Garage Conversion Doors: Sliding vs Bi-folding Doors

It goes without saying that a garage conversion can be a great way to turn old storage space into a usable room. And not only that, but it has the potential to add great value to your home with the addition of a brand-new set of folding or sliding garage doors.

But that leaves you with one important question: which are the best doors for a garage conversion? Both sliding and bi-folding garage doors are beautiful ways to bring the outside in, but they’re both suited to different types of property needs.

So, whether your space is intended to be a kitchen diner, a living space, or a gym room, if you’re struggling to figure out which door type might be the best option for your new space, then read on to find out the pros and cons of each option.

THE BENEFITS OF SLIDING GARAGE DOORS

As the name implies, sliding doors operate by sliding over each other to provide a seamless exit to the outdoors. Each separate frame is sat on runners, allowing them to glide in on themselves as far as you need them to open.

And that’s the primary advantage sliding garage doors have over garage folding doors – they can be opened as far as you like without issue. This makes them great if you want to ventilate a room without opening the doors completely, but also gives you the option of totally opening your home to the outdoors. In contrast, a folding garage door must be opened fully or not at all.

Finally, sliding doors are generally considered slightly easier to open than bi-folding doors and take up less space once open, so if ease of access is what you’re after, then they’re usually the better fit.

THE BENEFITS OF BI-FOLDING GARAGE DOORS

Although doors that slide have some clear advantages over garage folding doors, where garage conversion bi-fold doors truly stand out is in their opening capacity. Unlike sliding doors, bi-folds work by folding in on themselves in a concertina shape before being swung out of the way to one side.

When open fully and stacked perpendicularly, they provide near-unbroken access to the outside, unlike sliding doors which can only open as far as their final pane. This lets you fully-open your home to your garden and maximise your social space.

Bi-folding doors also don’t require any form of a threshold for them to function, giving you an almost perfect finish between the floor and door for an ideal transition when moving inside and out.

For more information and advice, explore our complete bi-folds buying guide.

OTHER SLIDING AND FOLDING DOOR BENEFITS

Besides ease of opening and views, there are a few other benefits that come with getting bi-fold or sliding doors in your home.

• Much like many of our bespoke glass solutions, these types of doors are excellent at welcoming natural light to any room, no matter the time of year, and can really bring a feeling of warmth to your home.
• Alongside this, all of our doors are thermally efficient, meaning they’ll keep your room warm even when it’s freezing outside. Combine this with excellent lock and frame security features and you can be sure your new doors are secure.

WHICH TYPE OF DOOR IS BEST FOR YOUR GARAGE CONVERSION?

Besides the pros and cons of each door type, there are several other factors you may want to consider when choosing sliding or folding doors for your specific project. Some worthwhile questions to consider include the following.

WHAT KIND OF ACCESS DO I NEED TO THE ROOM?

As we’ve previously mentioned, if you want to open up the whole room to the garden, and you have room for doors to stack on either side, then bi-folds would be perfect for you. This style of door provides the widest opening and will really let you make use of the open space.

On the other hand, sliding doors work well for those who want more control over how big the opening is, for instance, if you want to leave the door slightly open for a pet to wander in and out.

WHAT KIND OF GARDEN VIEWS DO I WANT?

Due to their construction, bi-folds do tend to have more frames than sliding doors, which means that your view will be broken up slightly more when closed. So, if views are the most important factor for you in an external door, then sliding doors may very well be the better option.

On top of this, if you’re after a wall of windows, especially when including a corner, then sliding designs are also often better suited. Sliding doors can be placed at a right angle without needing a corner post, so the ceiling will look like it’s floating, making it perfect for a garage with more than one wall facing the garden or outdoor space.

WHAT STYLE AM I AFTER?

Both our sliding and bi-fold door options are contemporary in design, but sliding doors do tend to look more traditional. So, your choice of door type might very well depend on the current aesthetic of your home and whether or not you want to keep it consistent.

Of course, at the end of the day, your choice of folding or sliding doors for your new garage conversion will come down to personal preference. In most cases, the best way to see which door type will look best in your home is to visit one of our showrooms and speak with our experts. Or you can download our free brochure for precise details on all our product specifications.

Get in touch today to see how we can help you with your next project, and don’t forget to visit our blog for more helpful articles like this one, including how to choose the right size bi-folding doors for your home.