

“07th August 2015”

The importance of Bifold Door Security

This time of year tends to fly high in terms of the burgling season, since in the warmer weather, people tend to leave their doors and windows open more often, and more building work and home improvements tend to take place. As a result, there are more opportunities for thieves and opportunists to sneak into a property.

That said, there are plenty of ways in which you can secure your property. The following guidelines outline how you can ensure the security of your French doors and bi-fold doors.

French Doors Security

According to the Metropolitan Police website, French doors (or French windows) are less secure than single leaf doors and, as a result, tend to be less popular. However, they recommend the following security measures:

Firstly, both doors should be fitted with mortice rack bolts, fitted at a 90 degree angle to the grain of the wood, to prevent the wood splitting under pressure. Mortice rack bolts are rack bolts that are fitted within the door and operated internally by a threaded key.
An alternative to the mortice rack bolt would be to use surface-mounted locking bolts. A surface-mounted bolt requires a push to lock it and a key to open it.

Because most French Doors open outwards, a hinge bolt should be added about 100-150mm (4-6″) below the top hinge and a similar distance above the bottom.

UPVC French doors are generally not suitable for retro-fit security devices. This is because the material is not strong enough to support devices that are fitted with steel screws, unless it is secured into the internal metal framework. Because this process would change the original design, it may invalidate an existing warranty or possibly damage the integral locking assembly altogether.
At Bi-Fold Doors UK, we only offer premium, high-quality hardwood, aluminium and timber bi-fold doors and, as a result, offer more secure doors than those made from UPVC.

Bi-fold Door Security

There are a few ways in which to ensure the security of bi-fold doors. It may indeed mean that your doors are slightly more expensive but should provide peace of mind, as well as greater home security.

It is generally agreed that the most secure bi-fold doors feature a high-quality multi-point locking system.
Bi Fold Doors UK provide bi-fold doors, with on leaf heights of 1934mm and over, with a standard multi-point lock (with 2050mm frame height on standard setup). That said, the lock size changes at certain door leaf heights though, and door or frame heights below this will have a smaller, single-point lock.

The lock on the doors from Bi-fold Doors UK is activated by lifting the handle, then turning the key. It is unlocked by turning the key, then pressing the handle down. This operation is the same from the inside and outside. The external lock can be omitted if required, but this would mean that there would be no access possible from outside.
Finally, all the doors from Bi-Fold Doors UK feature 28mm double glazed units which is further beneficial to security.

“05th June 2015”

Choosing a Handle for Your New Bi-fold Doors

To save space and add a contemporary touch to your home, you’ve opted to have new bi-fold doors fitted. After the long process of looking at tons of doors in department stores and online, you’ve finally found the perfect bi-fold doors for your property. The last thing you want to do now is research the best type of handle!

But don’t fall at the last hurdle! The handle is equally important as the door itself. In the real world, when you’re juggling a full bin bag, a watering can and a broom, the last thing you’ll need (and want!) is an awkward door handle that makes it difficult for you to get in and out of the house.

What’s more, you’ll want a door handle that works aesthetically with your new bi-fold doors. It’s no good, for example, to pair a Victorian style ornamental handle with a sleek, modern aluminium door.

Default Handles from Bi-Fold Doors UK
At Bi-Fold Doors UK, we have a default handle for our bi-fold doors which is a standard espagnolette compatible handle. Sometimes, this default handle can collide with the adjacent door and stop the access door from opening fully parallel. However, it is possible to take off the external handle and lock to ensure a fully folding access door, but this would mean there would be no access from outside.
In this case, choosing your own handles for your bi-fold doors may be the best option. If you have purchased your doors from Bi-fold Doors UK, you will need them to be compatible with a lock of 92mm centres, and a base that is no wider than 40mm. Bi- fold Doors UK recommends two types of handle: Low projection handles and standard handles.

Low Projection Handles
A low projection handle allows your access door to fold open in a fully parallel position.

Standard Handles
A standard door handle collides with the adjacent door, preventing the access door from fully opening to a parallel position.
If you would like any more information about choosing a Handle for Your New Bi-fold Doors, contact Bi-fold Doors UK on 0843 886 8378.

Why not take a look at ourIronmongery Options for Bifold Doors.