How to Choose the Right Wooden Doors for Your Home
Looking to open up your living space with timber doors that blur the boundary between indoors and out? Whether you’re renovating a period property or building a contemporary extension, choosing the right door system makes all the difference.
Sliding-folding and lift and slide doors are two popular options, each with its own strengths. In this guide, we break down the differences to help you choose the best fit for your space, budget, and lifestyle.
What Is a Lift and Slide Door?
Lift and slide doors offer a sleek, high-performance option for wide openings. At Gowercroft, we manufacture, supply, and install bespoke timber lift and slide doors tailored to your exact size and specification.
These doors use premium MACO ironmongery, allowing large and heavy panels (up to 3.2 metres wide) to lift off their seals and glide effortlessly behind one another or into a wall pocket. The mechanism is smooth and easy to operate, with excellent energy efficiency and weather sealing.
Lift and slide doors are less common in the UK, but their performance and simplicity make them a standout option, especially where large uninterrupted views and airtight performance are priorities.
What Is a Sliding-Folding Door?
Sliding-folding doors (sometimes called bifold doors) have become a go-to for modern extensions and open-plan living. These doors fold like a concertina, stacking neatly to one end of the frame to fully open the space.
We use a combination a Centor system and our own solution for ease of accessibility and improved functionality.
Our sliding folding doors feature a high-quality, bottom-rolling design with a storm-proof cill. It’s robust, weather-resistant, and suitable for a wide range of projects.
Panels can be up to 1.25 metres wide, and you can specify several configurations depending on access needs, layout, and aesthetics.
Sliding-Folding or Lift and Slide: Which Is Right for You?
Here’s a comparison of the two systems to help guide your decision:
1. Maximum Door Size and Glass Area
- Lift and slide doors allow for much larger leaf sizes (up to 3.2m wide), meaning fewer vertical frames and more uninterrupted glass.
- This gives better views and can improve the overall U-value by reducing timber content in the unit.
2. Space and Layout
- Lift and slide panels slide behind each other or into wall pockets. They don’t project into your room or outside area, freeing up usable space.
- Sliding-folding doors, on the other hand, fold outwards or inwards and can take up space when open.
3. Ease of Everyday Use
- Sliding-folding doors often include a hinged “traffic door” for regular use, making them handy for quick access.
- Lift and slide doors usually need to be opened partially or fully for entry, unless a separate access door is specified.
4. Opening Width
- Bifolds offer a full-width opening, ideal for maximum airflow and openness.
- Lift and slide systems generally open up to 50% of the span unless a wall pocket is incorporated (which adds cost and construction work).
5. Design Flexibility
- Sliding-folding systems allow for more configuration options—corner sets, curved layouts, or asymmetric openings.
- Lift and slide doors are simpler but more limited in shape.
6. Cost and Build Complexity
- A long run of sliding-folding doors typically costs more due to extra panels and hardware.
- Lift and slide doors require less joinery work on the frame and are often the more affordable option for large, simple spans.
Choosing Timber Doors That Match Your Vision
Both systems are available in sustainably sourced, high-performance timber. Whether you choose Accoya for longevity or Red Grandis for value, our wooden doors are built to las. All with Class 4 weatherproofing, high thermal performance, and a 10-year no-quibble guarantee.
Ready to Find the Right Door for Your Project?
Now that you know the key differences between sliding-folding and lift and slide doors, it’s time to explore the options available.
Whether you’re looking for wide-span bifolding doors, sleek lift and slide systems, or heritage-style entrances, we’ve got the perfect solution.
Explore our door ranges to find the one that suits your space.