bifold windows vs stacker doors

Bi-Fold vs Stacker Doors

bifold windows vs stacker doors

What Are Bi-Fold Doors?

Bi-fold doors function using a number of framed panels that are hinged together. They fold up against each other to offer simple movement between open and closed spaces while offering you easy access in and out.

What Are Stacker Doors?

Stacker doors are functional doors that operate using two panels that slide in behind a single fixed pane. As one panel slides past the next, they interlock and continue sliding towards the fixed pane. The panels effectively collect each other and then rest one upon the next, as if they were ‘stacked’.

Benefits of Bi-Fold Doors

Elegant Transformation

Bi-fold doors are the perfect solution for creating a free-flowing entertainment space. They also provide unobstructed views, letting light into your home and offering great exterior views. The unrestricted ventilation and natural light that comes with bi-fold doors mean that the stifling heat of a Gold Coast summer, or the stuffiness of winter, are easily countered.

Out of Sight – Out of Mind

Bi-fold doors don’t just operate easily – they’re also smooth and discrete. In fact, when you fold your doors away to either side, you won’t even know that they are there. With benefits when they’re open and closed, you can enjoy your bi-fold doors at all times.

Benefits of Stacker Doors

Ambience

Aluminium stacker doors are an addition that will make you wonder how you ever lived before. Whether you have a traditional country home or a chic modern open plan, stacker doors are perfectly suited. Their precise, elegant, and streamlined design means they’re visually adaptable to any setting.

Stacker doors gracefully open up or seal off spaces, meaning you can maintain the flow and feel of your home at every time of year. The high-quality seals are effective at keeping the elements at bay when you want to settle down in the winter months.

Stylish

Aluminium stacker doors boast a classically stylish design and they’re just as practical, too. Whether you are connecting your living area to your outdoor entertaining area or keeping out the elements, all it takes is one simple push.

Features

There are two types of stacker doors, the Essential and the Signature. The Essential is specifically designed for domestic settings, while the Signature is prepared for specialised environments. They both possess a clean modern design with concealed fixings that perfectly compliment any architectural layout. The tastefully refined handles come with mortice locks for high-quality security.

Which Design Is Better For You?

The main difference between bi-fold and stacker doors is how they open and close. Bi-folding doors fold in on themselves, while stacker doors run along a track.

If you’re short on space near the opening you plan to use, stacker doors are the better option. Their sliding mechanism takes up less space during opening and closing, making it easier to design your room.

If you’re after a more open space once your doors are retracted, then bi-fold doors are the superior design. Once they are actually folded away, these doors are barely visible.

For an obligation-free quote, or any more information about either of these fantastic products, contact Southern Cross Windows today.

Large Patio area with comfortable seating

How To Make Your Patio a Feature of The House

patio doors

Making the most out of your outdoor living situation is truly something everyone should invest in, especially if you’re a Gold Coast resident. If you live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, you should take the time to invest in a means of enjoying it every day.

There are many ways to make your patio a key feature of your home. Many homeowners will choose to update their patio with decorative stones or inviting seating arrangements. Perhaps they’ll throw in a barbeque area and a proper dining room table, or put up a pergola laced with vines or flowers. Maybe they’ll get creative with lighting.

One way that not many people consider is to get clever with the use of aluminium doors. Below we’ll go over bi-fold doors and stacker doors, and how you can use them both to improve your patio life.

Bi-Fold Doors

Bi-fold doors consist of a few aluminium-framed panels that are hinged together. When they open, they are stacked against each other and then neatly arranged to one side or both sides of the doorway.

These doors are the perfect option to enhance your patio. First off, they are aesthetically pleasing, giving your home a classic look with the modern finish that comes with using aluminium. Secondly, they are also incredibly durable and able to stand up to the harshest Gold Coast weather while still maintaining their clean beauty and charm.

When it comes to patio living, you want to be able to move freely into and out of the house to bring out food and drinks as you please. Bi-fold doors allow this and more because they provide unobstructed access in and out when they are opened.

Stacker Doors

Stacker doors are similar to sliding glass doors, in that they do slide. Only they involve two or more connected panels that slide behind one fixed panel. As they open, they interlock and then slide together.

Like bi-folds, stacker doors give you an easy and efficient way to connect your house to your patio. These doors are a bit easier to install, and they can be made to your exact specifications because they are made of aluminium. They are perfect not only for when you want to connect the inside of your house to the patio, but also as a connection to a patio cover, giving you a link from the patio to the outside.

Their incredibly smooth track system makes using them a breeze, so they’re perfect for a high traffic area like your beautiful patio.

For more advice about style, décor, supply or installation of aluminium windows and doors, get in touch with one of our experts at Southern Cross Windows today.

Track frame of white stacker doors

Stacker Doors for Versatility and Style

stacker doors

Stacker Doors

When you start a home renovation, the first thing to think about is how your house can reflect your personal style. One great way to make an easy change in your home is to come up with creative ways to use stacker doors. Stacker doors are very similar to sliding doors. They involve two panels that slide behind one fixed panel, each panel connecting with the next until they interlock and slide together. They are usually made of glass with an aluminium frame to add strength and stability. The end result is a clean, streamlined finish that can be used to efficiently modernise your home in a variety of ways.

The Aesthetic Appeal

Stacker doors allow for you to create very large and wide openings in your home. The glass complements this making the doors appear even more spacious, modern and clear in appearance. When the doors are open, they stack neatly upon themselves, giving the illusion that they are hidden and the opening is available for free use.

A Versatile Addition To Your Home

Stacker doors have a variety of uses in your home or in other applications. View some of our suggestions for uses below:

The Classic: Use as a Back or Front Door

You will often see these doors used as openings to and from a home, usually as a back or front door. If you live somewhere on the Gold Coast with great views of the countryside or the beach, you might want to consider stacker doors. They allow for uninterrupted access to the full visual clarity of your surroundings. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for your view either. They can be open to let in the sun and ventilation in the summer and tightly closed in the winter.

Most stacker doors also come with mortice locks so you don’t have to worry about your stylish opening being unsafe or unsecure. So enjoy the view of your lovely backyard and have peace of mind that you can keep an eye on children or pets playing outside with these versatile sliding doors.

The Garden Entrance: Use as a Side Door

Have a nice space off the side of your house, like a garden or a veggie patch? It makes it all the more convenient for you to be able to access it easily with stacker doors. In fact, you can find all new uses for the side yard of your house with the option of versatile doors. Maybe even create a fenced-in play space for children or pets, with the added benefit of easy access and crystal clear views.

The Patio Connector: Use on the Patio

If you’re the type who loves alfresco entertaining, you might want to consider investing in a lovely veranda, pergola or patio with sheltering. You can have the benefits of enjoying eating and entertaining outside without any of the disadvantages of the elements, such as rain or insects. Our versatile stacker doors could separate your patio from the outside world, and with smooth operating and tight seals, you’ll never have to worry about anything you’d rather keep out getting in.

Interested in updating your modern home with stacker doors? Speak to an expert at Southern Cross Windows on the Gold Coast today.