The windows of your house are more than just sheets of glass which let the light in. By changing your windows, you can change both the way they look and also the energy efficiency of them.
However, what is the best type of windows to have? The posts on this website are written to help you choose new windows for your home. Whether you want to add the aesthetically pleasing bay window to a room or you want to know just how energy efficient double glazing is, then this website is for you. Take a closer look at the windows of your home to see how changing them is beneficial.
If you are replacing your sliding patio doors or building an extension and would like to open up your house more so that you can enjoy your garden, then fitting bi-fold doors makes a lot of sense. With a set of bi-folding doors, you are able to make your garden or patio area feel like it is part of the rest of the home. Modern ones are very efficient and should not allow too much heat to escape when they are closed during the winter months, either. Before you buy, one of the principal choices you will need to make with bi-fold doors is which framing material to opt for. What are the main options available to you today?
Wooden Frames
Although some people think that wooden frames are old-fashioned when it comes to glazed doors and windows, they are making something of a comeback. This is because wood is a great material for framing unusually sized glazing units. Wood is a suitable material to choose if you have oversized bi-fold doors or ones that are not of standard dimensions. Wooden frames also feel warm to touch, and they have great thermal insulation properties, too. One of the problems with wood is that you will need to paint it every few years, however. Regardless, this is a long-lasting material, so long as it is maintained properly.
Plastic Frames
Plastic may not be your first choice for a set of bi-fold door frames, but it is a very practical material. First of all, you may already have UPVC windows around your home. Therefore, installing a similar plastic for your bi-folding doors makes a lot of sense because they will coordinate with one another. UPVC is the most common material for windows and glazed doorways because it is relatively cheap. Not only is it cost-effective, but you will find that it lasts for an incredibly long time. What's even better is the fact that you need to do virtually nothing to maintain UPVC windows. Just wash them when you clean your glazing, and you don't have to do anything else at all.
Aluminium Frames
Increasingly popular as framing material nowadays, aluminium looks good and is very durable. It has a lower profile than other framing materials, something that can be achieved because it is so strong. Therefore, if you want to maximise the amount of glazing you have on display with your bi-fold doors, this is the material for you. However, you should bear in mind that it is more expensive than nearly every other framing material. That said, it is incredibly long-lasting and, like UPVC frames, you do not need to do anything to keep it in mint condition for years on end.