Interior view of an opened black Marvin Replacement four-panel bifold door.

8 August 2024

Bifold Door Ideas Perfect for Your Home

Bi-fold doors, also known as folding patio doors, create stunning home views. Their unique design makes them a showcase for your home. Bi-fold patio doors create the perfect indoor-outdoor living spaces and make the transition seamless. Marvin Replacement bi-fold doors have design versatility with 28 available configurations. If you’re thinking whether a bi-fold door is worth it, consider some of these bi-fold patio door ideas.

Animation of a three-panel Marvin Replacement bi-fold patio door opening and closing.

What are Folding Patio Doors (Bi-Fold Doors)?

A bi-fold door is a patio door with uni-directional or bi-parting panels that fold and stack tightly to the frame for a wide opening. Uni-directional panels all fold on one side while bi-parting panels will fold from the center to either side. A magnetic catch on the door panels ensures the panels stack tight when opened.

Bi-fold doors open like accordion doors and offer panoramic views. They can connect a kitchen to a patio for outdoor dining. You can also use bi-fold glass patio doors in small spaces to make the area feel larger. Marvin Replacement bi-fold patio doors can come with two doors or up to seven panels. A seven-panel Marvin Replacement bi-fold patio door spans 22 feet wide for sweeping scenes.

Interior view of an opened Marvin Replacement bi-fold patio door.

Best Location for Folding Patio Doors

With their expansive style, folding patio doors provide outstanding viewing areas. Bi-fold patio doors can showcase luscious scenes. The backyard becomes the wallpaper of a room. The size of bi-fold glass patio doors makes them suited for living rooms and kitchens that open to patios or decks. Opening them allows guests to move with ease between the indoors and outdoors for better entertaining. You can also use them to open to a pool. They can also open to wonderful outdoor views so you can feel more connected to the serenity of nature.

Interior view of a black Marvin Replacement Bi-Fold patio door with a patio in the background.

Folding Patio Door Ideas

Bi-fold doors blend into open floor plan-designed homes perfect because they create more space to roam. They’re also great when you want to create a floor-to-ceiling window look. You can add a transom window above bi-fold doors to invite more warming daylight into a room.

The additional natural light a bi-fold door brings can make a kitchen more inviting in the morning and make it feel like you’re having an outdoor brunch while dining comfortably inside.

The look of black folding patio doors has an industrial aesthetic that fits contemporary styled homes or homes in an urban environment.

Interior view of an opened Marvin Replacement four-panel bi-fold door leading to a sun room.

Bi-Fold vs Sliding Patio Doors

Folding patio doors and sliding patio doors bring wide outdoor views to your home. They also open by sliding. A bi-fold patio door can create a window wall and open easier than a sliding glass door. Sliding glass patio doors can’t stretch as wide as a Marvin Replacement seven-panel bi-fold door. Plus, our bi-fold patio door has a swinging door option where you can enter and exit quick without having to open the entire bi-fold door.

Kitchen view of an EverWood Marvin Replacement Bi-Fold patio door.

Multi-panel Patio Doors

Folding patio doors can have multiple panels to extend views. The additional panels create a bold design statement and have contemporary appeal. Marvin Replacement bi-fold patio doors can have two, three, four, five, six, or seven panels. Three-panel patio doors make indoor-outdoor living seamless to extend entertaining spaces in your home. A 4-panel bi-fold patio door allows you to use an outdoor kitchen and dining room easier. You can also walk through the wide design of a multiple panel folding patio door with ease while you carry the smores ingredients to the fire pit on relaxing summer nights.

Bi-Fold Door Style Options

In addition to almost three dozen configuration options, you have oodles of style options with bi-parting patio doors. Marvin Replacement features seven exterior patio door colors. We have five interior patio door color choices. That includes our EverWood® finish that looks like a traditional wood finish but doesn’t require the same maintenance.

When you’re considering exterior bi-fold door colors, consider matching your window trim’s color to provide continuity. With Marvin Replacement Bi-Fold Patio Doors you can choose an exterior color that differs from the interior color to help you match your home’s color schemes better.

Marvin Replacement Bi-Fold Doors also have an assortment of door handle styles to enhance your door’s design. Our brass finish looks exquisite against the backdrop of a white bi-fold patio door. Our brushed chrome door handle finish creates a striking balance on a black bi-fold door.

What to Consider with Folding Patio Doors

The design of folding patio doors gives you plenty to consider but there are other things to think about, too. The type of patio door material, size of the door, and available space matter. You’ll also want to review the energy efficiency of a folding patio door, warranty, and screen options.

Folding Patio Door Material

Exterior bi-fold patio doors need to be built with a material strong enough to face the elements. We build our bi-fold doors with our proprietary Ultrex® fiberglass. Ultrex has 8x the strength of vinyl and is built to stand up to hail and branches. You also don’t have to worry about color fading. Our thick acrylic finish stands up to 48,000 hours of sunlight.*

*Average sunlight exposure per 10 years

Size and Space

The size of a bi-fold door and the space you have available can factor into your decision. Our bi-fold doors come in a variety of sizes to fit almost any space. Two-panel bi-fold patio doors can fit small spaces well to illuminate them with natural light to make them feel bigger. In larger spaces, our bi-fold patio door can stretch the width of a living room in some homes.

Folding Patio Door Energy Efficiency

The energy efficiency of a folding patio door’s frame and glass requires consideration. A patio door serves as a line of defense against weather and moisture. It also prevents air from passing through. Air leakage can decrease your home’s energy efficiency. Our Ultrex fiberglass has 5,000x less thermal conductivity than rolled form aluminum. That means it helps prevent cold air from entering your home in winter. In summer it helps to keep cool air from escaping. Our double pane patio door glass with Low-E glass coatings help reject solar heat. The glass coatings also help reflect heat back into a room during cooler months.

Patio Door Warranty

A patio door warranty provides peace of mind. The lengths and terms can vary between patio door makers. Marvin Replacement offers a limited lifetime patio door warranty and a five-year installation warranty. We’ve built our patio doors designed for you to enjoy in the years to come.

Exterior view of an opened Marvin Replacement bi-fold door with a screen.

Folding Patio Doors with Screens

While it’s nice to open a folding patio door completely, there are times where you’ll want to enjoy a breeze without allowing a path for bugs. Marvin Replacement has folding patio doors with screens available. The bi-fold door also uses a pleated fabric screen that slides open and can be positioned as desired. The screen folds tightly into the jamb when not in use.

FAQs

How do bi-fold doors work?

Bi-fold doors open like an accordion with panels hinged to each other. A folding patio door slides open, like a sliding glass door. But instead of a panel sliding in front of the other, the bi-fold patio door panels fold and stack on top of each other.

Are bi-fold doors a good idea?

Yes, bi-fold doors are a good idea. They’re the perfect patio door to expand living space and connect to nature. Their unique design makes them a conversation piece in a home that draws attention. They’re low maintenance and offer impressive views.

Can you turn a normal door into a folding door?

Yes, you can turn a normal patio door, like a sliding glass door, into a folding door. You’ll need a replacement bi-fold patio door to get installed where you have a sliding patio door. You can choose a bi-fold patio door configuration that will fit where you have your sliding patio door for a seamless transition.

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