Wooden Folding Doors

Wood has a natural and traditional appearance that is highly desirable and suitable for most properties. Some people are wary of wooden exterior products, such as windows or doors, due to the many problems associated with wood. Some of these problems are shrinking or expanding, warping and rotting, each which lead to further problems in functionality and eventually the demise of the window or door. These problems are no longer a great issue in high quality bi-folding doors, due to the treatment of the wood. Firstly, the wood is laminated. This is a process where the wood is split into several parts and then placed back together with the grains in different directions and then glued under high pressure. Because wood tends to warp and twist with the grain, this process stabilises and reduces the chances of the wood changing shape during seasonal heat changes. Once the laminating process is complete, the wood is dipped into special treatments which prevent the wood from rotting or growing mould. The result is a stable, strong and damp resistant frame. The build up of condensation is prevented by giving the frame a water trap and outlet, further reducing the chances of damp-related issues.Different types of timber can be used to make a folding door. Choosing between them depends on your preference or the existing wooden windows and doors in your property, i.e. if you already have oak windows, it would look more uniform to also choose an oak bifold door over a pine bifold door. The selection offered by most folding door companies includes softwoods and hardwoods, generally a range like pine, meranti and oak.Wooden folding doors can be supplied with a range of different finishes, including an unfinished door. This is good if you already have a paint or stain you wish to apply (again, to match other windows or doors). Otherwise, you can choose between a stain and factory-sprayed paint finish. Although there are only a few different stains to choose from, they are preferable due to their translucent quality. They protect the wood and enhance or add to the colour, while allowing the natural grain to show through. Factory-sprayed paint finishes are, as the name suggests, paints applied by a factory spray. These differ from brush applied paint as it creates a more even finish without visible brush strokes. On top of this, each coat of factory-sprayed paint is the equivalent of 15 brush coats. The result is a very long-lasting and low maintenance finish that protects the wooden frame. There are hundreds of different paint colours to choose from, so it is easy to get exactly what you want. The wood frames are highly energy efficient, with the highest energy rating of A. Coupled with the right double glazing, the wooden bifold doors can help to reduce energy bills.