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We have this window at the rear of our house and it's complete junk. It flexes and is full of gaps. Also there's a weird half step on the inside. It's installed in an extension built by the previous owner.
We had a "design" appointment with a large reputable(?) firm. All they managed to come up with was something pretty much the same but with wider doors. They talked us out of any other option like bi-fold doors, off centre door, low/rollover threshold, plus lots of talk about building warrants required for changing the step.
One option I'd like to explore is a large unbroken (in all senses) triangular window at the top, then bi-fold or patio doors underneath. To do this will require some form of cross-member at the top of the door. I've seen examples online but it was something the company we had round dismissed quite readily (I think because they can't do it themselves)
Can anyone advise on what options we have?
Only thing I can say is a relative works with a big national glazing company and would advise against a large bifold as they're just so prone to issues.
My daughter moved to a house with one that had issues and he replaced a few windows for them at cost as advised them against replacing the bifold with another bifold. Maybe you can spend your way out of those issues with something super fancy grand designs, but...
I can see how all of the mechanisms in a bi-foId could be problematic. I think I might be favouring a sliding patio door, 50/50 split
We had a large (4m wide, 4 section) Bi-fold fitted 7 years ago. Smart Systems(?) IIRC by an independent and its been fine so far. They're not that complicated. For that space I'd go with a 3 setion bi-fold, opening might be a bit small for patio doors, but they have the benefit of being much simpler if that's something that's important, they also have the benefit of not blowing around in wind when open, but that's easily solved with certain devices.
Are bi-fold doors where one door hinges off another so they you can open up the space really wide? If so then we have some and the only issue that we had is that your floor needs to be really flat and square to the doors otherwise they can bind on the floor when you open them. The hinges we also quite big and ugly to hold the weight of the doors but I routed out some wooden covers for them so they look fine now. They are great in summer when you can just open the whole space up
The opening is 3100mm across and faces the prevailing wind in Scotland. So for most of the time it needs to seal up really well!
There's a level difference from the door to the main garden, about 2 steps down.
Are bi-fold doors where one door hinges off another so they you can open up the space really wide?
yes those are the ones
We had a sliding door and the mechanism failed after a relatively short time.
We replaced it with a wide convention aluminium door and a glazed panel.
Sliding is the worst of both worlds
You'd probably need a steel lintel (suitably finished externally) below the triangular window and then bi-folds or sliders under that.
Bi-folds will give a bigger opening but would look lopsided when open.
We have 3 x aluminium bi-folds and they're great. There's zero chance I'd ever have uPVC ones due to potential flex issues.
If you live in a windy or wet location then a patio will be better than bi-folds. They can leak when the winds get strong, usually crap design
You can see in the pic that there is no continuous section at the base of the upper windows so it's not surprising they flex. There must be some kind of plastic box section with a steel box section inside it for this kind of situation. Unfortuntely I know SFA about plastic windows and doors so can't really help.
How do you put a link on this, the whole of the text above is the link now!
If you live in a windy or wet location then a patio will be better than bi-folds. They can leak when the winds get strong, usually crap design
Ours face the prevailing wind and haven't had any issues at all.... But then they are aluminium and I'm sure not all designs/manufacturers are equal.
I would take the pic to a local indie window manufacturer, someone who actually makes windows not a reseller, they ll give you honest advice. Also, just walk around locally and see what others have done on a similar configuration.
If it were me, I d go for 1 piece of triangular glass above a horizontal support, sliding doors below. White pvc with biggest glass profile that will fit in frame.
Bi folds idea is good but 95% time you will be looking at the frames.
The double doors look out of proportion to the side panels. I'd look at larger conventional doors with fixed panels and a two-piece triangle above.
Talk of low thresholds would push me towards a builder for the lot
The quote for the upvc almost like for like is close to £11k.
I think what we want are aluminium framed products. E.g. https://www.prefixsystems.co.uk/opal/doors/
No idea what those will cost though
- Smart systems as mentioned above seem pretty good. But it's really down to the manufacturer, they buy the pre cut profiles in from smart systems and stick em together. The problem with a sliding door is there will always be a track exposed outside that collects water and has to drain properly.
- I would have thought an opening like that could be filled without any structural changes, beams and the like.
Yes, I've looked through the original plans. The walls and roof support the window frame, the roof does not rely on the window frame.
Any lintel or cross-member would just support the window above and the doors below
Is it worth getting an architect involved?