Oak bifold doors: Benefits, considerations and finishes
Author: John Collins - Managing Director
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Oak bifold doors combine beautiful aesthetics with practicality and durability. Offering a rustic, homely feel, oak bifolds complement many styles of homes and interior design.
Here, we take you through the benefits of oak bifold doors and how to choose the best bifold door for your home.
In this guide:
Read the key benefits of choosing oak bifold doors.
Find out how oak veneer compares to solid wood.
Read our guide on what factors to consider when choosing oak bifold doors.
We answer common queries on oak bifold doors.
What are the benefits of oak bifold doors?
Thermal efficiency
Oak bifold doors are energy efficient due to the denseness of the wood. Oak bifold doors help trap heat during the cold winters, which can help keep your energy prices down. Read our complete guide to bifold door thermal efficiency here.
Timeless style
Oak is a popular type of wood and compliments many different types of furnishings including wooden floors, tables, chairs and cupboards. The natural wooden tones mean that no matter your home’s decoration, oak doors are a fantastic option.
Durable and long lasting
You should treat bifold doors as a long-term investment, and looking for a durable, strong material is a great place to start. Oak doors are solid and incredibly durable, which is why Vufold offer up to a 10-year guarantee on our oak external bifold doors, and a 15-year guarantee on internal bifold doors.
Environmentally friendly
Oak is a natural material and requires less manufacturing compared to synthetic materials. Less manufacturing means less harmful carbon dioxide. Vufold’s oak doors only come from responsibly sourced locations and are compliant with environmental, health and safety protection requirements.
Sound absorption
Oak is not only excellent for thermal efficiency but sound absorption as well.
Find out more about the benefits of oak bifold doors here.
Oak veneer vs solid wood
When researching oak bifold doors, you will find two terms that are frequently used: oak veneer and solid wood. These terms reference the way the doors were made.
Oak veneer
Oak veneer is created by glueing layers of wood veneers together over an engineered core. Oak veneer is an extremely popular contemporary door type because:
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It is less likely to warp when applied over an engineered core, ensuring durability
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It is a sustainable material due to the amount of veneer that can be created from a single block of wood
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It is versatile with a range of beautiful styles to choose from.
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Solid wood.
As the name suggests, solid wood doors are made from a solid wood slab. Solid wood doors are a viable option but can be more costly. They are also more likely to expand and contract due to varying temperatures and exposure to moisture.
Save space with the Vufold Inspire range
The Vufold Inspire range utilises a brand-new design to help save space. Unlike standard bifolds, Inspire doors open centrally and fold 180 degrees against the wall on either side (except on a two-door version). This maximises the size of the opening itself and minimises the stacking size. A lead door is provided for easy access. The Vufold Inspire range is perfect for houses where living space is an issue.
Finishes
There are two door finish options for Vufold's oak bifolds:
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Unfinished oak –– this allows you to add your own finish including stains, varnish or paint. This is available for both external and internal bifold doors
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Finished oak –– this is only available for external bifold doors
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Internal bifold doors can use clear finishes as they will not require protection from UV rays. They will need refinishing every few years to ensure durability.
You can find out more about finishes including a comparison between finished or unfinished oak in our section below.
Best contemporary oak internal bifold door: Edge
An internal room divider bifold door set will add a stylish contemporary look to your room, utilising four glass panes of toughened safety glass. The Edge range combines specially designed hardware with a top-hung system for smooth operation.
The top hung system means that Edge doors can be installed with or without a threshold (also known as trackless). Trackless systems are perfect if you are looking for a seamless transition between rooms. A track system is better for stability.
Considerations when choosing oak bifold doors
Thermal efficiency
Ensuring your bifold door is thermally efficient is incredibly important. Thermal efficiency keeps your rooms cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A thermally efficient bifold door does this by trapping heat whilst allowing some ventilation. A thermally efficient bifold door can also be described as energy efficient because it will require less energy to keep your rooms hot/cool, saving you money.
To ensure your bifold door is energy efficient, you need to check it’s overall U-Value. Read our guide to bifold door U-Values here.
What is the U-Value of bifold doors?
The U-Value is the measurement of material insulation effectiveness. The lower the U-Value, the better the insulation of a material.
What is the overall U-Value?
Bifold doors have two U-Values—one for the glass and another for the door frames. The overall U-Value is worked out by combining the U-Value of both components. The U-Value of the glass is generally better than the frame due to thermal breaks installed in the glass. It’s important to ask for the overall U-Value, not just that of the glass.
According to the Building Regulations for existing dwellings, the overall U-Value should be 1.4 W/m2K or less.
Glazing
Glazing is important for external bifold doors due to its ability to improve the overall U-Value of a door system. There are three types of glazing available:
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Single–glazed –– mostly found on listed buildings, consisting of a single pane of glass
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Double–glazed –– the most common type of glazing, taking two glass panes and separating them with a spacer bar
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Triple–glazed –– uses the same technology as double glazed but adds an extra layer for further thermal insulation.
You are very unlikely to find any single-glazed external bifold doors unless they are specially made. You should try to install double or triple glazing to ensure thermal efficiency. Read our full guide to the best types of glazing for bifold doors here.
Security
Keeping your house secure will be high on your priority list. Bifold doors offer excellent security features without sacrificing aesthetics. These features include:
Locks
A high-quality lock ensures a top level of security. Vufold recommends multipoint locks. A multipoint lock uses several different types of locking mechanisms for extra stability and security. They are an excellent choice for any security-conscious buyer, offering three times the level of security offered by standard deadbolt or mortice locks.
Vufold supplies door handles that fit a Vectis type locking system. Vectis type locking systems are safe and secure as they are tested to the latest security and performance standards. The Vectis lock meets the requirements of PAS 24.
Glass
All external bifold doors should use glass that is safe and secure without being detrimental to quality. Most external bifold doors come installed with one of two types of glass:
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Tempered (toughened) glass which is four to five times stronger than standard glass, created by heating and cooling standard glass in a tempering furnace.
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Laminated glass which does not shatter when impacted and is created using a vinyl layer sandwiched between two pieces of glass.
UV protection
External doors that are exposed to the sun’s rays will eventually become damaged. The best way to protect your oak bifold door is by purchasing a tinted finish. It will be able to protect from UV damage for many years, with regular maintenance.
Best oak external bifold door: Elite
The Vufold oak bifold doors range boasts strength, durability and reliability, as well as the slimmest door stiles on the market, with a greater glass area for better views. A combination of stunning aesthetics and finger-tip operation cements the Elite as one of the best external bifold doors available.
Elite doors are prefinished with three coats of microporous factory-applied finish for maximum UV protection. The glass is double-glazed toughened tempered safety glass for excellent thermal efficiency.
Frequently asked questions
Are oak bifold doors suitable for external and internal use?
Yes, oak bifold doors can be used both internally and externally. Internal doors are typically lighter and used to separate rooms, while external doors are designed to withstand weather conditions and often feature double glazing for insulation and security.
Can oak bifold doors be customised?
Yes, oak bifold doors are highly customisable. You can choose different sizes, finishes, and glazing options to suit your home. Many manufacturers also offer bespoke designs to match your exact specifications. Read our guide to bifold door accessories here.
Are oak bifold doors energy efficient?
Oak is a naturally insulating material, and when combined with high-quality glazing, oak bifold doors provide excellent thermal efficiency. This can help reduce energy bills and keep your home comfortable year-round.
Do oak bifold doors add value to a property?
Yes, oak bifold doors can add significant value to a property. Their elegant appearance, energy efficiency, and ability to create seamless indoor-outdoor connections make them an attractive feature for potential buyers.
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About John Collins
John has built Vufold into a unique online door and window company and has spent 20 years bringing innovative products and designs to fruition, recognising niches in the market and placing them in the likes of Wickes and Travis Perkins, he started Vufold in order to sell them directly. John founded Vufold and has amassed a wealth of experience in product design and development, and in particular timber-based products
Read more about John Collins