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If you’re looking to upgrade your home or considering a remodelling project, doors can be a cool and fast way to improve the value of your property. Whether you wish to increase the visual appeal of your home with a new exterior door or simply to alter the appearance of an outdated or plain bedroom or bathroom, doors can also go a long way to improve the look of your home. If you’re thinking about taking on such a project, one of the things you might want to consider is length of time it’ll take to complete the installation process. In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into the time it takes to complete a door installation process to help you make informed decision moving forward. Let’s take a look!

Just like any home improvement project, the duration of time it’ll take to install doors will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the style/type of door to be installed, the ease of access, the skill and experience of the installer and lots more. In general, replacing an exterior door should, on the average, take about 5 to 6 hours. An interior door, on the other hand, should be much quicker as it doesn’t require same flashing, caulking as well as other weatherproofing processes. In general, the installation of an interior door can be completed within 2 to 4 hours. If you choose to take on this task by yourself, you can expect the duration to be longer due to the little or no experience possessed.

It is possible to replace a door without replacing the frame. However, most people choose to replace both their door and frame at the same time, as this is likely to make your home security and energy efficiency better, particularly if your existing front door is very old or the frame is distorted.

What Is A Bifold Door?

Right from time the conventional choice incorporated in closing large doorways have always been French doors or sliding doors. However, with the advent of bifold doors design, there has been a great alternative which can go a long way to increase the value, visual appeal as well as space-saving functionality of a home or property. Due to the fact that these design is relatively new to the market when compared to its counterparts, the benefits are not yet defined. However being a popular option it’s definitely worth knowing a bit more of the pros and cons of installing bifold doors. Let’s have a look!

How do bifold doors work? They simply work based on a concertina principle, folding back hinged frames and glass panels into a compact storage area which appears to be a bit small in a room’s corner but opens up an entire doorway. And unlike their counterparts - the French doors or standard hinged doors, bifold doors feature panels that are hinged together and inserted on the runners in the floor as well as the upper lintel or doorway’s beam. As you open the door, the door’s panel slide and fold concurrently without limiting the doorway’s size in any way.

It may also incorporate what is called the “traffic door. The traffic door simply refers to the conventional swinging door which can serve as one of the bifold door’s components. This goes a long way to enhance the functionality of the bifold door by creating a standard door within its arrangement. What’s more? It adds convenience to the bifold door’s design in such a way that only a single panel will have to be opened to gain a quick access anytime its required without having to fold back all panels each time the door is put to use.

How Do Bifold Doors Work

Generally, bifold doors are modern styled doors that are able to create a grand entrance and catch any visitor’s attention almost immediately. Unlike the conventional sliding doors, they are way more practical and convenient which makes it an awe-inspiring home addition. However, with the design being relatively new when compared to its counterpart - the sliding doors, not everyone knows about how they work. Therefore, it’ll only make sense to discover more about this door design before deciding on its utility. So how does a bifold door work?

The bifold door ( both interior and exterior types) operates on a built in tracking system that runs along the glass panels and connected on a train. In other words, the doors fold in and then slowly and smoothly glides over the laid out track which is backed by a chain of wheels or a tracking system. This function is carried out in a smooth and quiet manner, irrespective of the medium of movement.

Now talking of the bifold structures, they mostly come in pairs especially the interior designs. The design can either be in form of two doors that can be folded to one side or four individual panels that can be opened from the centre while some of the doors will fold on each side. Typically, the tracking will feature these units as well as the other important fittings, and also open inwards or outwards.

One of the significant qualities of these doors making them a popular option amongst homeowners nowadays is the flexibility and versatility of these units as well as their effectiveness when it comes to saving space. You’d be surprised to know that some of these bifold door designs can feature up to 7 panels which are linked via hinges and connected to the top or bottom of the roller track.

What Is Better, Steel Or Aluminium For A Front Door?

If you’re extending or refurbishing your home or property or constructing a new one, you’ll, sooner or later, get to the point when you’d have to determine the type of door material you want to use. The most common choices include steel, aluminium, wood and PVC. However, in this article we’ll only be looking at steel and aluminium to discuss which is better for a front door. Let’s take a look!

✓ Home security. Intruders and unwanted visitors are always a concern regardless of where you live. If this is your biggest concern when going for a front door then steel doors are your best bet as they happen to be one of the sturdiest and strongest materials that can be used to manufacture a door. Not only do they not crack or warp, but they also offer some high security models that features a large number of locks as well as hinges with various style designs. However, this does not mean aluminium are left behind on this subject either as there are also some high security doors that uses aluminium as the primary metal component.

✓ Thermal insulations. Both door presentations are not completely made of steel or aluminium. For a better insulation, they’ll feature other materials such as foam,wood, polystryene foam, or fibreglass core to prevent the escape of heat. As a result, both doors can do a great job when it comes to thermal insulation like keeping your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter for a better energy efficiency.

✓ Aesthetics. If this is your primary criteria for a front door, then aluminium has a wide range of colours and styles to match the style of your home.

Do Bifold Doors Fold Back Flat?

Bifold doors, also referred to as folding doors, have grown to become a great alternative to the conventional sliding doors. It has become a necessity rather than a luxury for most home and property owners especially in the south east who are in need of more space and a memorable focal point. However, before installing the impressive bifold doors in your home’s doorways, it’s always a wise decision to learn more about bifold doors. In this article, we’ll let you whether or not bifold doors fold back flat.

Generally, bifold doors consists of 3 to 8 door panels, bifold slides and fold back against one another in such a way that they sit flat against one or both walls. However, this depends on how they’re designed, whether they’ve been designed to open either from the side or from the middle. They basically work on what’s popularly referred to as a concertina principle. This style fold principle works in a way that allows the door panels to smoothly fold back flat which totally opens up the room into an open plan masterpiece.

So now that you know that bifold doors fold back flat, you may also be curious to know whether they also open in or out. Depending on your specific requirements, bifold doors can actually open inwards and outwards independently. However, due to the fact that opening bifold doors can take up some essential space, several home and property owners do prefer installing their bifold doors in such a way that allows it to be opened outwards. What’s more? It’s also essential to take into account that opening bifold doors inwards have the potential to drip water onto internal flooring especially for the wet regions.

A composite door is a valuable investment any homeowner would be glad to make due to its numerous benefits. Not only are they super energy efficient and good looking, but also exceptional when it comes to keeping your house warm and guaranteeing your safety and maximum security. They come in wide range of styles, colours as well as personalization options, which makes them one of the most popular and strongest door you can find in the market today. However, the question that hangs over the mind of many potential investors is how fade resistant are composite doors? Would the visual appeal remain intact for a long period of time or fade away after a few years of exposure to intense sun?

The last thing any homeower would want to see is a priced asset looking dull and tired only after a couple of years after installation. Owners of timber doors worry about having to re paint every couple of years. UPVC door owners worry that their doors can, at times, start to fade when exposed to a strong and intense sunlight. So what exactly do composite door owners worry about? The simple answer is absolutely nothing! Proud composite door owners only have to do a quick wash with a warm soapy water as upkeep for their long lasting and durable asset. This is because composite doors are typically made from Glass Reinforced Plastic outer skin which makes them highly resistant to the element. So whether it’s raining heavily or the sun is shining intensely, the colours of your beloved composite door will not fade and will remain exactly the same way it was when purchased. No matter what the UK weather throws at them, the reinforced plastic skin and robust core ensures the door remains water tight and in top condition always.

Should A Front Door Be Metal?

Being the home’s first access point, the front or entry door must be effective at preventing unwanted visitors or intruders from gaining entry into the house. Also, from a stylistic point of view, your door should be appealing and make both residents and guests feel welcome. These, rather contradictory standpoints, are best met by metal doors as they’re able to offer both security and beauty to any home or property. As a result, making them the perfect door material especially for front or entry doors. In this article, we’re going to look at what makes metal the proper material for front doors. Let’s have a look!

✓ It provides a grand entrance to both residents and guests. Front doors made out of metal are able to deliver a perfect blend between durability and elegance. They can be customized to suit the specific taste of the home or property owner or constructed to appear as inviting as the residents of the house would prefer. What’s more? It’s very pleasing to know that a visually appealing door goes a long way to add to both the style and value of any home.

✓ It serves a reliable security measure. Beyond the look of metal doors are their immense ability to provide protection from external elements. And since iron is sturdier than any other material incorporated in making front doors, burglars or any other unwanted visitors will find it a herculean task to forcefully gain entrance into your home. Even if you decide to make use of glass to add to the design, the integrity of the metal door will never be compromised.

✓ It’s a great value for money. Not only does metal doors provide both beauty and security, but they’re also more affordable than door materials like wood or fibreglass and requires only a little maintenance. With advanced technology, energy efficiency now constitutes part of the metal door offerings.