Bi-Fold Doors vs French Doors

Bi-Fold Doors Vs French Doors

When it comes down to the big decisions, everything isn't always as black and white as you would like it to be. Choosing between Bi-Fold doors and French doors can be a lot more complicated than what you might have first assumed. To have full faith in your decision you must be happy with all aspects of the door you are looking to have installed. Design, Colour, Maintenance and Pros & Cons of each door must all be considered before making the commitment. The aim of this blog is to aid you in making that decision and bring all the information to you.

What are French Doors:

French doors, also known as French windows, are doors of a custom size that are comprised of door profile and a larger glass panel each size. French doors can be selected to open in or open out and the possibilities of hinges, handles, glass designs and door colour is as limitless as they sound. French doors are commonly used to link the outer part of the home to the internal area of the home or even to bring two internal rooms together.

French Doors/ Bi Fold Doors

What are Bi-Fold Doors:

Unlike French doors and Sliding doors, Bi-Fold doors consist of three or more doors that fold back on themselves and sit flat against one or both walls, depending if they open in the middle or at the side. Similar to French doors, Bi Fold doors are a fantastic way to connect the exterior of your home with the interior.

Pros and Cons of Both Products

French Doors

Pros:

• Usually less expensive than Bi-Fold doors.
• Come in a variety of colours and glass designs.
• Allows more natural light into your home and provides a great view when closed. 
• Minimal maintenance required.
• Working parts generally last longer than Bi-Fold doors working parts

Cons:

• A sizable amount of space is taken up if you wish for open in doors rather than open out. 
• If you choose a clear glass design, privacy may be a concern.
• Although the doors are maintenance free, the windows will still need to be cleaned from time to time.
• Not Suitable for large openings.

Bi Fold Doors

Pros

• Can open up 90% of the area it's placed in.
• Can incorporate a single door for easy access if you don't wish for the full length of the door to be open. 

Cons:

• When the door is closed, the joints of the door panels can obstruct your view.
• You'll need to leave a free space either side of the doors as when folding they fold to 90°.
• With the cool temperate oceanic climate Ireland has, it's very likely that you'll be looking through your Bi-Fold doors rather than have them open. 
• When open, the Bi-Fold door can leave you feeling encroached from the space it takes up. 

Evaluation:

So when you're exploring the possibilities of buying a French door or Bi-Fold door, keep these things in mind. 

Space and opening: If you plan on installing your new doors into a large area with plenty of excess room available, the bi fold doors may be to your taste, however, if the room in question isn't as big as you'd like it to be, a sense of claustrophobia and suffocation may develop from the fold on the door encroaching into your home. 

Price: Don't be afraid to shop around. Be prepared to see 9/10 Bi-Fold doors are more expensive than French Doors.
Design, Style and Colour: Both products should have a range of colours and designs to choose form. This selection is completely up to your own preference so make sure you're happy with what you pick before you commit to your choice. 


When deciding on your supplier, make sure to shop around for the best product and best value for money. 

If you want to know what 10 questions to ask your installer, click here

If you want to know more about Harvest Energy, click here 


To get a free consultation or quotation you can contact us at (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie

Why Should I choose French Doors?

Why Choose French Doors?

Has the time come to allow some more light into the rear of your home? Not entirely sure what step to take to make this happen? Maybe it's time to consider French doors with a possible window combination. With our high security locking system and toughened a rated glass units, there is no need to compromise style and brightness for security. This blog is here to tell you all about the French doors. Pros, cons, benefits and where best to install them.

What are French Doors?

French doors, also called French windows, are doors of a custom size that are comprised of door profile and a larger glass panel each size. French doors can be selected to open in or open out and the possibilities of hinges, handles, glass designs and door colour is as limitless as they sound. French doors are commonly used to link the outer part of the home to the internal area of the home or even to bring two internal rooms together.

Benefits of French doors.

In addition to adding more brightness and style to your home, French doors have a range of advantages they can add to your home:

External Rear French Doors

• Creating a visual connection between adjoining rooms and the exterior and interior. 
• Expansion of your home when the warm weather arrives by allowing a flow from inside to outside without any boundary. 
• Allowing generous amounts of natural light into the room without letting heat escape.
• By adding brightness, the size of the room begins to feel larger and is utilized much better as there are no dead parts of the room. 

Where to install French Doors?

Exterior: French Doors are commonly used at the rear of the home to allow easy access to and from the back garden and hosting area. More recently, now that glass has become much more energy efficient and secure, it's also common to have French doors at the front of your home. French doors are being used more and more as an additional option to have in front of original single doors.

Interior: French doors can not only be used as a connector of two rooms but also as a divider of rooms. more uncommon areas but not totally off the wall ideas of where we have seen French doors installed is bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes. 

Tips to think through before buying French Doors.

• Decide if you want your french doors to open in or open out, the common preference is to open out to utilize valuable space. 
• Think about your glass design, when doors are closed will you want privacy? Ask about glass design options and if you're looking heat retention, choose Low E glass with argon gas filled units for ultimate energy efficiency. 
• Don't choose your French doors on the look only. Make sure you inspect the security locking system, insulation benefits of the doors, durability and maintenance of doors also if you're looking at getting external french doors. 

Pros vs Cons of French Doors
Pros

• Allows natural light into the home
• Provides a feeling of increased space and also helps utilize spaces that weren't as well lit initially. 
• Creates a visible and easy connection between rooms. 
• Less expensive than Sliding doors and Bi-Fold doors.
• Huge variety in profile colour, hinges, handles and glass design.
• Our uPVC French doors are virtually maintenance free and have a guarantee of 10 years on the profile. 

Cons

• If you decide to open doors in, there is a large requirement of floor space to allow for this.
• If a clear glass option is chosen to maximize natural light entering the home, there is not much security.
• More windows to clean.

If you would like to see how our glass units are manufactured, click here

If you would like to see a range of French doors we have supplied and fit accompanied by testimonials, click here

if you'd like a free quotation or consultation you can contact us at info@harvestenergy.ie or (01) 8021800

How does Double Glazing Block out Noise

Blocking Out Noise

People regularly use double/triple glazing as a way to block out noise from their homes as well as increasing the energy efficiency at the same time. However, before we get into the more technical aspects of this blog, there are a couple things you must keep in mind if you want your double/triple glazing to be an effective sound barrier. Firstly, using the wrong material or having windows that don't fit the space correctly will provide a lesser chance of acquiring your desired effect on the noise reduction of your home. Make sure to find a company that create windows custom to your home. As we manufacture all of our Windows, Doors and Glass Units we can ensure that the fitting will be snug and air passages that may be one of your main concerns is a non-issue.

Before any efforts are made to reduce noise pollution from the outside, we must understand how noise travels. With a greater understanding, you can create a more effective barrier.
Sound and Light both travel in waves. However, Light travels at over 650 million miles an hour, whereas Sound travels at 750 miles per hour (speed depends on air pressure and composition). It is easier to block out the faster waves of light than the slower sound waves.

The noise you hear is created by sound waves due to the vibrations in the air and other materials sound travels true. Eventually, sound reaches our ear drums and from there the sound travels to our brains. As i'm sure you have noticed by now, the efforts made to stop the sound waves reaching our brains is more difficult that first thought. Waves of light can be stopped by most solid materials, whereas sound actually travels better through some materials (e.g steel) than through air. Long sound waves can flex and wean their way through tiny gaps and corners.

Sound travels through solid objects by making them vibrate and in turn making the air on the other side of them vibrate, passing the sound on. Sound waves pass through a pane of glass quite easily, but with a double glazed unit they also have to also navigate through a pocket of gas (Argon) which slows down the sound waves meaning that less get to the second pane of glass, creating fewer vibrations and less noise. Triple Glazed Glass Units create a larger area for the noise waves to travel through and will have a greater noise reducing effect.

Double/ Triple glazing can be a really effective way to reduce the outside noise getting into your home, but it is important to remember, noise will find the path of least resistance. So follow these steps to ensure maximum efficiency. 

• Noise will find the path of least resistance.
• Make sure the windows fit so no air gap is there for noise to pass through.
• Channels for wiring/cabling to get into the house which tend to be cut through window frames need to be properly sealed.
• The seals where the windows fit into their frames need to be as airtight as possible.
• Even ventilators need to be tightly shut for the best results.

Basically if air can get in, sound can too so as we are unlikely to live in a completely air tight house there is little chance every bit of outside noise can be filtered out, but a well fitted double glazing unit can make a big difference to adding a bit peace and quiet at home.

10 Questions to Ask Your Installer Before Buying a Window or Door

10 Questions to Ask your Installer

Buying a new window or door can be difficult and that's before choosing from a range of installation companies. Double/ Triple glazing can last for decades, so it is important to make sure you select a product and a proven company that will suit your home and will complete the perfect job!

Before you make your final decision, put your chosen company to the test. Below are 10 questions to ask your installation company before signing up for your new windows and doors to make sure they’re the perfect match:

1. Does the installer provide the style/material/colour you want?

Good quality uPVC windows can last up to 30 years, so it is vital to choose a product you like. Don’t settle, you’re going to have to love your new windows and doors for many years to come.

Get inspiration first and make sure your company has a large range of options, including features that are important to you – if triple glazing, energy efficiency or sustainability matter, then choose a company that shares your values.

2. What products does your installer use?

There are some great new products on the market today. Innovations in the manufacturing process mean that many window and door profiles are more thermally efficient, slimmer, colourfast, durable and recyclable than before. However, like in any other industry there are dud products on the market too.

Do your research – ask your installers what suppliers and brands they use. At Harvest Energy, we use Quality Guaranteed uPVC profile and manufacture our very own A-Rated, Energy Efficient Double/Triple Glazed Units using Argon Gas and K Glass and finally seal the unit with a energy efficient isomelt.

3. Can I custom-make my new windows and doors?

All good installers should order or manufacture your new double glazing product to your home’s exact measurements. This means that there may be a small wait for your windows or doors to be installed, because they’re busy being made for you personally.

This also allows you to create the exact window/ door you would like, you should be able to choose from;

• Colour of Profile Used
• Glass Design (Georgian Bar, Obscure Glass etc.)
• Openings (where you would like to put in a sash to open up, and how big you would like it)
• Glass Units (Double Glazed, Triple Glazed, Toughened)
• Handle Colour and Style   

4. What does the installer specialize in?

There is a lot of choice out there when searching for a Window/Door company. Many offer similar product ranges, the trick is to discover which companies are experts in their field. 

5. How much experience do they have?

Be wary of any company that can’t provide you with a detailed history or profile of their experience. New companies aren’t necessarily bad, but the more testimonials and case studies they can provide, the better. Also, check the company’s credit rating to get an idea of how reliable a business they are.

6. What do the customers say about them? 

One of the best ways to gauge whether a Window/Door company will do a good job is by asking people who have previously used the company. A review or recommendation is reassuring and it's no surprise that a sizable margin of our business comes from satisfied customers who recommend our services to others. We’ve had some very good feedback on our installations, Check out our testimonials here!

7. Can I get a feel for my new windows and doors?

It’s hard sometimes to make a final decision based on images and colour swatches in catalogs. It would be a lot easier to make a decision if you could see the final result before installation. Check whether your chosen double glazing company has a showroom – this is a fantastic opportunity to see the products close up and get a much clearer idea about how the style, colour and material will suit your property.

8. Is my deposit protected?

As well as checking a company’s background, it’s important to make sure that your deposit is protected. Reliable installers should offer an Insurance Backed Guarantee, this guarantees your deposit is safe should anything happen to the company before installation begins. This guarantee also ensures the quality of the installation for 10 years after completion.   

9. What happens if I need help after the installation?

Due to the investment involved in purchasing your new windows and doors, it's a reasonable request to ask what after-sales service you will receive.  Look for a friendly company that is easy to contact and offers an aftercare service, for your peace of mind. 

10. Quality > Price

Finally, don't fall for the great "too good to be true" deal an installer has offered. Make sure of is that your choice is based on quality over price. Some companies quote unfeasible low prices to win sales and with this they may cut down on quality or care to ensure a profit is still turned. With doors and windows it's a frequent occurrence where you get what you pay for, if a company don't offer an after sales service, the initial money saved in comparison can end up costing more through the years with maintenance. 

Call us on (01) 8021800 or contact us here for more information about anything you’ve read here. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

This is an article previously published by Clearway Doors & Windows Ltd