You may have seen bifold doors in high-end magazine ads, your favorite fusion restaurant, large conference hotels, or even at a friend’s house. Custom bifold closet doors, also called folding doors or accordion doors, can make open rooms look good and are a lot of fun.
You could put bifold glass doors in your new house or remodel the one you already live in. Here are some tips to help you start thinking about your options.
BIFOLD DOOR — WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
A bifold door has two or more panels hinged together at one end. This lets the door “fold” or stack to one side as it opens. For the door to close, the panels slide out of the pile and start to line up again, making the door close.
Sliding glass doors that fold in half can be an excellent addition to homes and businesses. As an example of this in the business world, think about a hotel ballroom that can be turned into a bigger conference room by stacking the glass panels that separate the indoor dining area from the outdoor dining area to one side.
Glass bifold doors can improve a wide range of residential spaces. One example is multi-panel glass door systems that open up a whole wall for access and fresh air. You can serve your guests drinks through countertop windows sliding to one side. In larger indoor spaces, they can be used as dividers by using opaque or transparent glass panels to block the view.
What size gap can glass bifold doors fit through when they are folded?
A bifold door system needs at least two panels to fold. So, two of the most miniature panels the system’s maker makes will fit through the smallest hole. At LaCantina, our most miniature bifold patio door with two panels can cover a space up to 6′ wide and 7′ high (numbers are rounded slightly).There is also a selection available in a variety of sizes.
How much space can a bifold door system with glass doors fit?
These systems can grow quite big, which makes them suitable for big projects. Most LaCantina folding door systems come with up to six panels, which lets them fit through openings up to 17.5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Depending on the width and height of the space, a custom LaCantina bifold door system could have as many as 20 panels (opening from the center, with 10 panels sliding in each direction).
Which is better for my house: a bifold system made just for me or one in a standard size?
Bifold doors can be made to your specifications in any size or number of panels. You might choose a standard-size bifold door system if you need the system quickly (standard sizes have shorter lead times) or have a smaller budget.
If you’re considering replacing an existing door system and want to know what size bifold doors will work, check out our blog post on measuring bifold doors in three easy steps.