Bi-fold Doors FAQs

General

What are bi-fold doors?
What are they made of?
How much do they cost?
Where does the handle go?
Are they secure?
Can they fold inwards and outwards?
Do they need a bottom track?
Can I have a fixed door or window next to a folding set?
What are my options for the color of the doors?
Are timber-effect aluminum doors available?
How do I clean them?
Do bi-fold doors add value to a property?
Can they be used on balconies?

Ordering, manufacturing and installation

Can I buy bi-fold doors direct from Origin?
How do I get a quote?
Where are Origin’s bi-fold doors made?
Do I need planning permission for bi-fold doors?
How quickly will my doors arrive?
Are your doors available to buy ‘off the shelf’?
Can I install the doors myself?
How do I install the doors?
What do I need to do to prepare my home before the doors are installed?
I already have sliding or bi-fold doors. Can you remove them and take them away?
Will I receive a guarantee with my bi-fold doors?
What is an Origin Accredited Partner?

General

What are bi-fold doors?

Bi-fold doors are folding doors that slide along a track as they open. When opened, the doors are stacked at either side, resulting in a completely unobstructed view.

What are they made of?

Bi-fold doors can be made using different materials, including uPVC, timber or composite. However, the most popular material is aluminum because it’s:

strong
easy to maintain
thermally efficient when fitted with a thermal break

Origin uses only premium-grade aluminum, so it’s more flexible and provides a higher-quality finish than any scrap aluminum.

How much do they cost?

Costs vary significantly depending on the brand and material. Aluminum doors are usually more expensive but are also much better quality, and the strength of the material suits the large expanse the doors cover.

Vinyl doors are much cheaper but tend to be poor-quality and often become faulty much more quickly, making them less cost-effective in the long run.

At Origin we focus on providing the highest-quality door at a reasonable price. As a result, we offer the best value for money, and the fastest lead times, in the industry. Get in touch today for a free quote.

Where does the handle go?

The handle is on the main traffic door—also known as the lead door—as pictured below:

Are they secure?

It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The Origin Bi-fold Door is incredibly secure, surpassing industry and government security standards.

We manufacture the doors to offer outstanding security features, including:

an 8-point multi-point locking system
high-security hinges
exceptionally strong frames

Find out more in our bi‑fold doors safety and security FAQs.

Can they doors fold inwards and outwards?

Bi-fold doors can be configured to open inwards or outwards depending on your preference. What this means is when the doors are folded back, the panels will either sit inside your home or open onto your outdoor space.

Do they need a bottom track?

Bi-fold doors can be engineered in different ways. However, they all need a top and bottom track to slide smoothly.

Origin’s doors are bottom-run, which, from our experience, makes them more reliable and offers certain advantages:

As the weight of the doors is at the bottom, it makes it less likely for one of the doors to drop.
Top-hung doors need significantly more support above them, as that’s where the weight is concentrated. A builder would have to ensure there was enough structural support before installing a top-hung set of doors.

Can I have a fixed door or window next to a folding set?

Yes. Many people choose this kind of configuration. All you need to do is tell your Origin agent and they can offer recommendations suited to your needs.

What are my options for the color of the doors?

The Origin Bi-Fold Door is available in over 150 RAL colors, including metallic and wood-effect finishes. You can even choose a dual-color door, where the inside of the door matches your home’s interior décor and the outside reflects the exterior surroundings.

Our popular colors are white, black and bronze.

Read more in our bi-fold doors color guide.

Are timber-effect aluminum doors available?

Yes. We offer a choice of four different wood-effect finishes:

Natural Oak
Golden Oak
Mahogany
Walnut

How do I clean them?

Aluminum doors are really easy to clean.

Wash the glass in the frames as you would your windows
Wipe the frames every so often with a soft cloth or sponge soaked in warm, soapy water (but avoid using washing-up liquid)

Do bi-fold doors add value to a property?

They can, yes. They are certainly an effective way to fill a home with light, a characteristic which many homebuyers look for when searching for a property.

Can they be used on balconies?

Yes. Origin’s bi-fold doors are very versatile and can be made to serve any function you choose.

Ordering, manufacturing and installation

Can I buy bi-fold doors direct from Origin?

Yes, through our e-commerce platform. However, be sure to check the ‘before you buy’ page to ensure you have everything you need to complete the purchase and install your doors.

We also sell our doors and windows through accredited agents across the US who supply our products on your behalf, if you’d prefer to let us handle all the hard work. Contact us for more information.

How do I get a quote?

The accredited Origin agent you enquire with will be able to give you a precise quote for the cost of the work to install Origin Bi-Fold Doors. They will visit your home to carry out a survey and provide advice on what’s best for you and your property.

Where are Origin’s bi-fold doors made?

We manufacture our doors in our Florida-based factory.

Do I need planning permission for bi-fold doors?

Replacing existing doors with bi-fold doors doesn't normally require planning permission. However, if you’re in a conservation area, you’ll need to consult your local council.

If you’re building an extension which incorporates bi-fold doors, we would always recommend reviewing your local building regulations before taking any action.

You’ll likely also need to contact the council if you live near the coast as this will require a special type of glazing.

How quickly will my doors arrive?

Many other US bi-fold door manufacturers can take anywhere between 6–12 weeks to ship their products. Origin ships in just three weeks, providing you choose one of our popular colors.

Because we design, develop and manufacture all our products, we have greater control over our supply chain, which means we can get our bi-fold doors to you much more quickly.

To read more about what to expect when it comes to delivery and installation, click here.

Are your doors available to buy ‘off the shelf’?

No. We make all our bi-fold doors to order, to our customers’ exact specifications. However, we’re still able to supply our products as quickly as off-the-shelf solutions.

Can I install the doors myself?

It’s possible to install the doors yourself, depending on your skill level and the toolkit you have available. Our e-commerce platform has lots of information to help you figure out if you have what it takes to install Origin’s bi-fold doors yourself.

Alternatively, you can hire a builder to carry out the installation for you, or use one of our accredited agents who are fully trained in installing Origin doors.

How do I install the doors?

When you buy your doors from one of our trusted partners, they will install the doors for you. All our partners are highly trained and will make sure the doors are fitted properly.

Our e-commerce platform has some video tutorials and an installation manual for anyone wanting to install bi-fold doors themselves or alongside a builder.

This is some of the technical advice we give to all our installers.

What do I need to do to prepare my home before the doors are installed?

First time having bi-fold doors installed

You need to do all the necessary building work to prepare the area, including providing the correct measurements. This means:

creating the right-sized opening to fit the frames
making sure the entire area is clean and tidy for the installer to work

It’s likely that your installer will contact you and possibly arrange to visit to establish what needs to be done before they can fit the doors for you.

Replacing existing doors

Your installer may remove your old doors (at an extra cost) before they install your new ones. You can help by:

clearing the space where the installer will be working
covering or moving your furniture

I already have sliding or bi-fold doors. Can you remove them and take them away?

Of course. Just speak to your Origin agent and they will arrange this for you.

Will I receive a guarantee with my bi-fold doors?

Origin Bi-fold Doors come with a 10-year guarantee. Some manufacturers only offer a guarantee on the powder-coated finish, which can be misleading. Origin’s guarantee covers all parts of the door because we’re confident in our design, and we want you to feel confident too.

What is an Origin Accredited Partner?

An Origin Accredited Partner is an installer we’ve trained to fit our doors and windows. We offer complimentary training days and work closely with our partners to make sure they’re knowledgeable in all our products and confident in installing them.

Choosing an Origin Accredited Partner for your installation means you benefit from our outstanding 10-year guarantee.