How to install a bifold door

Slimline bifold doors between the garden and indoor space can add significant value to your home. They’re both aesthetically pleasing and secure. Installing bifolding doors can be a bit tricky, though. If you’re unsure at all about the process, consider calling in professionals to the job. Experts will understand the differences in applying various doors – aluminium bifold doors versus timber bifolds, for example.

If you choose to do the installation yourself, there are a series of careful steps to follow. Read on for a guide to placing your own bifold doors.

Prepare for Installation

Before putting your bifold doors in their frame, you need to prepare. You should measure the door and the aperture, to ensure they match up. The aperture should also be equal on all sides – top to bottom, side to side, and diagonally. You should also clear out the aperture, removing any old silicone sealant or debris.

Once the aperture is ready, you’ll next need to evaluate the sill. It should be level, or the door won’t function properly. Use a spirit level and string line to assess, then temporarily place the sill and packers on the bottom of the aperture to gauge if they’re level.

Install the Sill

Your next step is installing the sill. Use a layer of mortar, spread evenly across the bottom of the aperture. Place your packers into the mortar as well. Secure the sill by pounding gently with a plastic mallet. A layer of mortar isn’t enough to keep the sill secure, so you’ll need to fix it in place with some SPAX bolts. They should be a maximum of 600mm. Drill them into place.

Install the Door

Now that you’re still in place, you’re ready to install your door. This is a multi-step process. First, you should remove the sashes from your doors. Unscrew the hinges and lift out the sash frames. This will make fitting the doors into the frame easier later.

Next, add some silicone sealant on the outer edges of the seal, before installing the frame. The sealant will make the doors weathertight. Now position the outer frame into place. Use packers to ensure that the frame stays level and make necessary adjustments. Once the frame is in the right spot, fix it into place with the fixings that came with the door. The frame should be no more than 150mm from corners and no more than 600mm from the centre edges. You should also use only two fixings per side.

The next step is attaching the threshold onto the sill. Screw the threshold onto the sill using the pre-cut holes in the threshold. After the sill is attached, fix the head into place the same way. Ensure the two are parallel.

After that, you’re finally ready to work with your doors. Put the sashes back on, and place the doors into the frame. Check that the rollers are on the threshold and remain so the whole time you’re positioning the doors. Then, assess how the doors run, ensuring they’re smooth.

Once you’ve put the doors in the frame, evaluate for any gaps at the top or between doors. You can adjust the rolling mechanism at the bottom of the doors to tighten or widen gaps.

Apply Glazing

Now it’s time to put in the glass and apply your glazing. It’s recommended to remove your beading first, before placing the glass. Put the glass panels into the doors from the inside and use a toe and heeling process to support double glazing. Toe and heeling involves using small rubber packers to secure the glass panels from the inside as you work.

Once the glass is in its linear glazing platform from the inside, add silicone sealant to weather-proof it. After that, replace the beading, gently pounding into place with your plastic mallet.

Finish Up

Your final step in the process is evaluating and cleaning up. Once everything is in place, check for the following: smooth rolling mechanism; equal gaps on top, bottom, and all sides; weathertight seals; and properly working lock mechanisms.

For gaps between doors, you can use 2mm packers on your hinges to increase or decrease the size of the gaps. You can adjust the latch of the door with an Allen key. Finally, clear the track of debris, as this will cause the rollers to malfunction. It’s important to keep the track clean as much as possible.

Conclusion

You can install your bifold doors at home if you have the right tools and closely adhere to the correct process. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, or you lack the proper equipment, then don’t hesitate to call in professionals. At the Bifold Shop, we offer our bespoke bifold doors, along with installation and repair. Bifolding doors can increase your property value and make your house feel more spacious. Consider adding exterior bifold doors to make your house into your dream home.