Summer House and Garden Room Bifold Doors Supply Only UK-Wide
Investing in a summer house or garden room with bifold doors can be an excellent way to maximise your outdoor space and enjoy an extra living area.
Summer houses and bifold doors typically don't face the same planning permission requirements as extensions.
A summer house with bifold doors can also be used for multiple purposes, including:
- Office
- Home gym
- Multi-purpose space
- Entertaining space
- Home cinema
- Bar
Installing bifold doors on garden buildings can be a great way to maximise space. It will also ensure they get lots of natural light and look great.
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of installing bifold doors in summer houses and the best materials.
The Benefits Of Installing Bifold Doors In Summer Houses
Summer houses can be an excellent way to enjoy additional living space and, despite their name, aren't purely for summer use.
Installing bifolding doors on a garden building can help you make the most of your garden rooms all year round.
We're all aware of the unpredictability of British weather. So, ensuring your garden room is equipped to deal with all possibilities is essential.
Here are some of the top benefits people in the UK mainland may get from garden buildings with aluminium bifold doors:
Enjoying the outside
As we mentioned, the weather in the UK can be a bit unpredictable. Building a garden room can ensure you aren't cooped up in your house all day, even if the weather isn't great, and bifold doors can help you with this.
Similar to bifold doors for extensions, they can open up a room and bring the outside in when required.
Bifolding doors increase summer house security
Installing bifold doors on a summer house will also give you peace of mind. This is because high-quality locking mechanisms can be installed on bifold doors. The strengthened glass will also provide greater security.
Multipoint locking systems are recommended for bifold doors. This minimises the risk of burglary as they are significantly harder to break.
Efficient use of space
Garden rooms are an efficient use of space. If you have a decent-sized garden, you might find that you don't use most of it. In some cases, it can become a burden to mow the lawn or deal with weeds.
A summer house can provide extra useable space. However, most summer houses aren't massive.
Because of this, installing bi-folding doors that fold out is a great space-saving tip. It can help you make the most of your space in a garden room.
Bifold doors won't encroach on your inside space when open or closed. This will allow you to maximise the functionality of the area.
Bifolding doors in garden rooms are low-maintenance
Choosing a low-maintenance material like aluminium will determine how often you must treat or wash your bifold doors.
Aluminium bifold doors only need to be cleaned occasionally with warm soapy water.
Occasionally lubricating the locks and cleaning the windows will also help keep on top of these types of doors.
Multiple design options
Enjoying a bespoke summer house is possible when installing bifold doors. This is because they are available in a range of materials and colours.
You'll also have the option of personalising the design and choosing different configurations that suit your needs.
Energy efficiency
If you want to use garden rooms all year round in the UK, ensuring they are energy efficient is essential.
One of the best ways to do this is by investing in triple or double glazing for your bifold doors.
Ensuring the glass panels have a low U-rating means they have better insulation properties.
Low-E (low emissivity) triple or double glazing is an excellent option. This uses a metal oxide coating that helps keep warmth in.
Best Materials For Bifold Doors For Summer Houses
The material you choose for garden room bifold doors is essential. This will affect many factors of garden rooms, including their:
- Energy efficiency
- Cost
- Maintenance
- Appearance
Not quite ready to design your garden room?
Read about the best bifold doors in the UK right now to ensure you choose the perfect blend of quality and a great-looking system.
To give you a better idea of the pros and cons of different, here are the most common bifold door materials in the UK:
Wood
Hardwood bifold door frames are an aesthetically pleasing option for garden rooms and summer houses. This is especially true if they are wooden structures.
Wooden summer houses and log cabins will suit wooden frames, but it is not just the aesthetics that make this a great choice.
Wood is also easy to work with and durable when maintained. If it is well looked after, you should expect it to last for 30 years or beyond. Wood also boasts natural insulating qualities that make it a great choice.
It is also considered to be a more environmentally friendly option as wood is regenerative.
However, the cost and maintenance can sometimes put people off.
uPVC
If you are on the lookout for a cheap alternative, uPVC could be the material for you. Installing uPVC bifold doors means you won't get as attractive a finish as you would with other materials.
However, they require minimal maintenance.
On average, uPVC bifold doors will last for between 20 and 30 years. The average lifespan of a summer house will vary depending on the materials used to build it and how well it is maintained.
Trying to find a bifold door material to last as long as the garden room can help minimise long-term costs.
Aluminium
Aluminium bifold doors are the most expensive option due to the security of aluminium bifold doors. However, with a lifespan of up to 45 years, it can be seen as a good investment.
Aluminium isn't a naturally efficient material. However, many window or door frames made from aluminium implement a thermal break. This helps to minimise heat loss and improve efficiency.
Bifold Doors for Garden Rooms
The styles of bifold door systems available for garden rooms will be determined by the size and amount of panels being used, with different bifold door configurations available.
Two Panels
Two-panel bifold doors are an excellent option for replacing French or sliding patio doors that are currently installed.
You will be able to choose which side the doors slide open from. A floating mullion facilitates this. This leaves unobstructed views when fully opened.
Three Panels
Three panel bifold doors have two possible configurations. The first is that all panels will slide open. The other is that two panels will slide open, and the third will act as a hinged access door.
Adding an access door provides a greater level of convenience.
Four Panels
Four-panel bifold doors can offer the same options as three-panel bi-folds. They also provide a third option. This is for a central opening with two panels on either side that can slide open and closed.
FAQs
Do I need planning permission to include bifold doors on a summer house in the UK?
Most summer houses will not need planning permission in the UK. Installing bifold doors will not impact whether you do or don't need planning permission for a project.
Summer houses over 3m tall with a pent roof require planning permission. This is also true for structures with an apex roof that measures 4m in height.
If unsure, always check with your local planning authority before beginning work.
How long do bifold doors last on summer houses?
The lifespan of bifold doors on summer houses will depend on their material and how well-maintained they are.
On average, you should expect the following lifespans for summer house bifold doors:
- Wood - 30+ years
- uPVC - 20-30 years
- Aluminium - Up to 45 years
Should summer house bifold doors open out or in?
Bifold doors can be configured to open in any way. This is a great feature as the homeowner can choose whether your bifold doors open in or out.
Most summer houses won't have vast interiors. Because of this, using bifold doors that open outside will ensure all of the inside space can be used.
Are bifold doors safe for garden use?
Bifold doors are suitable as exterior doors. They also make use of several safety features to ensure they are safe for kids and pets.
They will typically make use of toughened glass. The full cover hinges also help to protect fingers or tails from getting caught in them.
Conclusion
A UK summer house can be an excellent investment for homeowners who want to maximise their outside space.
It can transform a garden's functionality and provide extra living space.
These multi-purpose areas can be used for anything from recreation to work.
Bifold doors can be another great investment. They will:
- Improve security
- Allow natural light into the garden room
- Maximise space
- Improve aesthetics
- Provide an energy-efficient performance
- Allow you to open up your garden room and enjoy sunny days
With all these benefits, it's more a question of when you should get it done rather than if.
