COST GUIDE

Thinking of installing an eyecatching span of glazed bifolds? Emily Batesmith looks at how much you should be budgetting

Renka’s bifold doors are made to measure and available in a wide range of frame colours

Are you dreaming of opening up a beautiful span of glass bifolds to seamlessly connect your interiors with the outside? This style of glazed door is a must-have for many people’s self build or renovation project, but realistically how much cash should you be putting aside for this feature?

“The old adage that you get what you pay for applies so much in life, but it is certainly true with bifold doors,” says Edward Stobart, sales manager at IDSystems. “Whilst products may look the same in pictures, attention to detail in the design varies across different manufacturers’ systems – whether that is in terms of thermal efficiency, weather performance or the little added design features like locking panel catches or weathertight flush tracks.”

Understanding heat loss

With efficiency standards getting increasingly strict, U-values are an important detail to be looking into when searching for bifolds. This is a measurement of heat loss, where smaller numbers equal better thermal efficiency (ie it means less warmth leaks out of your home).

Building Regulations require your glazed doors to have U-values of 1.2 W/m2 K for new homes and 1.4 W/ m2 K in extensions and renovations. And it’s the whole system that needs to be included in that figure.