Door Industry Journal - Spring 2018

bathed in light. We recently released our own range of aluminium clad bi-fold doors, which offer homeowners and developers alike a world of possibilities. Aesthetic Values It’s noticeable that the rise in popularity of bi-fold doors has gone hand-in-hand with homeowners’ desire for more modern indoor environments. In fact, bi-fold doors are widely renowned as the ‘designer’s product of choice’ for their sleek, minimalistic looks. Whilst testament to the product’s strong aesthetic values it’s important that those interested in bi-fold doors don’t purchase the product on looks alone. At their best, bi-fold doors should be both aesthetically and practically beneficial. Our range is a great example of how style and substance can be blended to add a new dimension to any room. When it comes to aesthetic values, bi-fold doors have a number of key benefits. For one, the doors have incredibly slim profiles, making them less conspicuous than traditional patio doors. This allows for maximum visibility without compromising on strength, giving homeowners the ability to create a highly modern look and feel without disrupting an existing look. Our range of bi-fold doors is versatile and comes in a range of colours and finishes, meaning they will fit well into any property. Practical Benefits In addition to the aesthetic benefits, bi-fold doors also offer a range of practical advantages in comparison to other systems. Manufacturers such as ourselves can produce bi-fold doors out of aluminium, which is a particularly low-maintenance building material. All that’s required to keep the systems looking pristine is the occasional wash down. What’s more, we colour all our doors with high-quality, baked-on, silicone polyester enamel exteriors that protect against chalking and colour change for years to come. Bi-fold doors can be very eye-catching, but it’s important when identifying a system for your property to consider the practical element too. Ensure you purchase doors from manufacturers who provide a full warranty. At Black Millwork, we offer a comprehensive guarantee on all our products. What’s more, prior to launching in the market, these doors have been extensively test marketed helping us rectify any unforeseen issues that customers may experience. Bespoke Offerings At Black Millwork we can produce bi-fold doors that can weigh up to 3 tonnes and have the ability to produce bespoke doors to fit any customer’s needs. This allows homeowners to create a seamless transition between internal and external areas in their property. In recent years there’s been a real rise in demand for indoor/outdoor living environments. Bi-fold doors are perfectly suited for creating this type of effect as they create a minimal visual impact and blur the boundaries between inside and out. Akin to other manufacturers as mentioned, we make some of our bi-fold doors from aluminium, a decision based on a range of considerations. Foremostly, aluminium is an incredibly light material with immense strength. This allows us to create more innovative designs and have far slimmer profiles. Additionally, the material is corrosion-resistant and incredibly durable, requiring no repainting and minimal maintenance. Aluminium is also an incredibly sustainable material, which is infinitely recyclable, so much so that some 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still being used today. Engineering Quality In many ways bi-fold doors represent the highest level of engineering available in the door market. At Black Millwork, our systems can be controlled with only the use of a finger, regardless of size, as a result of the quality of mechanism inside the door. Furthermore, our range can be fully integrated into a smart home system, or controlled via a remote. Modern homeowners looking to create properties that are on-trend are also often interested in pursuing home automation. Being able to work the doors into a smart system enables users to tick both of these boxes. Bi-fold doors are a particularly versatile product, which can add real value to a property. As a door system its benefits can be measured in terms of looks and practicality, but most of all it’s the ability to blend both the inside and outside of a property that really set them apart. If looking to work them into your property design, it’s important to assess building material quality, product warranty and style, as well as checking if the doors have any additional benefits, such as smart home integration. For more information about Black Millwork, please visit: www.blackmillwork.co.uk Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 105 THE door industry journal spring 2018 Entrance & Bi-folding Doors Feature