Woodworkers doors

Stock Multifolds & Bifolds

Woodworkers multifolds are simple, flexible and stylish way to enhance living space and make the most of patio or garden. They are designed and manufactured to the latest standards of combining good looks with the highest levels of security and reliability.

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Practical issues when considering multi-fold door and window units

Lintels: As all weight hangs from the lintel above – is it structurally sufficient? Normal structural deflection can cause multi-folds to jam, so beams should be over-designed to handle dead load and the dynamic loads triggered by use. As most multi-fold failures relate to beam deflection, ensure your engineer over designs multi-fold lintels.

Floor: The floor unevenness common in older houses means that the doors are trying to run between two rails out of parallel, causing ribbing and sticking. Level the floor before installing a multi-fold unit.

Height: Because multi-folds require a track and rollers over them that require about 48 mm extra in height, multi fold openings for standard 2040 height doors require frame with a maximum height of 2170 mm. Ensure your carpenter verifies extremities of frame before frame out.

Open In or Out: Hardware used in multi-folds is designed to open out and the weather tight warranty does not apply to units hung to open in or multifold windows on serveries. The older systems that allow doors & sashes to be half in half out are being phased out due to weather tight performance legislation. Multi-fold systems park at 90° to the opening – they cannot fold 180° to park flat against the wall. Ensure this does not hinder access or furniture layout.

Cost: Multi-fold hardware is expensive as the systems available are patented and cost far more than conventional hardware. Good hardware is essential however for long term performance. Cheaper alternatives to multi-folds such as conventionally hinged doors are often less troublesome, but can’t give you the same width of opening.

Insect screening: The only practical way to screen multi-fold doors is with retractable screens which generally can handle openings no larger than 3 metres. There are several manufacturers of screens, each with different limitations - if insects are a problem decide the screen system you like and design the multi fold system to suit the screen limitations.

Large Multi-folds: All multi-folds in timber (or aluminum) expand and contract with the heat or moisture content in the air. Where doors are hinged off each other in a line, this movement can compound across the multi-fold causing either jamming or mis-closure in larger units. In general, using bigger doors is preferable to lots of little doors in a multi fold application, and units over 5 metres need to carefully consider this issue according to their exposure. Fully coating doors on all six faces helps (but does not eliminate) their capacity to expand and contract…and this can cause annoying difficulties with drop bolts and locks. TIP: Rosewood joinery moves less than cedar joinery in larger applications.

Practicality: Opening multi-folds commonly involves releasing flush bolts on every second door and may also involve another keyed lock on the closing door. They are not particularly quick to open or lock. The use of an independently hinged flapper door allows quick access via that door to the outside without having to release a row of multi-folded doors, and this is often a good design arrangement to consider.

Logistics: Multi fold units are hung in the factory however frames 3600 mm wide and over become too heavy and difficult to maneuver and are therefore usually disassembled and flat packed prior to transportation. Site re-assembly and installation can be arranged at an additional cost by a BSA registered sub-contractor. Always consider how you will move a multi-fold unit from a truck to its intended position to determine if site or factory assembly is the best option.

Is A Sill necessary: Multi-folds have a track at the bottom that is usually 19 mm deep. Without the bottom track they do not roll fluently and are less secure. The bottom track can be set into the floor but will not be weather tight unless an up stand is installed to hold the weather seal that the doors close onto. For kitchen serveries etc the up stand is usually not practical and therefore they must be protected from the weather by other means.

Ventilation: Always remember that multi-folds only give you ventilation when they are open. If you are reliant on them at dusk in summer when the mosquitoes are biting, you may wish you had designed other alternative ventilation that could be more easily screened to allow across ventilation.

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