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If you’re looking to upgrade your home or considering a remodelling project, doors can be a cool and fast way to improve the value of your property. Whether you wish to increase the visual appeal of your home with a new exterior door or simply to alter the appearance of an outdated or plain bedroom or bathroom, doors can also go a long way to improve the look of your home. If you’re thinking about taking on such a project, one of the things you might want to consider is length of time it’ll take to complete the installation process. In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into the time it takes to complete a door installation process to help you make informed decision moving forward. Let’s take a look!

Just like any home improvement project, the duration of time it’ll take to install doors will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the style/type of door to be installed, the ease of access, the skill and experience of the installer and lots more. In general, replacing an exterior door should, on the average, take about 5 to 6 hours. An interior door, on the other hand, should be much quicker as it doesn’t require same flashing, caulking as well as other weatherproofing processes. In general, the installation of an interior door can be completed within 2 to 4 hours. If you choose to take on this task by yourself, you can expect the duration to be longer due to the little or no experience possessed.

As you would have guessed, patio doors are exactly what the name suggests. They mainly act as a means by which you can access your patio from inside your house. As a result, they’re mostly fitted at the rear of your home which leads out to the garden and ultimately, the patio. In recent times, it’s mostly unlikely to see patio doors installed in homes without patios or homes with deckings instead. Generally, patio doors feature large floor to ceiling windows that are able to offer a wide open view of your garden as well as patio. In short, these characteristics are what mainly makes them unique from other normal exterior doors.

There are different types of patio doors which you can choose from and all with their own unique installation costs.

• Sliding Doors

Due to their space saving qualities, this type of sliding door are a popular choice amongst homeowners. As the name suggests, they basically slide across panels rather than opening in or out. This style also comprises the most significant windows which gives you a wider and clearer view of your garden while also allowing more natural light into the house.

• French Doors

Offering a standard design with two different panels with each able to swing wide open on its own, the French door is a conventional style door popular amongst traditionalists. French doors are generally stylish and very energy efficient, however they tend to consume more space within your home. It comes with several designs and a variety of colours to choose from.

• Bifold Doors

Bifold doors are the ideal choice if you want a more modern style for your home. These doors almost folds itself whether open or closed. Generally, they move along a track similar to sliding doors, but each panel folds when open. Here, you’re still offered the floor to ceiling wide open windows which further makes the overall effect even more special.

What Is The Smallest Opening For Bifold Doors?

Generally, bifold doors comes in a wide range of sizes and configurations. So if you’re looking to install them in your home, the opening size required will depend on multiple influencing factors. However, the question we’re going to look at here is the smallest opening for bifold doors.

First and foremost, let’s consider the size of bifold doors as learning about how big or small bifold doors can play a key role in helping you determine the size of bifold door you’ll need. Generally, the size of bifold doors will vary largely depending on the manufacturer, but they are usually within the range of 6.8 feet and 7 feet in height. The width, however, will be determined by the number of door panels you’d like to use but several configurations are designed in such a way that they can be installed in openings of about 1.8m and above. For each door panel, the size are usually between 500 and 1000mm in width. As a result, if you decide to opt for door panels with a width of 700mm, you’ll need to get about 3 of the door panels in order to install in an aperture that’s wider than 1.8m. What’s more? Door panels can also be custom made especially if the size you need isn’t available.

So with that in mind, what’s the smallest opening for bifold doors? The bifold door’s minimum width is 1400mm. And in order to install a bifold door to fill this size, you’ll require two individual door panels that’s 700mm in width. Building them any smaller than the minimum width will be unwise as this will make them bind when closing.

It is possible to replace a door without replacing the frame. However, most people choose to replace both their door and frame at the same time, as this is likely to make your home security and energy efficiency better, particularly if your existing front door is very old or the frame is distorted.

What Is The Most Secure Type Of Front Door?

When getting a new front door for your home or property, you’d probably want to get one that’ll provide the most security for your home. Gone are the days when you could leave your front door open and still come back to your assets intact, if you try that today, you’ll be taught a bitter lesson. The front door is the weak point of your home, the point at which several burglars will use to gain entrance into your home. Therefore, for your own peace of mind, there’s the need to get the most secure type of front door to protect both your loved ones and home.

There are two crucial thing to take into account when selecting the best front door for your home’s security and these includes both the door’s material as well as the lock. Let’s have a look at two of the best front doors for security purposes.

✓ Timber Doors. Though they might look great, but they’re also very sturdy and solid which makes them one the best front doors for security. Timber is a heavy hardwood door that’s at least 44mm thick. However, just like any other door type, the strength still boils down to the frame as well as quality of the lock. If the timber door possesses a superior style lock alongside a solid frame, only burglars or intruders with a leg to spare will try to forcefully kick it in. And neither can it be smashed open nor shoved with the shoulder.

✓ Composite Doors. These doors are developed to tackle the flaws of singular material doors and as a result, they possess great security qualities. They usually include a steel door frame and a solid hardwood internal frame. Furthermore, the door’s surface skin is typically made from glass-reinforced plastic which is a very sturdy material. Combination of all these materials enable this type of door to withstand brute force with relative ease. No intruder with a good knowledge of door materials will try to force an entry with a composite door standing as an obstacle.

Do I Need A Planning Permission For Bifold Doors?

Are you thinking about installing bifold doors for your home or property? If yes, you’d probably want to know if you’re going to need planning permission. Well, you’re not alone! Being fully aware the application process for planning permission might not be the easiest of tasks, several home owners would like to know if they’ll be going through the process for installing bifold doors. The answer is, you may actually not need a planning permission for installing bifold doors in your home. Adding or replacing doors is basically one of the home improvement efforts that are less complicated and as a result, they normally do not require planning permission. But despite that, they still need to comply with the UK’s building regulations.

Changing or adding doors to your home or property are usually considered to be covered under permitted development and even more so, when there’s no extension constructed for the doors. However under certain circumstances, these rights can be removed by the local authorities. A good example is when the property is a listed building or in a designated conservation area.

In the event whereby you find yourself having to apply for a planning permission, the time it usually takes to be granted one depends on the number of planning applications on queue. However, it typically takes about 8 weeks or 2 months to tender your application and be granted planning permission if it’s required. To apply for planning application by UK households, you’ll have to pay £172 - which is the set application fee nationwide. In certain situations where objection arises, there may be some delays in the process. If you’re still not certain whether your new bifold doors will require a planning permission, we’d recommend consulting your local authority.

There are several benefits that can be derived from insulating your garage door. Not only can it reduce your energy bills and protect your garage’s content from elements, but can also go a long way to increase the return on your property’s value, reduce noise, increase the garage door’s strength and deliver a more convenient garage and home. Insulating your garage is a task you can actually take on by yourself. However, if you lack proper training or experience, we’d recommend you leave it for a reliable professional who can ensure the project is done right, the first time - saving you both time and money. This guide will give you a good insight on how you can go about the project.

To insulate your garage, you’ll need a fibreglass insulation, garage door insulation, expanding foam, drywall, gloves and long sleeves, wood, sharp utility knife as well as a staple gun and staples. Now let’s take a look at the garage door insulation process!

lClear The Walls

• Remove the drywall (if present)

• Clean out the dirt and stud cavities.

• Wipe out any chemicals in the garage like gasoline.

lIdentify Gaps & Cracks In The Wall

• Shake your expanding foam vigorously for about a minute.

• Attach the straw to the can and use it to spray the wall openings.

• Fill the gaps until its 50% full

• Leave the foam to fill the openings completely in about 5 to 15 minutes. It should be hardened or completely cured within 6 to 8 hours.

lInstall Fibreglass Insulation

• Staple the insulation’s paper face to the side of the stud and not the face.

• Place a piece of wwod on the insulation’s top to act as a guide to properly cut the insulation to size.

• Cut the excess insulation with a utility knife.

• Tuck in the insulation to make for easier stapling.

• Staple the insulation down to the stud’s side.

lUse Drywall To Cover The Insulation

• Screw and glue the drywall to the stud.

• Do not leave the insulation’s paper exposed.

We’ve all heard the common phrase that first impressions matter most. Well, this expression also applies to your home. When people arrive at your home, the door is the first thing they come in contact with and that speak volumes about the impression they’ll have about you. In modern times, there’s a large variety of choices when it comes to choosing a front door for your home in terms of style and design - from distinctive and alluring wood finish effect to elegant stained glass patterns. These are all important when it comes to choosing a front door, but one of the most significant factors is the material.

Both uPVC and composite doors have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing one may rest on the purpose of installing the door.

UPVC Doors:

Pros

• Cost - Although composite doors are certain to deliver a great value for money, the initial spending on uPVC is lower and doesn’t put much strain on your budget

• Little Maintenance - The maintenance of a uPVC door does not go beyond wiping any stains with a damp cloth. However, this should be done carefully and regularly as extended neglect can lead to discolouration over time

Cons

• Styles - When it comes to styles, uPVC doors has a considerable lower style options compared to composite doors.

Composite Doors:

Pros

• Finishes - Composite doors offer a wider range of finishes than uPVC doors and as such, deliver greater versatility in showcasing your home’s character.

• Energy Efficient - Made from various materials glued together under intense pressure, composite doors happen to be thicker than uPVC doors and hence, a bit more energy efficient.

• Improved Security - Although both doors offer a great level of security, composite doors (due to its robust construction) are a bit more superior in this area.

Cons

• Cost - Although composite doors offer an immense value for money, the fact still remains that they’ll also stretch your budget more than uPVC doors.