Although bi-folds are more expensive and protrude, you just can't beat how lovely they look. Loooove them!

If you can afford corner opening sliding doors, as I have shown in the main bedroom of this house design, it can give you both the ease of opening of a sliding door as well as the dramatic effect of a large opening bi-fold door.

This is an interesting discussion. I thought that when bifold doors started to appear everywhere that they would replace sliding doors. But clearly some people prefer the sliding style and it doesnt look like it is going to disappear at all. I know sliding doors can be cheaper but that's not always the case, is it?

I also don't like the protrusion of the bi-fold. My solution (in the home I am planning) is to have sliding doors which stack either side outside the walls so that they completely disappear.

Tilt up doors!! Counter weighted makes them easy to operate and no need for any type of floor track so seamless floors inside and out..

We have a 3 door, 2 metre bifold setup leading from the kitchen to our outdoor alfresco area. The bifold open against a wall, thus leaving the entire outdoor area free from the door obstruction. In addition, having this setup allows us to open the bifold on any day for beautiful fresh air as we have a retractible fly wire screen incorporated.

If that isn't enough, we are extending our home and will have a 4.8 metre wide, 2.4 metre high, 5 door bifold system being installed at the end of our family/dining room. The doors will open up to one side of a large, covered entertaining & alfresco area, again not obstructing the area at all. Can't wait!!!

The Bifolds are great but you really need to factor in what flyscreens you will need. They arent any good if you have to keep them closed due to the bugs

Joady, with all due respect, read my post again. We have retractable fly wire screen. For quite a few months of the year, the doors are open and the fly wire screen used. PERFECT combination. What bugs?

Bifolds look great and allow for more open space. However, they take up space and could be dangerous with children running around.

We have sliding doors in our family room with three large panels, two of them slide open to one side (over the third panel).

dlextension, how have you stabilized such a large expansion of screen ?

2 metres isn't a large expanse. The screen retracts into a slim cassette. Easy.

http://www.winsulation.com.au/artilux-winsect-retractable-screens

I have heard of people walking into these screens but they are a good solution.

dlextension - Im sorry but I was answering the original question, and reinforcing the need for screens. I applaud you for having retractable screens but they most people dont realise how much they are needed

We've gone with two cedar frame sliders that stack on the outside wall (instead of into a cavity) giving a 2mtW completely open doorway and we can still see the beautiful timber frames stacked on the deck wall, taking up only 1100mm of external wall. The floor track is minimal and we'll add a retractable screens for summer. Stacking sliders give options of opening to whatever width opening during winter too.

rinna, our bifold doors have been part of our home for around 8 years without any mechanical maintenance issues whatsoever. However, if you want cheap doors, then perhaps it could be the case or if they haven't been installed properly.

Also consider bottom tracks, where the weight is carried, rather than top rails. Mind you, our current bifold is top hung, but our new one will be bottom weighted.

I couldn't tick one or the other of the boxes – I think the choice has to be made contingent on so many variables. In fact we have painted timber, double-glazed bifolds (with a fabulous retractable pleated fly-screen) at the end of the dining room leading out onto a terrace and a painted timber, double-glazed slider (with a timber-framed sliding fly-screen) on the other side of the kitchen (but on the same axis) opening onto a raised timber deck. Each works really well in terms of function and aesthetics but they would not be interchangeable as the different locations determined which was more suitable – but they have been made by the same highly skilled window craftsman and have given us nothing but pleasure. And on a hot, steamy evening with both open we have the most wonderful cross ventilation.

We are enclosing an under cover area with a roof extension and fitting stacking doors. Because the gap for the doors is 7.5 metres, we have been told we will need a middle support post. I think this will spoil the open effect - has anyone had any experience of this and overcome the issue? Or can it look ok? Thoughts welcome.

It depends if you are installing a top hung bifold door on not. These are in most cases better quality for a few reasons but need a beam/lintel that supports the weight of the door from above.

Thanks guys :) we will discuss a support with the builder. I did see some photos on Houzz where there is a central support that looks ok but prefer the total open look. Good luck with your project danielc118. Looks terrific!

Always better to know everything you can about something before making your decision. My company in Arizona, Gilbert Screens, offers a variety of <a href="http://www.gilbertscreens.com/">security door options </a>

Great question, Bristow Design. We'd love an option for both/other, however. We're believers that the style of door does depend on the design of your space and what you're trying to accomplish.