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French Doors vs Bi-Fold Doors

Choosing the right kind of door with quality glazing is going to make or break the look and feel of any home. Whether you have a large back garden to enjoy or you’re higher up with a balcony, it’s important to do your research to find out which will suit you best.

The most popular options for patio spaces and balconies are French doors and bi-fold doors. Both come with a variety of benefits and it’s all about personal taste, but to help you make up your mind, we’ll talk you through the benefits of each of these door types.

The benefits of French doors

French doors are named as such due to their French, Renaissance-inspired origins. They consist of two doors next to each other that open outwards into the outdoor space – usually a patio or decked space – or inwards if there is a Juliet balcony. There are a number of benefits to this style, and here’s what you can expect:

Classic, elegant look – This is a now timeless look, popular with families and suitable for almost any style of property you can think of.
Wide, open feeling – Most French doors connect in the middle, so once opened, you can create a huge window to the outdoor world with nothing obstructing your view.
Plenty of light – Whether open or closed, with French doors you’re still getting lots of natural light flooding into your home.

The benefits of bi-fold doors

Bi-fold doors are a connection of panels that can be moved in a concertina fashion along tracks to open your space. They’re typically used for larger gardens and patios, as well as for where more natural light is desired. These are usually integrated into building design plans, so let’s look at the main benefits:

Easy to open – Despite their weight, the tracks on which the doors run make opening and closing them a doddle. You can slide and fold them open partially or fully, giving you the flexibility to choose without worrying about the wind.
Save on space – Because the sliding door panels stack against each other when they fold, fully opening a bi-fold door doesn’t actually take up much room at all, leaving you with a wide portal to link indoors with the outdoors.
Modern and sleek – This is a popular choice for many modern homes because of the minimalist, sleek look it gives a property when open or closed.

Which door is best for Juliet balconies?

Now we’ve looked at the benefits of these two types, let’s get an idea of which doors would better suit a Juliet balcony as an example.

Since this balcony type is usually fronted by a glass balustrade or railing, there isn’t the option to open doors outwards. This isn’t a problem, since both bi-folding and French doors can open inwards, so it’s really down to what you feel looks better. French doors are usually included as a standard for most buildings, but bi-folding doors could allow you to be flexible in how far you open them. With French doors, you might be limited to either fully open or fully closed positions – leaving them only partially opened could see them damaged in a big gust of wind.

Bridgewater Glass are the expert when it comes to all things glazing. With over 60 years of experience providing bi-folding doors, French doors and all manner of double-glazing services for homes and businesses across Watford, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans, there is no one better. Contact the Bridgewater Glass team for more details on any glazing services you need.