Quickly turn a garage into a sun lounge - the versatility of Bi-folding doors

Turn a garage into a sun lounge / casual use room simply and easily by ex-changing the garage door for bi-folding doors.

Just one idea that shows the versatility of these amazing exterior doors - Bi-folding doors are a set of individual upvc or aluminium door panels (usually full length glass) joined together with special hinges and hung on an enclosed rail system so that each panel folds back on itself. This means you can open the whole expanse or just one or more of the panels to suit yourself and the weather.

Just like the old wooden interior dividing doors of old.

Bi-folding doors are great for opening up your home to the outside - dining alfresco is easy when you've got all the convenience of the kitchen at your disposal - you don't even have to clean off patio tables and chairs - you can sit at your regular table and enjoy the outside without walls or barriers.

Bi-folding doors are as weatherproof as normal patio and french doors and just as secure. They're also remarkably energy efficient and can be specified with coated glass just like any other upvc window of door in your home. Because each panel is individually hinged, you can use just one panel as a normal entrance door, without having to open the whole thing.

They're also available in more than just white.

And it's not just garages that can benefit from bi-folding doors. From replacing a set of patio doors to opening up an entire outside wall to enclosing a swimming pool, Bi-folding doors tick all the boxes - long guarantees, low maintenance, energy efficient, easy to operate, versatile and secure.

If this all sounds a bit too good to be true, well it isn't. True, the cost of a 3 panel bi-folding door (the span and number of individual panels can vary depending on your property) is more than an equivalent normal patio door but remember with the bi-fold you can open up the entrance fully or partially at will, and the integrated track system means there's no step into the garden, like you often get with normal patio and french doors. The track system also means no more effort than that to open a normal door is required.

For added functionality, why not think about incorporating an outside awning across the span of the bi-fold doors? That way, you can enjoy the outside without the glare of the sun, keeping your interior cool whilst also protecting furnishings from fading. Chose an awning option with lights or heating and you'll be able to enjoy your outdoors even when the sun's gone down.

Click here to get your instant online bi-folding door quote. It's very straightforward. Simply type in the measurements of the span / area where the door is to be fitted and select how many individual panels you'd like the door to incorporate (there's a guide to tell you how many panels are possible within the opening you've entered), and you'll get an instant online quote there and then.

Same with Awnings - Click here to get your instant online awning quote. Enter the dimensions, choose options like power or manually wound, if you want to incorporate lights or heating etc and get an instant online price guide.

photo credit: 5 Star Windows.

Conservatories with a difference

As the Summer holidays draw to a close, it suddenly seems like the nights get dark very quickly, making the garden virtually unusable outside the weekends.

Which makes it fairly unsurprising that conservatory enquiries pick up at the as homeowners begin to miss having their own little slice of outdoors, and look for ways to share and enjoy their gardens the whole year round.

With the incredible range of designs available these days, having a conservatory really can make you feel like you’re living in the garden – albeit behind the latest in thermal glass engineering.

Whilst the more traditional Victorian, Edwardian and gable-end styles are all readily available and do provide very good value for money – especially given the extra floor space they add to a typical property – there’s always new styles and fashions around, and we know you’re after the best. If you’re after something a little different or individual, then take a look a these:

Tiled Roof Conservatories.

In Scotland, a sunroom will generally have a ‘traditional’ tiled roof, rather than the polycarbonate or glass roofs favoured by the English.

Recently, though, tiled-roof conservatories are beginning to grow in popularity south of the border as well. They usually fall under the same planning rules as a glass conservatory, and can add an air of traditional respectability to your conservatory.

Orangeries

When we talk about orangeries, we’re not talking something the size of the Botanical Gardens at Kew here (although if you have the space, why not!). No, we’re talking about new designs and production methods making these stylish and contemporary additions to your home very affordable as well as becoming increasingly available.

The designs main feature is an all glass/polycarbonate roof which sits like an extra tier above the main structure. Traditionally to let more light in, these ‘extra tiers’ of glass can really add that touch of class to your living space. No wonder they’re so popular.

Extensions with bi-folding doors

Not a conservatory in the strictest sense and extra planning considerations may have to be made, bi-folding doors have opened up previously dark areas of your home and given rooms a new lease of life – by joining the outside with the inside in one very unique door.

If you’ve not seen bi-fold doors in action, then let me explain. Imagine the old concertina / folding doors from village halls etc that could partition a room? Bi-folding doors work in pretty much the same way. A string of individual door panels, hinged together and fitted into a track top and bottom. Each door can be folded back in turn so you can open up as much or as little as you want.

Imagine getting up for breakfast, seeing the beautiful day outside and fancying your morning cuppa alfresco? No more backwards and forwards with trays and chairs, just open the ‘wall’ and sit at your table as normal. Glorious.

Bi-folding doors are usually available in uPVC or aluminium, depending on the span (uPVC is stronger over greater spans), and even a 3 fold door can make a tremendous difference to the amount of light getting inside your home, not to mention the flexibility to open up the whole space. They’ve been used to great effect in rooms adjoining patios, swimming pool enclosures and even cafe’s and restaurants have seen the commercial benefit of being able to open and expand into the outdoors as easily as opening a door.

Just a few ideas to wet your appetites and who knows, within a few months, you could be enjoying the great outdoors without having to leave your cosy warm home.