Bifold doors are a versatile and contemporary option that can be fitted both internally and externally. Using a tracking system, these doors fold into themselves and glide along the track at the top or bottom in a swift motion, open inwards or outwards.
A highly popular option to open up to the back garden or connect the kitchen to a pantry, bifold doors often come in pairs and can be found in materials like wood, aluminium, and uPVC in any number of colours. Bifold doors are also very secure, with multi locking points instead of just one.
If you’ve recently purchased a new set of bifold doors, read on to learn how to install them.
Can you fit bifold doors yourself?
In most cases, anyone who has some experience with home DIY can install bifold doors without professional assistance. However, it’s very important to have the right equipment, measurements, and instructions before starting. Each set of bifold doors will have its own installation manual depending on the manufacturer, so make sure to carefully read the guidelines to understand each step.
Is it easy to install bifold doors?
Installing a set of bifold doors isn’t very difficult and can be done in a few hours, provided you know what you’re doing. If you aren’t sure about the accuracy of your measurements or the aperture (door opening) requires work because it’s too small, too big, or needs reinforcing, you will probably need help from a professional.
If you’re simply replacing existing bifold doors in a frame, then hanging the new ones should be easy as long as you read all the instructions thoroughly. The most difficult part is making sure everything is measured accurately to avoid having to fix mistakes further down the line.
What to do before installing bifold doors
The last thing you should do when installing bifold doors is rush around and start without being fully prepared. Before you start, make sure you know exactly what your next steps are and have all your equipment ready.
Find out whether you need planning permissions
First, before installing your new bifold doors, check whether you need to seek planning permissions. Replacing a door is generally permitted without problem, but it’s best to be certain of the building regulations before beginning any work by contacting your local planning authority through your local council.
Evaluate the door opening
Inspect the surrounding layout to make sure there is enough room to open the bifold doors. The doors should also fit the rest of the house’s design without looking out of place. Note down which side of your doors will be facing outwards and in which order you’ll install them.
Check that the door opening is in good condition before beginning, and level on all internal surfaces. Ensure that the lintel, i.e. the structural horizontal support above the door, is also in good shape and able to support the door’s weight if working with a top-hung model. Check that your frame can house bifold doors, otherwise you may need to replace it before installation.
If you need to replace an older door frame to install the bifold doors, remove its outer casing and remove the nails and screws to detach the frame.
Double-check your measurements (in millimetres for accuracy), as the aperture needs to be the correct height and width to fit your new door, making sure there is enough space for the track and fittings. But avoid leaving too much of a gap or you’ll have a draughty door – it needs to be flush and level. If the size isn’t right, you’ll need a structural engineer to help before installing your bifold doors.
Prepare your tools
Your bifold doors may come with a kit for installation, but you will likely need the following:
- The door components
- A drill
- Appropriate drill bits
- Screwdrivers
- A tape measure
- A spirit level
- A silicone sealer
- A pencil
- Packers
You may also find it helpful to have:
- Safety goggles
- A step ladder
- A hammer or rubber mallet
- A saw
- Nails
Installing bifold doors: step by step
Once you have everything ready, you can start installing your bifold doors. Please note that the steps below are general guidelines, and that you should read your doors’ instruction manual before beginning.
1. Set up the frame
After making sure the bottom is level, cut and assemble the sill using a silicon sealant (if it’s not pre-assembled) and install it using the instructions provided. Check to make sure it’s level. Drill your pilot holes through the fixing holes from the underside as and where needed.
Then, assemble the frame using the provided wood screws and gaskets. You can apply sealant to the joins of the jambs and heads as you are putting them together to prevent draughts. Tighten slowly and make small adjustments as you go to fix misalignments. Once it’s assembled, use your spirit level and measuring tape to check everything is even and the corners are square. Don’t forget to mark where your fixings will go before putting your frame into the opening to aid in its installation.
2. Place the frame into the opening
For this step, you might appreciate having someone else to help you with installing the frame into the opening. Guide the frame into the correct position in the opening so that everything is aligned correctly. The head and sill need to be parallel, and the jambs should be vertical before being secured.
Holding the frame in place with packers, drill holes (around 8mm deep) into the opening through your frame where your markings are, and insert the fixing bolts. Tighten them gradually until your door frame is attached, without distorting the materials.
Next, fix the sill and head, tightening until the lintel is nearly touching the head. Work slowly from the outer fixings inwards, tightening bit by bit rather than fully tightening one one go. It’s important that you make all the necessary corrections now before proceeding further, to avoid issues later on.
Then, attach the hinges where your doors will be fixed, follow your bifold doors’ installation instructions.
3. Prepare the doors
If you want to paint your doors, do this before beginning the next part of the process.
Attach the hinges on the bottom or top of the door panels if they aren’t already attached (depending on the mechanism of your set of bifold doors).
Then, install the carrier hinges and pivots through the holes that secure the doors to the ends of the track. Follow the instruction manual to do this in the correct order. Attach the pivots and carrier hinges to leave enough room to reach the adjustment screws after the doors have been hung.
4. Hang the doors
Align the hinges with the frame and connect them with the hinge pins, and attach the rollers. If you’ve done everything correctly up to this step, hanging the doors should be straightforward to do. They should fit and move easily.
5. Apply sealant
Finally, finish off with a weather sealant to keep external bifold doors sealed properly and weatherproof.
Before it’s ready to go, you also need to fit a handle to your door. We have many types of door handles to customise and complement your bifold door based on your desired colour and style.
If you need any more help with fitting or adjusting doors, take a look at our Help & Advice Centre, which covers everything from how to weatherproof a door to how to fix loose hinges.