Bi-Folds Floating Corner Post

PaDE

PaDE

PaDE

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20 Mar 2015
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Has anyone had or know of anyone who has had aluminium bi-folding doors with a floating corner post installed.

Something we want done when we extend. Not a lot of info out there but we think they look really nice and allows both doors to peel away and open up the room.

Something like this ...

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Cheers
 
I was not directly involved but I know of a project where someone near us had something similar done to either existing property. I think it was really expensive because they took out the actual brick work from the house rather than extend it like they have done in the photo. I think in the end it cost a load of money and didn't add much in the way of value to the property either, much easier and cheaper if you extend out and do it. Its generally expensive because you have to allow for the structure to be tied back into whatever is existing, although I do agree it does look nice. I suppose you need to look at what you are gaining by doing it that way and if you are happy with the increase above a normal straight bi-fold.
 
Friend planned a small (4m*3m) rear extension with this and ended up adding a small brick pillar in the corner to save himself about 20% of the entire build cost.
 
Looks like a serious bit of cantileverage! I have nothing more to add other than that will require some substantial engineering input.
 
Just as an observation - make damned sure that you have a cast-iron guarantee!

I know someone who has had bifold doors installed in a Kitchen/Dining room extension - the glass and doors are VERY heavy and they give endless trouble as a result of "sagging".
 
It looks awesome but is a serious structural undertaking especially with an extension when the supporting beams will have to be cut back into the existing house. I’d get two quotes one with this design and one with a minimal pillar in the corner set back from the window the price difference will be significant!
 
stockhausen said:
Just as an observation - make damned sure that you have a cast-iron guarantee!

I know someone who has had bifold doors installed in a Kitchen/Dining room extension - the glass and doors are VERY heavy and they give endless trouble as a result of "sagging".
Click to expand...
We paid extra a few years ago for triple glazed bi-folds......2 years later and after endless problems with the doors sagging, we got them removed and were lucky enough to get a full refund on the warranty.
We then had normal double glazed installed, with the blinds inside the glass.
They have been in for 2-3 years and all sealed units became faulty, engineer said it was some sort of manufacturing fault.
They changed all sealed units with no hassle.

I am really glad we went with a reputable company, otherwise it would have been a real battle (twice).
 
father-ted said:
We paid extra a few years ago for triple glazed bi-folds......2 years later and after endless problems with the doors sagging, we got them removed and were lucky enough to get a full refund on the warranty.
We then had normal double glazed installed, with the blinds inside the glass.
They have been in for 2-3 years and all sealed units became faulty, engineer said it was some sort of manufacturing fault.
They changed all sealed units with no hassle.

I am really glad we went with a reputable company, otherwise it would have been a real battle (twice).
Click to expand...
Well done . . . good result . . . eventually ;)

Did you use the same company throughout and are you prepared to say who they were/are?
 
a1ex2001 said:
It looks awesome but is a serious structural undertaking especially with an extension when the supporting beams will have to be cut back into the existing house. I’d get two quotes one with this design and one with a minimal pillar in the corner set back from the window the price difference will be significant!
Click to expand...

I can imagine that, no matter what you do, they will eventually sag. I'd see that as a major risk and would much rather have a post just in case.
 
dirtychinchilla said:
I can imagine that, no matter what you do, they will eventually sag. I'd see that as a major risk and would much rather have a post just in case.
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You can build in such a way as it shouldn’t sag significantly anytime soon but this is much easier to do in a new build with a steel frame bolted to proper solid foundation points. It is much more complicated when adding this sort of detail to an existing building. For me a lot would depend on the building and the budget if it is a forever home that is worth serious money then the outlay maybe worthwhile because the results are brilliant.
 
It looks more difficult than it is. There’s enough meat in the wall behind where the radiator is to sit a decent size steel on that won’t move. However getting the doors to close seal and lock together at 90 degrees must narrow the manufacturer field down quite some way.

All I see there really is 20 years of leaks, drafts and constant maintenance :p
 
a1ex2001 said:
You can build in such a way as it shouldn’t sag significantly anytime soon but this is much easier to do in a new build with a steel frame bolted to proper solid foundation points. It is much more complicated when adding this sort of detail to an existing building. For me a lot would depend on the building and the budget if it is a forever home that is worth serious money then the outlay maybe worthwhile because the results are brilliant.
Click to expand...

If sure you could, but on something like this I would imagine a couple of mm would screw you over.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Architectural and Structural details back so off to the builder now. I think we will pull the trigger on this unless the builder throws a massive curve ball.

The green lines in the bottom pic mark the current exterior wall and the orange our back door.

So the extension comes out at ground level and also extends up on what was a double garage adjacent as well as on top of half the new ground extension. This will then create two extra bedrooms. (windows coloured in black already exist)

ext.png
 
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