W
ide-span glazing has become a
critical part of any self-build
project, with bi-folding and lift
and slide doors being the popular choice
for homeowners looking for modern,
open living spaces that seamlessly
connect to the garden. Given the
advances in glass and door frame
technology, much wider openings can
now be achieved to bring in more and
more natural light, creating beautiful airy
spaces without compromising a home’s
energy efficiency. But how do you know
what’s best for your space?
SHOULD I SPEAK TO A
PROFESSIONAL FIRST?
My first piece of advice is to speak to a
glazing expert when you’re in the
planning stages. They can often come up
with creative ways to introduce more
natural light into your home, perhaps
with multiple bi-folding doors, cornerless
sliding doors, or by using a system with a
super-slim sightline. Often, they’ll have
ideas that your architect or builder might
not, so you can make a real feature of
your home’s glazing. Make the most of
companies who offer this level of service
as they will help you make the best
decisions for your home.DO I NEED TO SEE PRODUCTS
IN PERSON?
Another essential when you’re choosing
glazing is to go and see it, whether it’s in
a showroom, or installed in another
property. Door samples and even
amazing photography often don’t do
wide-span door systems justice. Get a
feel for the paint finish on frames, a
proper look at the sightlines, and see
which handles will fit best with your
interior design plans before you make a
decision.I DON’T WANT TO SPOIL THE VIEW
WITH CURTAINS –HOW CAN I
ENSURE PRIVACY AND PREVENT
OVERHEATING?
Glazed doors are fantastic for all property
types and often homeowners are
challenged when they come to thinking
about curtains or blinds, to keep out
glaring sunlight or nosey neighbours, as
they don’t want to take away the focus of
the view. If that’s the case for you, talk to
your glazing supplier about screening
options. They’re great for shading and
privacy, as well as keeping out thoseinsects that are increasingly abundant
during summer. There are some stunning
discreet options that won’t distract from
the beauty of your doors.SHOULD I CHOOSE BI-FOLDING OR
SLIDING DOORS?
When it comes to the difference between
bi-folding and sliding doors, both have
benefits, but the choice really does
depend on how you are going to use
your space – and that should always be
the question you ask yourself with any
part of a self-build or large scale
renovation.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF
BI-FOLDING DOORS?
Bi-folding doors, that fold away in a
concertina style, are a great way to
remove any barriers to the outdoors.
They give impressive, wide openings and
with low threshold options they provide a
real opportunity to seamlessly merge
your living or kitchen area with the
outside decking or patio – perfect for
BBQs and garden parties.
Look for bi-fold doors with the
slimmest sightlines you can find – with
multiple panels, there are more frames
across the door when it’s closed, so the
slimmer the frame, the better the views
into your garden. This is one of the many
reasons why lots of self-builders are
opting for aluminium doors over PVCu.
Another is the overall size of glazing
you can fit. Architects often design in
taller glazing. This is because they know
the advantages of the extra light coming
into the property. Aluminium frames offer
taller and wider individual panels, which
means more glass and less frame.
Achieving low U-values on large
expanses of glass is very important. Large
expanses of glazing doesn’t have to
affect the energy efficiency of the
property.
Impressive engineering has made it
possible to deliver aluminium bi-fold
doors with U-values as low as, or
sometimes lower than their PVCu
counterparts. It’s an important point, as
glazing doesn’t offer the same low U-
vales as walls. It’s worth discussing the
direction of the doors to look at whether
solar control glass would maintain a more
even temperature, even on south facing
windows, or whether to look at triple
glazing where doors face north.
Check on what weather-testing your bi-
folds have gone through, especially if
your property is in a coastal area. Look
for Teflon-coated seals to prevent anyJay Patel of aїr aluminium looks at the merits of
bi-fold doors versus lift and slide options, and
which may be better suited to your self-build
Open to
debate
ASK THE EXPERT
september/october 2019 http://www.sbhonline.co.uk 15