bi-folding doors and drafts

villieb

howdy - I've had some bi-folding doors fitted a little while ago and yesterday noticed that the blinds infront of the doors were moving!

Putting my hand up against the joins of the doors (where the hinges are) I could feel a draft...

I don't think this is normal - could anyone out there with bifolding doors tell me if they feel a draft where the hinges are...

Thanks

Doozergirl

I'm afraid it's normal. Bi-fold doors are terrible for airtightness!

They look nice and they're fashionable, but they aren't the most practical.

prosaver

i think draught are caused by air flo .
so if you have a drafty front door
and a drafty back door
your going to have a drafty house.

am i saying drafty too much?

sorry about spell

leveller2911

I can only post about timber bi folds and they rely on rubber/edpm gaskets to keep the draughts out. Usually down the length of each door (edge) they fit the edpm gaskets in a groove but the hinge recesses stop the gaskets from running the full length of the door so draughts can get in around the hinges so what they should do is fit an additional gasket back from the hinge recesses so you would have 2 gaskets .

Gaskets fitted in the head of the frame where the top of the door shuts against should keep the draught out from the top and the bottom of the doors should have 2 more gaskets fitted . A single door is easy to draught proof but 2 or more can be harder to do but it can be done.

The problem with timber Bi folds in general is that timber moves all the time ,expanding and contracting so "draughtproofing" can be difficult. The best timber to use in Bi folds is Accoya because its the most stable timber on the market.

villieb

I thought that would be the case....

thanks all!

PasturesNew

In the meantime.... Just go round the joins with some masking tape - that stuff that allegedly peels off walls without removing paint. Ugly, but it'll keep draughts out.

kaya

we had upvc in our old house, expanded in the summer and stuck fast then shrunk every winter leaving a gap big enough to fit a biro in

DRP

My in-laws had the fitters back several times in the year following their aluminium bifold installation because of drafts and the handle mechanism sticking- apparently it isn;t that uncommon for bifolds to drop a little and need adjusting (at least that's what they were told ).

They haven't had any further issues in the 3 years since.

Smiley_Dan

kaya wrote: »

we had upvc in our old house, expanded in the summer and stuck fast then shrunk every winter leaving a gap big enough to fit a biro in

That's the magic of upvc!

nick4692

Hello. I think some of the advice you've had here from others is incorrect. I've been in the door/window business 30 years so I hope I can put a different solution forward.

Firstly assuming your doors were installed in the last few years, modern door and window products are tested to the latest weather performance standards. This is BS6375 or equivalent european/other standards. There is absolutely no reason for you to be feeling the draughts you are if your doors are:
1. correctly made to the manufacturing tolerances
2. correctly installed. This is the most critical part of a bifolding door which is a most complex product. Precise and correct installation is essential.

If you are receiving the draughts you are then I recommend you get your installer back out to look at the doors. If you can tell me what brand of bifolds (or system) was installed I can give you the performance standards for this product.

A good installer will fit the doors as they should be fitted and some may even carry out a courtesy visit a few weeks later just to see that everything is correct.

The other problem could be that the draught seals have shrunk somewhat owing to various factors, but I think this is unlikely.

So there are several correct/incorrect statements with all due respect to the posters here.

1. PVCu bifolds expand and contract 2.5 times more than aluminium.
2. All doors and windows contract and expand but this is taken into account in manufacturing tolerances. (but PVCu are the worst which is why many professional window companies refuse to sell plastic bifolds).
3. Depending on the age of the bifolds there have been advances in gaskets and seals. EPDM is still used but these are not 'faulty' if the door has been weather tested and passed. There are now other materials such as QLON.
4. Timber doors will also expand and contract to a certain extent.

If you have draughts in the doors i do urge you to get your installer back and adjust them. It could be simple hinge adjustment, the glass may need packing properly again or similar simple solutions. You shouldn't have to live with them like that.

Above all please remember that from a reputable installer your doors should have a 10 year guarantee?

Hope this helps.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Smiley_Dan

A lot of what you say is right Nick, but the sad truth is that bi folds just do not hold their air tightness over the long term. Best to go for french doors.