Aluminium Bi-Fold Doors VS uPVC Bi-Fold Doors?
Aluminium bi-folds doors are the perfect sliding door solution that provides better durability, performance, design and aesthetics than uPVC bi-fold doors.
You’re thinking of upgrading your home with bi-folding doors, but don’t know if you should opt for aluminium bi-fold doors or uPVC bi-fold doors.
Both types of doors offer very different features that make them completely unique. We have come up with a useful article that will hopefully help you decide whether you invest in our fantastic range of aluminium or uPVC bi-folding doors for your next home improvement project.
Bi-folding doors are the perfect way to open up your home and seamlessly blend the interiors of your property with your outdoor space.
What’s The Difference Between Aluminium Bi-Folds And uPVC Bi-Folds?
There are a range of differences that make aluminium bi-fold doors and uPVC bi-fold doors very different in both their aesthetic and performance.
Aluminium bi-fold doors are a lightweight and robust structure that will give you many years of service. The aluminium doors are typically comprised of aluminium profiles that have been sandwiched around a polyamide thermal break.
This rigid insulation material allows for excellent thermal efficiency, eliminating cold draughts from your property, keeping you warmer for longer and reducing the cost of your energy bills.
uPVC bi-fold doors are manufactured to incorporate multiple chambers into the profile. This greatly improves thermal performance and strength. However, this feature often makes the aesthetic of the uPVC bi-folds look bulky, leaving the doors with less glazed areas and more plastic.
Are Aluminium Bi-Fold Doors Better Than uPVC Bi-Fold Doors?
Yes, aluminium bi-fold doors are a worthwhile investment that offers better qualities than uPVC bi-fold doors. By using aluminium as the predominant material for its profile, this makes it incredibly resistant to harsher weather conditions.
Whether it be torrential rain, gale force winds and varying temperatures, your aluminium doors can withstand these conditions, making them less prone to damage.
uPVC doors are also pretty durable – allowing them to withstand certain conditions. However, the uPVC profile will have trouble withstanding both hot and freezing temperatures.
It has been known that uPVC can expand and contract as much as 3mm per metre when there are changes in the temperatures.
What Are The Best Types Of Bi-Folds: Aluminium or uPVC?
uPVC bi-fold doors are often bulky in their appearance, due to their multi-chambered feature. Although this helps with thermal performance, it greatly compromises on the appearance.
The uPVC doors are available in a range of colours and finishes, so you can tailor them to suit your preferred style and match them to the existing architecture of your property.
Aluminium bi-fold doors are sleek in their appearance. They comprise of slimline profiles and expansive glazed panels, allowing you to enjoy panoramic views of your exterior surroundings.
Available in a range of finishes and over 150 RAL colours, you have the option to generate a completely bespoke aluminium b-folding door that is as subtle or as bold as you want.
Aluminium or uPVC: Which Offers Better Durability?
When investing in a bi-folding door, you want a product that will require little maintenance from you and will stand the test of time against all elements.
Aluminium bi-fold doors come with a tough powder coating that is resistant to scratching and fading. This makes it the perfect low-maintenance door that will only require you to wipe your doors down with a damp cloth.
When exposed to extreme weather, uPVC can be prone to warping as well as degrading underexposed strong sunlight. Over time this could affect the appearance as well as the quality of your uPVC bi-fold doors.
More maintenance will be required, making it a less cost-effective investment.
How Much Do Bi-Fold Doors Cost?
uPVC bi-fold doors are typically cheaper than aluminium doors, making them a cost-effective solution.
However, uPVC doors aren’t made from materials that are as robust as aluminium, which could therefore mean your uPVC bi-folds may need replacing sooner.Over an extended period, this would make them a less cost-effective option.
Aluminium bi-fold doors offer higher quality and greater performance. Their sturdy profile and powder coating make them resistant to warping, cracking and fading.
These features will require little maintenance from you, allowing you to sit back and enjoy your aluminium bi-folding doors for several years.
Britannic Bi-Fold Doors
At Britannic, we offer a stunning range of aluminium or uPVC bi-fold doors. Perfect for any property and any budget, our team will assist you with creating a completely bespoke bi-folding door for your East Sussex property.
If you would like to know more about our range of uPVC or aluminium bi-fold doors, then get in touch with Britannic today. Our online quoting engine will allow you to receive a personalised price of your next home improvement product.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us by filling out our online form or calling us on 01293 226 523. We look forward to hearing from you.