Folding Sliding Doors Limited was started in 2001 when Paul Shearman, a joiner and engineer working in the folding sliding door industry in Germany, developed an inline folding sliding door system for the British market. The main improvement over previous attempts was in the hardware. He used flush hinges, slim handles and a running track on the top and bottom of the opening for even weight distribution of the opening panels.
The appeal of this product is that the door leaves fold neatly to create a wide opening – perfect for cafes in summertime or rooms in the home that face the garden, to give just two examples.
The company continued to improve the product. The Folding Sliding Door Company were the first to develop an inline PVC-U folding sliding door system with no face fixed hardware and concealed running gear in 2003. Which has since been copied by many companies. The development was an advance on the cumbersome hardware that was in use and the use of top and bottom running tracks meant smooth operation and the support to allow taller and wider openings. Flush tracks are standard, complying with Part M disability access regulations, and the absence of faced fixed hinges makes the installation more secure.
Within two years The Folding Sliding Door Company had acquired premises and was employing 16 staff to manufacture the product, which used VEKA Matrix PVC-U window and door profile. Turnover had reached £1 million by 2003.
In 2007 the company won "The Business of the Year" award. First of 150,000 businesses that were nominated, at the House of Commons. The award was given to the company based on it success in such a short space of time, innovation and the companies business ethics.
Today, the company makes folding sliding doors in aluminium, timber, ali-clad timber and a range of PVC-U systems. In addition, Folding Sliding Doors manufactures its own range of hardware which it supplies to some major household named retail and trade companies.
The popularity of these glazed doors has soared during the company’s time in business as property owners have realised the potential of wider openings in commercial buildings and homes. This type of product, often supplied by The Folding Sliding Door Company, has featured on many TV home improvement programmes.
The product commands a high value. Consequently other window companies have been keen to add it to their portfolio. A recent trend has seen several window systems companies develop their own system in an effort to grab a share of this market for themselves.
The appeal of this product is that the door leaves fold neatly to create a wide opening – perfect for cafes in summertime or rooms in the home that face the garden, to give just two examples.
The company continued to improve the product. The Folding Sliding Door Company were the first to develop an inline PVC-U folding sliding door system with no face fixed hardware and concealed running gear in 2003. Which has since been copied by many companies. The development was an advance on the cumbersome hardware that was in use and the use of top and bottom running tracks meant smooth operation and the support to allow taller and wider openings. Flush tracks are standard, complying with Part M disability access regulations, and the absence of faced fixed hinges makes the installation more secure.
Within two years The Folding Sliding Door Company had acquired premises and was employing 16 staff to manufacture the product, which used VEKA Matrix PVC-U window and door profile. Turnover had reached £1 million by 2003.
In 2007 the company won "The Business of the Year" award. First of 150,000 businesses that were nominated, at the House of Commons. The award was given to the company based on it success in such a short space of time, innovation and the companies business ethics.
Today, the company makes folding sliding doors in aluminium, timber, ali-clad timber and a range of PVC-U systems. In addition, Folding Sliding Doors manufactures its own range of hardware which it supplies to some major household named retail and trade companies.
The popularity of these glazed doors has soared during the company’s time in business as property owners have realised the potential of wider openings in commercial buildings and homes. This type of product, often supplied by The Folding Sliding Door Company, has featured on many TV home improvement programmes.
The product commands a high value. Consequently other window companies have been keen to add it to their portfolio. A recent trend has seen several window systems companies develop their own system in an effort to grab a share of this market for themselves.
Restrictions created by most French doors and patio doors are not a problem for a set of folding doors because they can be installed in openings you may feel impossible or not even thought of, like opening a corner of a room or even knocking a complete wall out to create the space when you don’t have a fully available opening. The options are endless it just depends on how creative you want to be and how impressive you want your home to look.
The way in which our folding sliding patio doors are designed demonstrates clever engineering, versatility and durability of a glass wall simply because of the whole concept behind the folding panels of utilising the space that you have by creating more space, easily. Unlike a set of sliding doors for example where at least half of your available opening is blocked, our folding door system incorporates the full opening not wasting any space, which is done by using modern technology and state of the art hardware designed for easy functionality and long term reliability. This folding panel system has the option of a flush threshold unlike most French doors.
Using premium glass wall materials our folding sliding doors are manufactured in the UK to an unquestionable impressive standard with a vast range of quality finishes to choose from along with many opening configurations available. All folding doors are supplied with Low E coated double glazed units creating glass walls, severe weather rated seals and high security rated locking systems, making the doors perfect for any opening.
Folding sliding doors are also referred to as sliding folding doors, bi-fold, accordian door, folding windows and concertina door.
Why settle for less when you can have more with a folding door?
Folding sliding doors are also referred to as sliding folding doors, bi-fold, accordian door, folding windows and concertina door.
Why settle for less when you can have more with a folding door?
A set of folding doors can compliment any building and provide exciting glass wall solutions to many situations without harming the character of a building. With the ability of bringing inspiration and creativity into a home by transforming rooms into fashionable living areas, a set of folding sliding doors can remarkably blend spaces together, remove barriers between the outside and literally bring the outside in conforming to the natural environment around it. As opposed to patio doors, French doors, this folding panel, bi-fold, concertina door transformation creates wide and level access along with enhancing the structural character of a building and a glass wall allowing more natural light in making that ultimate difference to your home. With self build and DIY options for those people that like to undertake DIY or are undertaking a self build project, our bi-fold door is a simple system to install by just connecting each folding panel together.
Effortlessly smooth gliding and beautifully impressive folding doors create a vast amount of unimaginable space along with inviting contemporary character and comforting glass wall ambiance to any ordinary room. As opposed to the limitations of traditional patio doors and French doors where openings are greatly restricted due to areas being closed off, a set of innovative folding sliding doors open up as far as your creative imagination takes you just imagine what you could do with that extra space created by a bi-fold folding door?
Folding Sliding Doors with a flush threshold gives you a seamless transition from inside to outside and is of course; less of a trip hazard. Not many companies can offer bi-folds with a fully guaranteed flush, weather-rated threshold. WE CAN, however to ensure that you can get it right, we would always discuss your requirements at the outset and liaise with your Builder/Architect throughout to ensure that the base structure your doors is fixed to a set level (below your internal finished floor height). We offer a full one stop shop so a Site Survey can always be undertaken so we can take care of this for you.
The Folding Sliding Door Company are extremely pleased to soon be celebrating our 20th Year Anniversary as a world leading specialist in folding glass wall design and manufacture with over 100 product lines.
We have designed, developed and manufactured our own Folding Sliding Doors for many years and will shortly be celebrating our 20th Year Anniversary. This includes the Aluminium Extrusion and the Fold ‘n Slide heavy duty hardware that we use for the bifold doors to operate. We ONLY manufacture Bi-folds, using the same mechanisms and components for each of our Bi-fold designs offering the same premium specification across our full range of doors; WE ARE Jack of one Trade, Master of One.
All of our installers are a Minimum Level 2 & 3 Diploma Qualified in Fenestration Surveying & Installation, unlike many other companies ALL of our engineers are employed by The Folding Sliding Door Company and work is NOT sub-contracted to third parties.
We are extremely pleased to soon be celebrating our 20th Year Anniversary as a world leading specialist in folding glass wall design and manufacture with over 100 product lines.
A $75 Million turnover company with over 100,000 existing customers in 22 countries.
Winner of the 2007 Business of the Year Award and many accreditations including ISO 2001:2008, Secured by Design and Dade County Hurricane Certification.
Over 200,000 square foot of manufacturing space with operations in UK, USA, Canada and China, we are responsible for the livelihood of over 1,000 people.
We are the worlds leading specialist designer, manufacturer of bi-fold doors.
This really depends on your preference and what you may find more important. Timber Folding Sliding Doors have some great qualities, they look fabulous, can help maintain a traditional appearance however can also be coloured to appear more contemporary for those projects that are restricted by conservation/building regulations etc. Timber is naturally thermally efficient however will always require maintenance in terms of the finish.
Aluminium Bifolds are more contemporary with slimmer sightlines, a chamfered edge to the external with a squared beaded edge on the inside. It requires no maintenance in terms of the finish as this is Powder Coated to a RAL Colour that suits your requirements. Aluminium requires a Thermal Break to help prevent the transfer of cold from outside to in – this is also known as thermal efficiency and is a requirement that must be met if your project be subject to Building Regulations or requires Planning Permission.
All of our Folding Sliding Doors are tested to the equivalent of PAS24, however we also offer Document Q approved and Secured by Design in Timber & Aluminium Bi-Folds. We offer a 5 point locking mechanism as standard on the main access panel of your door (this will always depend on the configuration) and includes 2x Hardened Steel Shoot bolts that secure in to the top & bottom track, 2x Rhino Bolts/Hook Locks and 1x Dead Bolt that secure into the jamb (side frame). The cylinders used for all external locks are also Secured by Design with Anti-Bump, Anti-Snap, Drill Resistant, Pick Resistant, Force Resistant, Tamper Resistant, Torque Resistant & Saw Resistant features. Our rollers are encapsulated in the tracks both top and bottom and we offer a tongue and groove system which enables each panel to interlock with the next, this prevents potential intruders from being able to prise anything between the panels.
With a folding sliding door from The Folding Sliding Door Company, we are so confident in the security of our product, that in the unlikely event of a break-in succeeding through failure of our products, we will pay the cost (up to £500) of replacing or repairing the forced door, and pay you £500 towards any inconvenience caused!
