WOODEN DOORS

The huge range of wooden doors on the market means that almost every conceivable design is readily available. Despite this, there are still a number of issues that should be carefully considered before installing new doors.

All modern houses and commercial premises are built with “stock size” internal door casings, so the expense of made-to-measure doors for every room is not a concern.  Nevertheless, prices can vary a great deal depending upon the level of quality and finish. Quality can often be judged by the weight of a door. Heavier doors are generally constructed from a more substantial material, whereas cheaper doors are lightweight and hollow. This is reflected in their price difference. The different

 Finish levels will also affect price, but the initial outlay of purchasing pre-finished stock doors can also be a cost saver in the future. Pre-finishing means the cost of varnish and arduous labour to apply it are removed entirely. Internal stock doors are normally 35mm thick, although when fireproof doors are required this size increases to 44mm. The advantages of stock doors are that they’re cheaper than made-to-measure solid doors, and won’t twist or warp due to the internal temperature changes.

Although stock doors are perfectly fine for internal use, and where the opening sizes suit, they’re nowhere near as durable for outside use, and can be very expensive to have them made to non-standard sizes.  When this is the case, solid timber doors are the best option. Although there are stock doors available for external use, manufacturer’s guidelines often state that they require a location away from direct sunlight and weather elements. In other words, you need a porch or canopy to shield the door from the worst of the weather, or it could literally begin to fall apart. Always check the literature and guarantees on engineered or stock doors that you intend using on external aspects of your property.

Real wooden doors can be made to accommodate door openings of non standard sizes and all external aspects. Made-to-measure also affords unlimited input on design, material and finish. For many properties, there is no other option due to extremely large door openings, which is common in large traditional buildings.

External wooden doors should be well protected with a micro-porous coating that allows the timber to “breathe” (Expand and contract). A non micro-porous covering will crack with any expansion or contraction. Internal wooden doors are less susceptible to twisting and warping when the section is increased from 35mm to 44mm, although it’s still advisable to stack new wooden doors in the property they will occupy for a few weeks to allow them to acclimatize and thoroughly release any remaining moisture content. Taking delivery of real wooden doors from a cold, damp factory in the middle of winter and immediately hanging them in a warm dry house can result in a lot of undesired movement.   

Although oak doors are amongst the most popular of natural wooden doors, they’re also among the most expensive and most likely to twist, warp and discolour when they’re not coated properly or left open to the elements.

Your supplier should advise and help you choose the right door to meet your requirements. The most expensive option is not always the best one in the long term.

BI-FOLD DOORS

Bi-fold or folding/sliding doors have been around for quite a while now, and are extremely popular in countries where the climate encourages outdoor living. Here in the UK we can’t exactly say that our climate is favourable, rather “Unpredictable” would be a much closer assessment. However, this doesn’t seem to have discouraged us from embracing the concept and bi-fold doors are certainly one of the products set to be a growth item as we pull away from the recession. 

Gone are the days of having as many different rooms as possible. Open plan living is what we’re all now seeking in both renovations and new-build projects. Architects and interior designers are actively using products that are environmentally friendly, multi purpose and afford as much usable space as possible. Turn on any house build or home improvement show and you will likely find a bi-folding system being installed. The same can be said for cafes, trendy bars and restaurants that you may visit. 

So what are the considerations when thinking of having a bi-fold door system installed? First of all you need to choose the material. The doors and frame can be constructed in upvc, wood or aluminium with a choice of finishes from each. Timber doors give the greatest choice as they can be spray finished in any colour or lacquered to enhance the character of your species choice. Upvc will either be finished white or with some sort of timber imitation, and aluminium can be powder coated to any colour. The next consideration is what mechanism? It’s advisable to use a simple mechanism with proven strength and durability, as the more complex the system, the more can go wrong with it. Different suppliers will use different mechanisms, so make sure you pay as much attention to the hardware that moves your doors as you do to the doors themselves. Finally, are you buying an off-the-shelf package or one that’s made to measure? If it’s off the shelf then your opening will need to be able to accommodate what your buying or you’ll have to make structural changes so that it does. Made to measure will be a little more expensive but at least a portion of this cost will be offset by removing the structural changes and you can also have more choice on design. 

So what are the advantages?...... Well, there are quite a few; Bi-folding doors are a modern product that will enhance the value of any property and certainly be a selling point for the foreseeable future. They are multi purpose and can open as little or as much space as you require. The majority of doors are “full glass” so the natural light penetration into any area is greatly increased. The span of area they can cover is almost limitless and there are systems that can cover up to 16metres or 53ft without the need for supporting columns. Most importantly, the level of security is of no concern as all good mechanisms have numerous locking points at the top and bottom of each door.  

Who can have a bi-folding door system? Absolutely anyone who wants one can have a system installed. They can be designed into your build or renovation project, fitted in place of your old patio or French doors, or you can remove a window and the brickwork below to floor level and accommodate the system. 

Time and stress saving hints 1)      Cost effective/self assembly systems may cost you more in the long run2)      Pay as much attention to the mechanism as you do to the doors themselves3)      Make sure your installer is experienced with the materials he’s fitting4)      All of your glazing “Must” be toughened or other compliant safety glass 5)      Try to get one company to do the whole job or at least pre assemble your system6)      The opening for your system has to be square and the supporting joist perfectly level   

For further information on quality bi-folding timber doors go to www.bespokebifolddoors.co.uk