Alternatives to Bifolds

haywgl · Mar 06, 2008 8:04 pm

Hi guys

I got a quote for bifolds from my builder for $7000, while I don't mind the look of bifolds I don't know how practical they would be with my kids.....Also I liek the idea of flyscreen...(not the nicest i know

) to let some breeze (but no bugs) in....I don't think this is do-able with bifolds.

Sliding doors are standard, however, I would like something that looks a little bit nicer than this...my builder said they can also do french doors. Again frnch doors isn't really what I am after.

I have heard of 'stacker doors' and have done a seach on these, however, to me they look like a sliding door, is this correct or do they generally have a nicer finish?

On a side note, if we can't find what we want we would more than likely go with bifolds, however, I would prefer them to be white to go with my windows, rather than the timber which would look a bit out of place...is it possible to get bifolds in a white finish?

Thanks heaps

]
Belinda

First_Timer_Ray · Mar 06, 2008 8:07 pm

You can definitely get aluminium bifolds - which will be cheaper than the timber ones anyway.
And yes, you can get retractable flyscreens for bifold doors.

Ray.

Rachelle · Mar 06, 2008 8:35 pm

I think we're getting stacker doors, I think they look ok. A bit different to your nomal sliding, they are on 3 - 5 tracks. So say you have 3m opening, each door will be 1m, and two of them will slide behind the first one, so instead of a 1.5m opening you get 2m.

haywgl · Mar 06, 2008 9:07 pm

That's good to know Ray - I might ask M for a quote for aliminium bifolds

Thanks

Rachelle - that makes sense now - I think they look quite nice from the pics I can see and seem like a much better idea to a standard slide.

bec · Mar 06, 2008 9:08 pm

our stacker doors open really easily

easier than bifolds I have had before
bilfolds look really nice, open right up
but stacker much more easier to use in my opinion

haywgl · Mar 06, 2008 9:18 pm

Do you have a pic of your stackers Bec?
I agree that I think they would be easier to use...did they add much cost to upgrade from sliding door?

I'm leaning towards stackers purely for ease of use....

bec · Mar 06, 2008 9:22 pm

sorry no digital camera :oops:

hopefully someone else has a pic
not too sure bout the cost but I imagine so like everything else!
they are pretty cool but definately more along the sliding door look in looks
in white would look nice though I think

Rachelle · Mar 06, 2008 9:24 pm

I've been looking at these a lot lately, we're getting ones like this, with the corner open:

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Here's a massive one:

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And a normalish one:

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haywgl · Mar 06, 2008 9:28 pm

Thats ok Bec - yeah I think white would look nice too

Rach - they look great

Love the corner one, I think that could work on my plans - is this a more expensive option to straight? I think I'm sold and DH should be happy - much cheaper option to bifolds one would think

Lets hope M'con do them...

Rachelle · Mar 06, 2008 9:39 pm

To add one 3 stacker where there was previously no door was going to be $800 (I think it might be around half that in lieu of another door?)

We don't know about the corner option, waiting to find out the price from this suppplier, but we do know that it requires an extra supporting beam at around $2-3k. We're expecting the doors and frame to be another couple, hopefully no more!

This is one thing we're going to spend the little extra cash we on!! We're giving up the high ceilings and a few other things for it. Hubby absolutely fell in love with it when we saw it in a display home, it really opened the back of the house up and made it feel so much bigger.

mek · Mar 06, 2008 9:54 pm

On the pics above, stacking doors look nice - but only because there's no flyscreens. We've got 3-part stackers and because of flyscreens, they look like normal 3-part sliding doors (which they really are).

haywgl · Mar 06, 2008 9:58 pm

Not a bad cost Rachelle - definatly cheaper than the $7k for bifolds...

Mek - I get what you are saying, I don't think I would do flyscreens on them looking at them now....maybe get those retractable ones Ray discussed...

Rachelle · Mar 06, 2008 10:06 pm

You can do fly screens, they can do five tracks, so three for doors and two for fly screens.

Rachelle · Mar 06, 2008 10:08 pm

Ah, you said you don't think you "would", I read "could"

yeah I'm undecided on the fly screens, they look so nice without the fly screens don't they. But if you had the fly screens you could push both fly screens behind the first glass panel if you wanted the wide open look.

mek · Mar 06, 2008 10:14 pm

Yes, you can push the flyscreens right back and get two panels wide open, it looks allright, but then you end up with the house full of flies and other nasties.

I have to say, as much as would love bifolds, I don't think you can really live without flyscreens in Melbourne.

Rachelle · Mar 06, 2008 10:16 pm

Yeah it's the old question of looks or practicality!!

So what are the rectractable flyscreens?

haywgl · Mar 06, 2008 10:23 pm

Hmm I'd like to see some with flyscreens on them to see what they do to the overall look, I like the idea of flyscreens for security too (not that it would take much to get through them :lol:

) and I think they are definatly practical....

Ahh so hard!!!!

I'm not sure on the retractable flyscreens, Ray has mentioned them a few times and might know more.

bec · Mar 06, 2008 10:41 pm

Ive had these before, with french doors

I used to forget I had them *doh*

they were good but not cheap

http://www.phantomscreens.com.au/

Yak_Chat · Mar 07, 2008 6:25 am

Have a look at the magic sealk system fro screens as well.

Steve

http://www.magicseal.com/content/pdfs/MagicSeal-ConSeal-A-Dor.pdf

Rachelle · Mar 07, 2008 9:01 am

Thanks Bec and Steve, they look great.

I don't think they'd work for my back doors because there's no frame around them, eg nothing where the doors meet, but I'll def keep them in mind for the windows!