With sliding patio doors there is often a frame you will need to step over to go from indoors to outdoors.
Sliding doors vs bifold doors.
As an external door sliding doors tend to be more energy efficient than bi fold doors as the larger panels with fewer frames are better at retaining heat.
Sliding doors open up by sliding the panels to one or both sides with the panes fitting behind each other on two three or four tracks.
Whereas bifold doors can be installed with a flush threshold opening to your patio or garden.
In choosing between bifold and sliding closet doors the main factor to consider is the size of your closet opening.
Sliding doors are going to offer the most unhindered view of the outside.
Bifold doors require an area at the end of the doors to create the larger opening whereas sliding doors overlap reducing the amount of space required for opening making them perfect for smaller requirements.
If it is about access bi fold doors can be more versatile.
A sliding door is a great choice for back entrances verandah or patio doors to expand your living space and enjoy an alfresco lifestyle when it suits you.
Sliding designs have a smaller opening than folding doors reducing the accessibility between the home and garden.
Sliding doors work well with larger apertures but unlike bifold doors you can t fully open up your home as there will always be a fixed panel so the maximum opening will be around 75.
They open the whole space or you can open one panel.
It s possible to specify a low threshold with sliding patio doors typically an aluminium strip around 12mm in height.
Both types of closet door options work well enough initially but are prone to problems during normal use.