I think bifold doors are great, but, you need to live with (and be able to take advantage of) good weather. If you are paying for them, live in Scotland and don't want them, then don't have them, you will not regret your decision. They are fine in the right setting, if you are thinking of selling the house in the near future and they will enhance the look and add a "wow" factor, then think about them. When you talk about Georgian bifold doors, I doubt they would add to the look or to the general pleasure of living in a Georgian style property in Scotland.

Hi there -- I live in 'sunny' Manchester, and have fitted bifold doors to a kitchen extension.

fch42 makes a very good point suggesting that you think about the solar gain from well-insulated windows. We appreciate the light and the warmth from the glazing throughout the winter months (when there is any sun), and that's because our doors are high-quality and made of aluminium. Your building regs inspector would need to check the insulation properties of a large glazed area anyway, to make sure that the house was not likely to lose too much heat. The manufacture of wooden-framed glazed doors has improved in recent years, but do be careful that they can guarantee the necessary level of insulation.

We open them up on warm days (springtime onwards), and it is nice to have that "inside-outside" feel to the room. You'd need to consider what the doors are opening out onto -- a patio or a deck is wonderful. You want to feel as though the lines between inside and outside are pleasantly blurred, and that there is a real benefit from having a wider opening than a regular door. If you decide that on balance you'd rather not invite your outside environment in (wasps and the like), then it does seem as though this function would not be a sensible investment.

Finally, the doors stack pretty neatly at the side of the opening in our room. The manufacturer should be able to let you know how bulky they'd be, so that you could consider the impact on the whole space.

Hello, I have several clients who have really large bifold doors. They do look really great and can really make a house look the part, however there are drawbacks.

A wheelchair bound client in Greater Manchester loves nature and was quite upset at the fact that the bees came in and weren't clever enough to get out again and then died. She wasn't able to usher them out herself. You are correct that if you open a large area then animals will come in. This same client also has a persistent neighbours cat that likes to come in and hide! In winter when it is really, really stormy and windy the wind can be felt through the doors. There have been a few problems over the years with the weight of the doors - they have had to be adjusted on occasion. They are made of aluminium and are 7 meters long. She rarely opens the doors fully - only one section.

Another client also has a massive section of these doors. Her life is quite different and she lives in London where the climate is quite different. Her doors are often open but again not often fully open and it is in a new build house. It suggests that the doors act more as a massive window rather than doors!

I am surprised that your builder has suggested wooden door for you. They will take upkeep and I imagine with the weight of the glass and the weather will make them move over time. I would think very carefully about this option if I were you. Look at different options and certainly don't let your builder bully you into anything. He/she doesn't have to live with it.

What is your view like? Does it warrant the expense? Would it add value to your property? Do you like bifold doors? Do you know anyone in your area with them you could go and ask advice from?

Good luck.