With uncertainty still surrounding overseas holidays, many homeowners in Kent are putting this year’s summer holiday fund towards essential home improvements instead. One of the most popular renovations of the moment is updating tired back doors with modern, high-performance alternatives, such as beautiful bifold doors or fine French doors.
So, to help you out, we thought it a better time than any to explain the main differences between these two fashionable door styles.
Bifold doors vs French doors
Black aluminium bifold doors
Basically, the main difference lies in the way each door opens. Bifold doors slide and fold back flat in a unique concertina style to completely open up whole walls if required, creating a seamless link between interior and exterior spaces. Whereas French doors typically feature two glass panelled doors that open inwards or outwards, depending on the space.
Bifold doors are often chosen to enhance modern developments, whilst French doors complement more traditionally styled homes in Kent. That said, bifold doors just as easily add a contemporary twist to heritage homes, whilst French doors add essential character to modern refurbishments.
Here’s a helpful comparison table to get a clearer picture of the different materials, energy ratings, and more that’s possible with our high quality bifold and French door products:
| Bifold doors | French doors | |
| Material | Aluminium or timber | uPVC, aluminium, or timber |
| Security Features | PAS 24 multi-point locks, shootbolts & hardware upgrades | PAS 24 multi-point locks, shootbolts & hardware upgrades |
| Energy Performance | A+ energy ratings – U-values as low as 1.32w/m2k | A++ energy ratings – U-values as low as 0.9W/m2K |
| Panels | Up to 8 panels | 2 panels with optional fixed side lights |
| Colours | 150+ RAL colours + wood effects & dual colour designs | 150+ RAL colours + wood effects & dual colour designs |
| Glazing | Double toughened glass | Double toughened glass |
Can you replace French doors with bifold doors?
Grey uPVC French doors
Quite simply, yes you can! Bifolds make an ideal modern replacement for old French doors, considerably opening up the space, letting swathes of light and fresh air in, and drastically improving security and aesthetics too. Planning permission isn’t usually required either, but you can double check our window and door planning permission guide to be 100% sure.
Recent customer review on our modern bifold door installations in Kent
Tracey Hull – ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ – 7 Mar 2021 – We had bifold doors fitted
We had bifold doors fitted, from start to finish I cannot fault the customer service. A thank you to Leigh Ball who kept us up to date with the progress. Leigh is an asset to your company and Karl the builder he done an amazing job with the brick work and his labourer, sorry can’t remember his name the fitters, and Dean the plaster. Would definitely recommend this company.
Available in aluminium or wooden frames, compare our bifold door material features in full.
Recent customer review on our timeless French door installations in the South East
Dorothy Drew – ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ – 15 Mar 2021 – This was not our first experience of…
This was not our first experience of Fineline, Howard as always was helpful. Obviously for COVID restrictions, our new French doors were ordered over the phone. Following this, the visit from the surveyor was carried out in a secure way, the contact with all of the Fineline staff was always polite and friendly and a big ‘thank you’ to Tony the fitter who has done an excellent job. We are really pleased with the result, as always!
Available in uPVC, aluminium, or timber, compare our French door material features in full.
