Frequently Asked Questions

Very simple! Take a tape measure and if you have an existing door in place measure it from one end of the existing frame to the other end. If you plan on putting in a new opening, then you can decide the size based on the size which you want. 

SDO bifold doors are fully customizable and can have as few or as many panels as you wish. Our standard size bifold doors come in 3,4,5,6, and/or 7 panels. You can view the standard bifold doors by visiting our Aluminum Bi-Folding Doors page above. 

Bi-Fold doors operate with each panel folding on top of the adjacent panel.

Bifold doors come in various materials. You will quickly notice differences in some of their price. However, they are also different in their durability, longevity, and security. Some examples of the types of materials you can find bifold doors in include:

• All wood 
• All aluminum
• Aluminum-clad wood

All wood bi-fold doors are generally not highly recommended since this material expands and contracts when the temperature changes. If not compensated for in the design, the movement can allow water to leak in around the door.

Aluminum-clad wood can help make up for this movement since aluminum isn't affected by temperature changes. It adds some strength and longevity to the door as well.

All aluminum bifold doors maximize the strength and durability of the material. However, this is often reflected in the price, which might put it outside of your budget.

Whether a bifold door can open from the outside or not somewhat depends on the design of the door. However, bifold doors are generally set on a sliding path that they can slide on whether you are trying to open them from the inside or the outside. Either way, they will open the same way. All SDO stock doors are ousting doors meaning they all open out.

Depending on their installation, they fold inside the house or outside onto the patio. Be sure to consider the placement of the doors when they are folded open before installation.

The longevity of your bifold doors depends on the kind of material you have chosen. Wooden bifold doors will not last as long. Without any maintenance, they are only likely to last 10 to 15 years. However, if you continue to treat the wood to keep rot out of it, you will find that it will last much longer.

Aluminum bifold doors are the most durable and hence the longest lasting. They have a life expectancy of about 40 years, far outlasting any other material.

One of the major upshots of bifold doors is their security. They are widely regarded as one of the safest types of doors you can put in your patio space. The way that they fold, and lock makes them much more difficult to open. Easy misalignment if forced open is also a positive since it will cause the door to lock in place early on if someone unwanted tries to get into your home.

You can also add bifold security screens to enhance the overall security of your patio area. Security screens are mesh doors you can install in front of or behind the bifold door. They are more popular in warm regions since they allow you to open the door without letting in insects while increasing your home's ventilation. Some of them will also help reduce UV radiation and keep out dust.

The windows and design of a bifold door are what determines its energy efficiency. There is a unit of measurement for this called the "U-Value." So be sure to check the U-Value of your bifold door before purchasing. 

Choosing a door for your patio space can determine the feeling of the space. Selecting the right materials and design for your home is sure to be an investment, but it can also mean not changing it again for the rest of the time you spend in the house.

A bi-fold door threshold is the track along which the carriage slides to open and close the door. The bottom of the door fits into the top and bottom threshold.

All SDO Doors come with drainage. Drainage is used to channel rainwater away from the threshold of external bi-fold doors. This stops water pooling in the track and routes it through the correct channel away from the building.

Our built in drain in the threshold will ensure that your bi-fold doors don’t leak. The lip of the threshold creates a seal against the door, preventing water from getting in.

If your track becomes damaged you might be able to make some minor adjustments yourself, or you may be required to call in a professional.

The following are possible problems that may arise with bi-fold door tracks, and their solutions:

·  Dirt in the track. This can be simply fixed by running a cloth along the track. It is unusual for this type of issue to impair movement.

·  Debris lodged in the track. Carefully feel along the inside of the track and remove any debris that you find.

·  The track has been damaged. If the track has been substantially damage, it is recommended that you call a professional to assess the situation. It may be possible to remove the track and fix the problem. Another option would be to simply replace the damaged track.

We strongly recommend that in the event of major damage to the track, you do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. This could lead to further damage, both to the damaged track and to the upper track and door itself.

The quality of the aluminum used in a bi-folding door or window system can vary from system to system. What makes SDO’s aluminum system different is the way the profile is made.

Extruding our profile is done by heating the metal, a cylindrical billet of aluminum, which gets pushed through a die to form the extrusion. This is then cut to either 5 meter or 6.1 meter lengths to finish the profile. SDO only use prime billets, meaning that our aluminum has not been produced through the re-melting of scraps. This results in better control of the chemical properties and thus achieving a higher quality finish. 

SDO has made significant investments in all areas of our manufacturing and procurement. Through employing world class personnel and sourcing innovative and exceptionally efficient machinery, we have managed to significantly reduce the time it takes to manufacture a door set or window. We receive at least one container a month which helps us manage our quick turnaround times.

Bi-fold doors are engineered with security in mind. SDO bi‑folds have certain features that set them apart from lesser products in terms of the high level of security and safety they provide.

These features include:

·  a multi-point locking system

·  a secure door lock

·  a heavy-duty handle and hinges

·  tempered glass

Some people fear that bi-fold doors make homes more vulnerable to break-ins because of the amount of glass they incorporate—the idea being that this is somehow less secure.

However, this simply isn’t true. It’s been demonstrated that bi-folds made by reputable door companies are typically much harder to break into than many French doors and sliding doors.

Our bi-fold doors have a multi-point locking system built into the traffic door. What this means is that they lock at more than one point around the frame—we use a three-point locking system. 

All SDO products are manufactured in our own manufacturing plant based out of China. We use the highest quality aluminum and German made hardware for all our bifold doors.

Your order will include your bifold door panels and frames. Inside your order you will find all the requirements to install the bifold doors Including the screws, pins, hardware, and installation guide. You will also find the certificates of your bi-fold door.