Free Hanging And Fitted Blinds For All Bifold Doors
Posted: 18 Jun 2014
With folding doors becoming so popular; we wanted to remind everyone that we can provide the perfect solution for all of the major door manufacturers. This includes:
- Origin folding doors
- Kloeber folding doors
- Duration folding doors
- Sunflex bi-fold doors
- Timber door manufacturers, such as Vufold
- All of the UPVC external folding doors that you can imagine, such as Anglian, Everest, Swish and Eurocell.
The most popular types of blinds for folding doors are:
- Duette® Folding Door Blinds for large free hanging blinds and motorised blinds
- Pleated & Duette® Pleated fabrics for recess fitted blinds for bifold doors
- Roller for large freehanging motorised blinds
- Pinoleum for medium or large cord/motorised blinds
Are the doors Aluminium, Timber or UPVC?
The type of doors can often decide whether blinds can be fitted directly to the glazing beads, or in front of the door handles. It can also affect how the doors retract; how close the doors are when retracted, and even influence the decision on the aesthetic look required.
Do the doors fold back Internally or Externally?
Most doors retract externally, so this allows blinds to be internally fitted above the frame. However, there are some pleated blinds that can also be recess fitted to each door (just covering the glass) which will not be in the way when the doors are retracted, but which are also completely washable, so are safe even if they are caught in a light rain shower.
Are the blinds mainly for Privacy, Light Control, Insulation, Sound Absorption, or Appearance?
It is common for people to only think of light control and privacy; but find that other factors are just as important after they have their doors fitted. Most owners of folding doors find that heat insulation is just as important; andalso find that large areas of glass make the room sound like an echo chamber.Do you want to lower your blinds when the doors are retracted?
If you are using your blinds for shading, and can see that you will need this when your doors are open; then you will want free hanging blinds in front of the opening.Do you want to have one main opening door, with the others often closed?
If you want to use one main (master) door within your bi-fold doors, then you will want at least one blind to be easily and quickly operable, plus it cannot take up too much space when it is retracted. But will you want the other doors covered by wider blinds, or the same width blind as the master door? This will push you towards a specific blind type, as well as start to dictate the costs.Is there space in front of the door handles, or are the blinds to be fitted to each door?
Most folding door installations are not in a conservatory, so have a lintel or deep bulkhead above the door, allowing blinds to be fitted in this plane – in front of the door handles. We often find that customers ask their builder to create a false bulkhead for the blind to retract into and so be concealed – if so, you need to specify the correct size for the blinds, and this varies with blind type.
Why not just have integral venetian blinds fitted between the glass at manufacture?
Glass manufacturers can install aluminium venetian blinds between the panes of glass that make up the double-glazed units in your doors. If all you want is light control and some privacy, then these are an option worth considering, however be aware that…- Integral blinds will not appreciably help with insulation or the huge impact of heat loss
- Will not soften the acoustics or provide any feel of warmth at night or in the cold
- In strong sunlight, venetian blinds only block the sun out completely making the room very dark
- They are no use when the doors are folded back
- They eventually need to be repaired/replaced, requiring the glass to be replaced
- Block out a proportion of the light, even when they are tilted open
- Cannot be changed or updated if you no longer like the colour
