French doors are out and bi-folds are everywhere. So what's new? Sharon Dale reports,

Bringing the outside in with large areas of glazing is at the top of the list for those planning building and renovating projects.

The benefits are multiple: more natural light, a feeling of space, bigger and better views.

For the best part of a decade, one of the best ways of achieving this look and feel was by installing bi-folding doors. The trend started in London and slowly migrated north, according to Steve Bromberg, who co- founded Express Bi-folding Doors with his father, also called Steve.

The glazed doors that fold back to create a large opening have been best-sellers for almost a decade, but their supremacy is being challenged.

The latest fashion is for sliding doors, which allow for larger expanses of glass and bigger views that are uninterrupted by frames. Architects especially insist on an infinity look, which sees the doors level with the floor.

Powder coated aluminium is the material of choice for frames and, as for colour, 80 per cent of customers want grey, according to Steve, who is putting the finishing touches to a new showroom at his Leeds-based manufacturing plant.

He and his father launched the firm in 2007 after realising the bi-folding door market was dominated by German companies. Lead times from commission to manufacture were long.

“The wait was frustrating for everyone and I knew that if we could manufacture in this country we could operate a quick turnaround,” he says.

“My dad had owned a double glazing company for years and so we knew the glazing business well. We set up in Leeds and managed to cut the lead time for bi-folds from six weeks to five working days.”

The speed and quality of the product has made them a market leader and they have since expanded their range to include sliding doors, glazed curtain walling, windows, doors and roofing systems. There are showrooms in Surrey, Essex, Glasgow and Garforth selling to the trade and to the public. The latter will soon be relocated to the company’s Leeds factory, which will boast the biggest showroom of its kind in the country.

The Bromberg’s are building three full size houses, featuring their doors, windows and glazed walls and roofs. There will also be a series of room sets.

“It’s been amazing. In the beginning no-one knew what a bi-folding door was and now they are everywhere,” says Steve, who is especially grateful to Kevin McCloud.

He helped promote the benefits of bi-folding and sliding doors by raving about them while appraising new homes featured on Grand Designs.

*www.expressbifolds.co.uk

*Door dressing: The best-looking bi-folding and sliding doors are left naked, completely undressed with no curtains or blinds.

However, if you need privacy and shade then a solution is needed. Curtains can look wrong, especially if they are hung traditionally. Their intrusion can be minimised with a hidden track then make sure they blend with the wall and are pulled well back from the frame. Roller blinds are the best option. If you have a bigger budget, you can buy glazed units with integrated blinds.