The Differences between French, Bi-fold and Patio Doors

Whether you’re an estate agent, consumer or property professional, we all have the same goal when selling a house — to sell it quickly and to maximise its value. Knowledge is power — so the more you know about what features to add to a home and why the better position you’ll be in to make a successful sale.

When a property goes on the market, the little things can make a big difference, so it’s important to make smart choices. From the layout of your home and original features to the wall colours and interior furnishings —all these features work together to provide an overall first impression.

One way to add buyer appeal is to make the space light and airy as this makes rooms feel bigger and the property more attractive. You could do this by extending your living room space out into the garden, patio or backyard. Not only can this bring in a ton of natural daylight, but it can also be a great social addition to the home when you’re entertaining.

You don’t have to turn to the traditional conservatory to do this. Instead, why not add the perfect door to transition the two areas seamlessly? You can do this using a variety of door types, but the most common options are french doors, bi-fold doors and patio doors.

So, what’s the difference between the three choices, and which one is best? Let’s take a look.

What Are French Doors?

French doors are the perfect addition to a period style home, as they provide an elegant and accessible opening to your outdoor space. French doors fit well with contemporary homes too, as there are plenty of colours and materials to choose from.  


This style has two doors that fully open. French doors typically bring in less light than bi-fold and patio doors, but you can open them up for maximum sunlight and fresh air. Having two doors leaves you with the option of keeping one closed during the cooler months to prevent heat from escaping too quickly.


Most French doors also have double glazing features and include a dual draught-proofing system, so you can keep your living space warm throughout the year.

What Are Bi-fold Doors?

Bi-fold doors also known as folding doors — offer a stylish and modern touch to the home. They usually run on tracks that lie flush with the floor, which gives a smooth and fresh appearance.


Bi-fold doors can span up to six metres in length — allowing an entire wall to open out into the garden. As a result, they can consist of up to six glass door panels, which lets more sunlight flood into the home than any other door type. The current trend is to have frameless glass doors, to invite in even more sunshine.

 

What Are Patio Doors?

Patio doors also known as sliding doors — are a mixture of both French and bi-fold doors. They consist of two full-length panels of glass, but they slide from side-to-side, with the panels fitting behind one another.

 

You won’t be able to open the room up as completely with patio doors as with bi-fold doors. On the flip side, they’re a popular option when space is limited because you don’t need any internal or external room to open them.

 

So: french doors open outdoors, bi-fold doors fold in on themselves, and patio doors slide across. There you have it — next time someone asks you which door you recommended or if you’re advising or brainstorming ways to open the room up more, you’ll know which is the perfect door type.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Renters’ Rights Bill parliamentary progress

The Renters’ Rights Bill has completed its Committee Stage in the House of Lords and will move on to the Report Stage imminently. Allison Thompson, National Lettings Managing Director of LRG, comments on the progress of the Bill: “As the Renters’ Rights Bill completes its committee stage in the House of Lords, it is disappointing…
Read More
Kerb appeal
Breaking News

Housing Market Surges as Stamp Duty Changes Drive Buyer Activity

UK Finance today releases its latest Household Finance Review for Q1 2025, which explores trends in household spending, saving, and borrowing. Mortgage lending surged in the first quarter of 2025, driven by homebuyers seeking to complete purchases before changes to Stamp Duty took effect in April. Household savings continued to grow, particularly in notice accounts…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage Approvals Down in April

The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for April sat at 60,463 down (-4.9%) from 63,603 in March. This signals four consecutive months of decline. Approvals are also lower (-2.1%) than the 61,740 seen in April 2024. Despite the decline, there is still optimism for growth in the coming months, especially…
Read More
New Builds 2020
Breaking News

Build to rent completions up, but sector has seen slowdown in construction

New research by Inventory Base reveals that the number of build to rent completions has increased by almost 16% in the past year, however, there has been a significant dip in the number of BTR buildings currently under construction. Inventory Base has analysed UK build to rent (BTR) construction planning data* and found that in…
Read More
Breaking News

Response to latest Nationwide House Price Index

Comment on latest Nationwide data showing a 3.5% increase in house prices from the Industry. Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark: “It is reassuring to witness consistent house price growth and a strong appetite as people continue to approach the homebuying and selling process, especially when the UK economy continues to adapt to both domestic and…
Read More
Breaking News

Annual house price growth edged higher in May

Annual rate of house price growth increased marginally in May to 3.5%, compared to 3.4% in April House prices were up 0.5% month on month House prices in predominantly rural areas have risen by 23% over the last five years, compared to 18% in more urban areas Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief…
Read More