Aluminium Bi-Fold
Doors in Chester,
Deeside & North Wales
Made For Trade aluminium bi-folds that fully open your home to the garden — 3, 4, 5 or 6-pane configurations, thermally broken, PAS 24 secure. Quoted in writing, fitted by our own team.
Bi-Fold Doors — the honest version
What it is
A bi-fold door is a set of aluminium door panels connected by hinges that fold and stack to one or both sides on a top and bottom track. It turns a wall into an opening — a rear kitchen or extension can go from indoor room to open patio in seconds.
Who it's for
Homeowners opening up rear extensions and kitchens onto a patio or garden. New-builds and renovations where wide-format access matters. Anyone who has a view worth framing.
When to book it
Best fitted at the point of a rear extension, kitchen renovation or garden redesign — the aperture size and threshold detail are much easier to get right when the wall is being built or altered.
Why it matters who fits it
Bi-folds are unforgiving. If the aperture isn't square, the track isn't level or the threshold detail isn't right, the doors bind, lock badly and leak. We spec Made For Trade because their engineering tolerances match how we install.
What happens if you leave it — and what most people get wrong
A bi-fold that doesn't work properly is the most visible and most annoying failure in a house — you use it every time you open the garden.
- •Out-of-level top track means the doors bind on the middle panels, and eventually the rollers fail.
- •Poor threshold detail lets driving rain sit in the outer channel, then track inward past the seals.
- •Undersized structural lintel above the aperture causes the frame to be squeezed and the doors to jam.
- •Cheap rollers on the bottom track wear out within 3–4 years and become gritty and hard to slide.
- •Ordering the maximum panel count that fits the aperture without considering how the panels stack — you can end up with panels blocking half the opening.
- •Choosing a fully-flush low threshold in an exposed location — great for looks, bad for weather-tightness.
- •Buying online and getting a builder to fit — nobody's responsible when it goes wrong.
- •Skipping a traffic door (a single door within the bi-fold set) — you end up folding the entire set open every time you take a bin out.
Five steps, no surprises
Every install runs the same way. It's how we hit 3-week lead times on standard jobs and 48-hour survey turnaround.
Free On-Site Survey
We come out within 48 hours of your enquiry, measure every aperture accurately and check reveals, sills, lintels and drainage. No pressure, no gimmicks.
Written, Itemised Quote
You get a fully itemised quote — profile system, glass spec, colour, hardware and finish. Composite doors back in 24 hours, windows typically within 3 days.
Order & Manufacture
Once approved, we place the order with our trade suppliers. Standard windows and doors run ~3 weeks, bespoke items 4–5 weeks. Stock composite doors 7–10 days.
Expert Installation
Our own installers fit every job. Frames set square and plumb, sealed with low-modulus silicone and expanding foam, internal beading, no drafts or gaps.
Testing & Handover
Every window and door is tested for operation, locking and seal. Site left clean, old frames removed, care advice given, guarantees registered with Assure.
What you actually get — not marketing talk
Full Aperture Opens
Unlike sliders, a bi-fold opens the full width of the aperture — the whole wall goes away.
Traffic Door Option
One panel opens as a normal door for everyday use — no folding the whole set open to take the bins out.
PAS 24 Security
Multi-point locking, internally beaded units, security hinges — insurance-recognised.
Thermally Broken Frame
Polyamide thermal break with A-rated glass gets you a U-value around 1.4 W/m²K.
Long-Term Reliability
Marine-grade powder-coated aluminium, stainless steel rollers, engineered to run smoothly for 20+ years.
Any RAL Colour
Match the aluminium to your window frames or the mood of your extension — dual colour standard.
How we spec & fit bi-fold doors
A bi-fold door is 20% frame, 80% installation. The aperture prep, threshold detail, roller specification and lock alignment decide whether it runs smoothly for a decade or feels stiff after two summers.
Materials & systems
Made For Trade Aluminium
Thermally broken aluminium bi-fold system with concealed hinges, stainless steel rollers on the top and bottom track, PAS 24 tested.
Sealed Units
28mm double-glazed with warm-edge spacer, argon fill and low-e coating standard. 44mm triple available for exposed positions.
Hardware
Multi-point locking on the master door and each folding leaf. Shootbolts top and bottom on stacking panels. Choice of handle finishes.
Thresholds
Weathered threshold for standard installs; low-threshold and Part M compliant flush thresholds for level access — chosen at survey based on exposure.
How we install
- Aperture measured to millimetre tolerance and checked for square before manufacture.
- Structural opening (lintel, cavity closer, DPC) confirmed adequate for the panel weight and opening span.
- Top track packed and shimmed to dead level over the full span — the single most important step for smooth operation.
- Panels hung and adjusted so each fold sits square, hooks engage cleanly and locking is smooth-not-forced.
- Threshold and cill sealed with silicone and butyl, drainage slots checked clear.
Variations & options
3-Panel
Fits apertures roughly 1.8–2.7m wide. All 3 panels stack one way; middle panel usually the traffic door.
4-Panel
Fits ~2.4–3.6m. Can stack 4-left, 4-right, or 2-and-2 to leave a walk-through in the middle.
5 & 6-Panel
For 3.5–5m+ apertures. Popular on wide rear extensions. Choose stacking direction and traffic door location carefully.
Traffic Door Configurations
One panel that opens like a normal door for daily use, without folding the whole set open.
Corner Bi-Folds
Two bi-fold sets meeting at a corner with no visible corner post — dramatic on wraparound extensions.
Situations we typically fit this for
- Rear kitchen extensions opening onto patios and gardens.
- Barn and outbuilding conversions where the whole rear elevation becomes glass.
- New-build homes with a garden room or orangery.
- Poolside and hot-tub areas where full opening turns an indoor space into outdoor.
- Corner extensions where two bi-fold sets meet for a wraparound view.
Bi-Fold Doors we've fitted across Chester & North Wales
Real jobs — measured, ordered and fitted by our own team.
Bi-Fold Doors — your questions answered
How much do bi-fold doors cost fitted?
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It depends on the number of panels, the frame system, the colour and the threshold specification. Larger sets, bespoke RAL colours and premium thresholds cost more. We give a written, itemised quote after survey.
How long does installation take?
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1–2 days on site for a standard set once the aperture is ready. The survey identifies any structural or threshold prep needed beforehand.
Are bi-fold doors secure?
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The Made For Trade sets we fit are PAS 24 tested with multi-point locking, shootbolts on every stacking panel and internally beaded units. Insurance-recognised.
How many panels should I choose?
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It depends on aperture width and how you use the space. We advise at survey — usually 3 for openings up to 2.7m, 4 for up to 3.6m, 5 or 6 for anything wider.
What guarantee do I get?
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10 years on frames and finish, 5 years on glass, 2 years on rollers and mechanism, plus the Assure Insurance-Backed Guarantee.
How long is the lead time?
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4–6 weeks from order for standard colours; 6–8 for bespoke RAL colours.
Will a bi-fold door leak in heavy rain?
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Not when specified and installed correctly. We choose the threshold type based on exposure — flush thresholds are only used where they'll perform.
Do bi-folds work well in winter?
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Yes — thermally broken aluminium with A-rated glass performs like a good window. The traffic door means you don't have to open the whole set to come in from the cold.
Can bi-folds fit into an existing aperture?
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Yes, if the aperture is structurally sound and square. We survey the aperture before quoting so there are no surprises later.
Are bi-folds better than sliding patio doors?
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Different tools. Bi-folds open the full aperture but eat more frame per panel. Sliders open half the aperture but keep bigger uninterrupted glass. We advise honestly at survey.
Open Your Home to the Garden — Properly Priced
We survey the aperture, spec the right panel count and threshold, and price it in writing. No online guesswork, no builder-fits-it-himself.
Other things we fit for homes across the region
Fitted across Chester, Deeside & North Wales
Family-run installer based in Ewloe, roughly 30 miles across the border into North Wales and Cheshire. Prefer a chat first? Call 07946 759187 or book a free survey.