What are open corner bifolding and sliding doors and how do you get this distinctive look in your home? In this article we tell you everything you need to know about creating statement piece extensions with open corner bifolding and sliding doors.
Creating new extensions with open corner bifolding and sliding doors
One of the best things about the open corner design is its look. Closed, the doors create a double-sided glass wall, joined together with either our latest sliding folding door designs. Open, the doors fold or slide back. then end result is your doors moving away, revealing a gorgeous open aspect and unusual design. Statement piece doors, promising a talking point. Of course, it’s not just about how they look, but also about the functionality provided.
Above all, design your new extension with a fully open corner and the effect is quite dramatic. From the outside or viewed internally, your ceiling and roof appear to flat. Many people are familiar with structural and supporting walls. Therefore, seeing no support surprises most.
What is best? Open corner bifolding or sliding doors?
The good news is, this open corner design is available with both bifolding or sliding doors. Our Origin product is widely used in an open corner design. For sliding doors, Schuco, air sliding doors and our other brands offer this outstanding design feature.
With an open corner design, there’s no compromise. These doors provide all the weather protection, energy efficiency and security of regular doors. But they come with this focal-point design leaving people wondering how it was done and what’s holding up the roof!
It’s your choice what you have but generally speaking our advice is this. If you’ve a smaller or typical family home with an average or good size garden, bifolding doors suit. These create a better illusion of opening up the space.
Where you’re lucky to live in a larger property or even better, enjoy great views of a large garden or countryside, sliding doors are great. The larger panels with fewer visible mullions really make the most of the outdoors and create fantastic views.
And for those feeling even more ambitious with their build, pocket sliding doors open up even more of the space. At the build stage, the doors are designed to slide completely into the side walls, fully opening up the aperture and disappearing from sight.
How to create open corner bifolding and sliding doors in your new extension.
There are two ways of creating this style to a new extension and therefore benefit from open corner bifolding or sliding doors.
Either of the two popular ways creates the same effect, but it’s also down to personal taste, the nature of your build and your own property type.
First of all, is the supporting post option. Usually cheaper but less effective visually. Here, the supporting posts and columns sit back from the door opening. Often they’re in the room or outside where there’s some kind of canopy arrangement.
The purpose of these posts is to do the work of a supporting column or wall. They can be brick or concrete, or steel. Of course, if they’re inside, many people make these a feature of the room. Therefore with open corner bifolding and sliding doors, the post can become a structural as well as a design feature.
Then is the cantilevered method. This is where the roof has steel beams strengthening the structure and providing the essential support to the roof and the build generally. In short, they replace a typical steel post or structural column. Typically they sit on either side of the new opening. Their purpose is distributing weight evenly.
It’s usually the case you’ll get an architect or structural engineer involved. There’s no concern over the strength and stability of the floors above either as these have their own weight supporting properties.
As far as the open corner bifolding and sliding doors are concerned, done right, there’s no excess weight on the head of the door. No bowing or flexing. The doors work correctly and smoothly as intended.
Planning a new extension? Get in touch with us today.
At Open Living, we specialise in creating dream extensions and dramatic property renovation projects. Our bespoke and highly engineered range of open corner bifolding and sliding doors create distinctive designs and a spectacular end result. More light, better views and beautiful new rooms.
Contact us today to discuss your project requirements and arrange a free quotation.
