Many self builders and renovators are keen to fit glazed doors to their project, in a bid to create a better connection between house and garden, as well as encourage more natural light into their homes.
The first choice to make is between the different types of door on offer – namely French, sliding or bifold. You’ll also need to consider materials; should you go for PVCu, timber or aluminium?
Your final decision will be influenced by a wide range of factors, including your personal style preferences, budget, the size of the opening (if you need a load-bearing lintel, this will have a big impact on prices) and ongoing maintenance costs. Here’s what you need to know when specifying.
Sizing up
For smaller installations, bifold doors may not be the best choice. This configuration’s main selling point is that it allows you to create a clear opening (up to 90% of the width of the run) – but you won’t get the full effect on a small two-panel setup.
What’s more, you can only include an independent access door if you have three panels or more. So for narrow runs, French or sliding units may be more appealing.
| Your doors will have a huge impact on the finished look and performance of your home. Find the right option for your project among these specialist door suppliers and products |
On medium-sized or large apertures (from around 2,200mm wide) bifolds and sliders come into their own.
At this kind of size, the weight of the glass means you’re likely to need sidelights with a French configuration – automatically adding more framework and reducing the access. Sliding and bifold configurations can be specified for vast spans – in some cases as wide as 20m.
Aesthetics
If you want to bring the outside in, you can’t beat the uninterrupted views achievable with contemporary bifolds – when they’re open, that is.
When these units are closed, the quantity of frame profiles actually breaks up the view compared to the larger expanses of glass possible with sliding doors; but with the latter, you can’t create such a clear opening.
Bifold doors from Folding Doors 2 U
So whatever style you choose, the thinner the frame the better from an aesthetic point of view.
Bifolds and sliders can add an appealing contemporary twist to just about any project, whereas French doors tend to have a more traditional look – partly because they need
a thick central mullion post for locking.
Thresholds
French doors are effectively regular doors, so they don’t tend to be flush to the ground. With sliders and bifolds, it is possible to achieve a flush floor track – which helps to create the outside-in effect.
That said, you may want to specify a stepped threshold (which can still be very low-profile) for maximum weather performance.
Practicalities
Each type of door has its own pros and cons. For instance, open bifolds may provide the best feeling of light, space and connectedness, but you need to account for how the panels concertina (if this is on the internal side, you’ll be limiting furniture positioning) and the fact they stack at one end.
Whichever opening configuration you prefer, be sure to scrutinise products carefully before making your selection.
Are there any trip hazards from cills and lips, for instance, and how smooth and robust is the running mechanism? Be mindful of the strength and durability of hinges and tracking systems for security, and always go for multi-point locking.
The UberSlide model from Kloeber offers minimal sightlines and unadulterated views towards the garden, while taking up little floor space in this timber clad extension
Installation
Many glazed door specialists offer a supply-and-fit service for the units themselves, which can give you peace of mind that the installation will match your expectations.
You’ll probably need to contract your own builders to form any new structural openings.
Bear in mind that larger apertures will need a load-bearing lintel above, which will add extra materials and labour costs. Your architect or structural engineer can advise on the right size of lintel.
Read more: Glazed doors & weather tightness – everything you need to know
Frame options
There’s a lot to account for when choosing between the different frame materials for glazed doors, but here’s a quick-fire guide to the main considerations:
PVCu
It’s the cheapest upfront and is available in a wide choice of colours, but there’s a huge variance in prices depending on quality.
It’s low maintenance, but not as durable as the alternatives; replacing rather than repairing is generally the norm, so lifespan costs may be higher.
Timber Engineered options
Softwood products can offer a very good service life and fantastic thermal performance, though they need more maintenance than PVCu and aluminium.
Look for products that provide a lengthy warranty on the factory finish (six years is commonplace on stains; longer on paint) to reduce ongoing upkeep.
Hardwood options are available, offering the benefit of excellent stability and durability, but are likely to cost anything from 25%-50% more than softwood versions.
Aluminium
It offers strong, slim profiles. These products are ultra-low maintenance thanks to their corrosion resistant powder coatings (available in a wide range of colours), meaning the frame is easy to care for.
The metal will not swell, crack, split or warp over time, ensuring an extended product life. Their growing popularity means they’ve become competitive price-wise.
Model cost guide: glazed doors
This cost table is designed to give you an introduction to how size and material selection affects the underlying costs of installing glazed doors.
For simplicity, we’ve stuck to two structural opening widths (1,800mm and 2,400mm), but sliders and bifolds can be specified in much larger runs.
As a rough guide, a 4,500mm PVCu sliding door setup with four panels might come in at around £2,250; while a bifold configuration in the same material and size would typically have five panels and cost upwards of £3,500.
Naturally, the price for your project will vary significantly depending on the quality of the units and specification you go for.
Top-quality bespoke setups with sleek profiles, excellent running mechanisms and high-performance glass will of course cost considerably more than basic, off-the-shelf products.
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French doors
| Width & configuration | Frame material | Door cost | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,800mm | PVCu | $490 | £900 |
| 1,800mm | Softwood | £830 | £1,270 |
| 1,800mm | Aluminium | £1,490 | £1,980 |
| 2,400mm | PVCu | £600 | £1,090 |
| 2,400mm | Softwood | £1,250 | £1,740 |
| 2,400mm (inc. sidelight) | Aluminium | £1,800 | £2,290 |
Sliding doors
| Width & configuration | Frame material | Door cost | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,800mm (two-panel) | PVCu | £535 | £930 |
| 1,800mm (two-panel) | Softwood | £900 | £1,340 |
| 1,800mm (two-panel) | Aluminium | £1,300 | £1,740 |
| 2,400mm (two-panel) | PVCu | £610 | £1,110 |
| 2,400mm (two-panel) | Softwood | £1,030 | £1,520 |
| 2,400mm (two-panel) | Aluminium | £1,450 | £1,940 |
Bifold doors
| Width & configuration | Frame material | Door cost | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,800mm (two-panel) | PVCu | £1,170 | £1,540 |
| 1,800mm (two-panel) | Softwood | £1,080 | £1,460 |
| 1,800mm (two-panel) | Aluminium | £1,390 | £1,770 |
| 2,400mm (three-panel) | PVCu | £1,320 | £1,790 |
| 2,400mm (three-panel) | Softwood | £1,170 | £1,660 |
| 2,400mm (three-panel) | Aluminium | £2,050 | £2,540 |
Note: These indicative prices exclude VAT, as self build projects qualify for zero-rated VAT on labour and materials (the latter will be reclaimed on completion).
For renovations and extensions, you will need to pay VAT at the standard 20% rate. Top image and cost information for PVCu and aluminium kindly supplied by Crystal Direct, an award-winning UK manufacturer of windows, doors and conservatories.
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