ALUMINIUM BIFOLD OR TIMBER BIFOLD?

i have the choice between aluminium bifold and timber bifold. or the choice of aluminum sliding door and timber sliding door. what do u guys prefer???

Not our house, what do you prefer? What would you prefer to pay for?


Timber tends to look warmer. Aluminium frames are thinner, more glass. What will be in the areas around where the doors are?

Stupid me didn't know you could get aliminium bifolds.

My builder has the option of timber bifolds for an extra $7k, I'm not wiling to pay that, I wonder how much more the aliminium would be?

My other option was to go an aliminium stacker door, I will be having aliminium white windows and want it to look uniformed

I agree with Al - what are you having in the rest of your house? Windows?Doors?

we are having windows around the house - but this alfresco is long and huge. its around the kitchen and meals/family areas..

in fact, aluminium and timber are around the same price!

We have 2 'banks' of aluminium bifolds. 4 panels/1 panel type. They span about 3600mm each
It cost us an extra $4400 for each 'bank' over the price of a aluminium slider.
I think timber were an extra $6000 ea

Timber = maintanace

Timber is more expensive and you have to maintain it. Aluminium is more resistant to pet claws and teeth as well.

I like the look of timber, price of aluminium and thermal properties of wood.

SAme with DeeElle...

love the look of timber doors/windows...
but very expensive compared to aluminum...

andrew,

it also depends on what "look" you are going for too.

With the house we built (The Grande - Carlisle Homes) you could see the rear window and bi fold door from the front door which was wood.

It made sense for us to have a wooden window and door to match the front.

The upgrade was about $4000 but well worth it IMO.

Timber for all the good things

and Aluminium......
Well for the lazy bits,

But with our recent hot weather, I've the checks I've been doing on indirect heat on window panes and aluminium - wow does that aluminium pump that heat in - and in winter - well guess what ?

No surprises there is there.
We use Aluminium in cooking utensils because...... ?????

It quickly reacts to changes in temperature and is a good conductor.

My answer - timber becasue it is thermally efficient, renewable resource, (if the right timber is used) warm to look at, warm to touch, and adds character and feel to a house.
Steve

grrr I want wooden windows. Oh well ... the next house . Mr DL is having heat palpatations as we speak.

MInd you I do think it is about the entire house (yes Steve I'm a convert ). We had wooden windows in our last 2 houses and both were inefficient in other ways (gaps under doors, cracks, venting, orientation etc).

So wooden windows are the go if you are doing all the right stuff along with it (thermal efficiency that is).

D - Nothing in life is ever perfect or 100% acheivable.

So enjoy the moment you are in now, you're building a dream home, just what you want now - with the knowledge and skills you have - and guess what - I't maybe will not happne again fro along time - So enjoy it - live with it and plan of the next house - when that time comes.
Steve

you are right ... doubt we will move again but you never know what the future holds. And perfection is such a unrealistic ideal ... never achievable.

and yes we are building our dream ... just wish it would HURRY up and eventuate. Went there today (dust storms everywhere) and still no progress but notice that other builds are moving along . Might have some shade on the western aspect with the 2 story house next door .

Back to windows: wood is the go I reckon but andrew do what you think is right for you.

We wanted aluminium bi-fold doors for our alfresco, they look great and less maintenance however they were over $1000 more expensive than the timber ones (timber $3500 ish vs Aluminium $4500 ish). Go figure....now having the timber ones.

Biforld doors requires some space for the door to open fully. Stacker door....stacks!
I don't think you can get flyscreens for bifold doors but you can with a stacker door.
Timber doors looks great when it is new but do require some maintenance as it does age over time.
I think bifold doors cost more. We chose aluminium stacker doors because it is cheaper and we can get it in a colour that matches the windows.
Sammy

Sammy - can I ask how much extra you are getting charged for the stackers?

We were thinking of opting for these instead of the standard sliding door out builder provides?

Cheers

The builder charged us an extra $2600 for a 3.6m stacker door. You can get a smaller size door/cheaper but we initially like the bifold door idea but too expensive and decide to get the largest stacker door that can fit.

Thanks Sammy - well thats better than the $7000k I have been quoted for a timber bifold

we went for timber bi-folds - set of 6 they cost us $5500. Our builder didn't have the option of alluminium, otherwise i would have preferred it instead!