Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Apr 21, 2007 10:32 pm Hi all, would appreciate some advice on a problem I have. Adding a new rumpus room to our house at the moment and one of the key features is a bi fold door. The door is 4900mm wide and 2380mm high and is has 3 panels folding left and 3 panels folding right. Made from western red cedar. The right folding panels work perfectly, but I noticed that the left panels do not stay in an open position.
For ease of explanation, lets label the panels 1,2,3,4,5,6 from left to right (inside looking out). If I push 1,2,3 left to a fully open position, as soon as I take my hand off it, panel 3 starts sliding inwards to a closed position. I have taken photos showing the right panels and the problematic left panels. Look here http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v723/rdogolf/bifold/ I got the installer to come back and we found that pnael 2 is sitting on an angle that pushes 3 close. If we press panels 2 and 1 together, panel 3 does not slide open. I also notice that th gap is uneven between 2 and 1. Its much wider at the top than at the bottom. Panels 4,5,6 do not exhibit these problems at all. Some questions I hope you can help me with. 1. Do you think its an installation problem? Or something else like a manufacturing fault? 2. The installer who came back to adjust it without success said I should get a magnet door stop placed in between panel 3 and 2 to hold it in the open position. I think this suggestion would definitely work, but it sounds like a workaround and doesn't solve the baseline problem. What do you guys think? Should I give the builder/manufacturer a hard time or listen to the installer and just install a magnetic holder? Being a custom made size, the door and window set cost me over $8K. So I am a bit annoyed that it isn't 'perfect'. Appreciate any ideas you might have. Ray. Re: Advice needed on new bifold door 2Apr 21, 2007 11:10 pm The problem is not yours.
You paid for a working door and you don't have one. The installer should be fighting for you, if he wont you will need to. Call the manufacturer and have them come out and take a look. Either way don't settle for the workaround. No-one else will notice it, but you will and thats what matters. Matt Re: Advice needed on new bifold door 3Apr 22, 2007 8:26 am I got the installer to come back and we found that pnael 2 is sitting on an angle that pushes 3 close. If we press panels 2 and 1 together, panel 3 does not slide open. I also notice that th gap is uneven between 2 and 1. Its much wider at the top than at the bottom.
If the actual panels are square and the hinges are not distorted then it's likely an installation problem, the gap between 1 & 2 at the top causes 3 to lean, then gravity takes over. If you are with a builder, it's his problem - do not accept a magnetic catch unless you get a big discount. First check your bifold door - are the head and sill true? Are the panels all square? Is the hardware intact and in good condition? Now check installation. The door needs to be installed square without any twist - check the diagonals of the frame measure the same. Make sure the head and sill are straight. Check that it is adequately supported at the head is plumb and true (the head is most important as this is top-hung). If this is all good then there should not be a bigger gap at the top of 1&2... and it should be OK. These doors are machined accurately - but mistakes are made. By the way a standard door would be 4800 x 2360, you paid a high price for the custom size... Ed Re: Advice needed on new bifold door 4Apr 22, 2007 11:31 am Thank you Matt and Ed for your replies. I am very thankful that this forum exists so I can get the ideas of opinions of people 'in the know'.
Luckily I haven't paid the builder yet for the door as it was part of a variation note. They have been chasing me for the last couple of weeks for payment though! But I think I will just use it as leverage until I am happy with the door. Cheers Ray. Re: Advice needed on new bifold door 5Apr 22, 2007 8:34 pm Hi all,
Just an update on this. Had a mate come over this afternoon to help me check over the door. We noticed at the rollers at the top between panels 2 and 3 was not bearing much weight when the 1,2 and 3 were fully open. After some mucking around (neither of us know much about bifolds) we were able to adjust the screw attached to the roller so that it would hold more weight at the fully open position...and like magic the problem is fixed. The panels were able to stand perpendicular on its own and panel 3 didn't swing in like previously....what amazes me is that the installer didn't adjust this the other day when he came back to troubleshoot...I might give him a call tomorrow and ask why. Appreciate all your help. Ray. Re: Advice needed on new bifold door 6Apr 22, 2007 8:50 pm Thats great news Ray!!
Bad news that you had to do it yourself though. Its a sad fact that people don't appreciate your stuff as much as you do. It is sad when you have to do these sorts of things off your own back when you are paying good money to have others do it for you. A good result though.... Matt Hi All, I engaged a tradie to install concrete retaining wall 600-800mm high over 32 meters in Victoria. Sleepers are 200*75*2000 mm installed over 17 steel posts. I… 0 6889 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Don't think they are designed for double brick. WA has a particular way of building and unfortunately that's the way a large amount of sills are finished. 3 6996 Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 15637 |