Bifold doors are not just for big buildings. From quonsets to machine sheds, private hangars to automotive shops, bifold doors are a great option and versatile choice for any building. But when an overhead door (unarguably a more familiar sight) is a possibility, why should you consider anything different?
Stick around and we will tell you. We have gathered a list of cases where a bifold door provides an advantage over more traditional door styles, such as overhead doors and sliding doors.
- My quonset door is too small. How does a bifold door make my clear opening wider?
- My current sliding doors do not seal well. How does a bifold door improve that?
- My sliding door is difficult to move and frequently jams. How does a bifold door make it easier to access my building?
- I live in a very windy location. Which kind of door is the best in extreme winds?
- What kind of doors are best for environments like dairy, poultry, and pig barns?
- Are bifold doors really that much more expensive than overhead doors?
My quonset door is too small. How does a bifold door make my clear opening wider?
Quonsets were a popular building choice in the mid-to-late 20th century. Their versatility and affordable design made them a common sight on farms across Canada and the United States. However, as agricultural equipment continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a door that fits within the limits of the quonset and allows equipment into the building for storage or maintenance. No matter the size of the quonset, a bifold door can help you maximize its potential once more.
Unlike overhead doors, bifolds are installed to the face of the building and do not take up any room inside the quonset. This means that with our self-supporting header option, you can make use of the entire face of the quonset by mounting your door above the building frame and across the entire width of the building.
My current sliding doors do not seal well. How does a bifold door improve that?
Have you noticed frost buildup around your current door or icy drafts in the middle of winter? Sliding and overhead doors are difficult to seal well, if at all. If energy efficiency (in summer or winter) is important to you, a bifold door would be a great choice to reduce your energy bills and improve thermal efficiency.
Diamond Doors offers an easy-to-install insulation package for every bifold door. The insulation, which is ship lapped and installed to the exterior of the door, has a continuous thermal break across the face of the door. In comparison, an overhead door allows energy transfer at the seams between each panel.
A Diamond bifold door locking system also ensures that your door is tightly secured against your building. By pulling the door tight to your door frame, your door prevents cold drafts and frost build up.
If you are planning to improve the overall energy efficiency of your building, a well-insulated bifold is a great place to start.
“Had 2 Diamond doors installed this past fall. The shop door proved to be very well insulated and sealed perfectly. Also did a self standing door on the quonset… So much better than the old sliders. Turned out to be a pretty simple install. Very happy!”
D. Weatherald
My sliding door is difficult to move and frequently jams. How does a bifold door make it easier to access my building?
It shows when sliding doors start to age. As the tracks shift with the seasons, they quickly become misaligned, causing frequent frustration as the doors jam and refuse to open.
A bifold door eliminates many common issues that cause sliding doors to jam. Most bifold doors are installed directly to the building, meaning that the tracks and the door shift with the building. This eliminates the risk of the tracks and door becoming misaligned and jamming.
This also means that ice and snow are much less of a concern. The design of a bifold door means that ice and snow can’t build up in the door tracks while the door is in the closed position. A bifold door is ready to operate without spending valuable time unjamming the door tracks.
Another advantage of a bifold is the capability for push button operation. While it is possible to automate sliding doors, it is costly and often ineffective, especially for large openings. Diamond Doors offers push button operation on every bifold door, with the fastest opening speed in the industry. You can learn more about our electric opening system here.
“After two years of enjoying the new door, I am completely satisfied and regretting only of not having made the investment sooner! It has worked flawlessly during both winter and summer and in between. This door has extended my flying hobby by many years, not having to wrestle with a large door every time I use my airplane. Thank you for your great service.”
M Baril
I live in a very windy location. Which kind of door is the best in extreme winds?
Bifold doors are one of the best door options available in high winds. While we don’t recommend operating a bifold door in high winds or leaving it in the open position during extreme weather, Diamond doors are designed to withstand the highest wind loads in your area.
Bifold doors protect your equipment much better than overhead and sliding doors.
Overhead doors, which are installed inside the building’s frame, can easily blow into the building during severe weather, causing significant damage to the items inside. Likewise, lightweight sliding doors are equally susceptible to high winds. Without any secure mounting points, they are more likely to fail during harsh weather.
Bifold doors are inherently more secure due to the way they are designed. You can read more about that in our blog post Can A Bifold Door Stand Up Against High Wind?
What kind of doors are best for environments like dairy, poultry, and pig barns?
The door that’s best for your livestock barn depends on many things – including how frequently you use the door, the size of door you need, and much more. However, a bifold door can be a great option for many different use cases. Here are a few reasons why you might want to choose a Diamond bifold door.
A Diamond door provides superior insulation against extreme weather temperatures.
We offer ridged board insulation panels in R12 and R16 values – higher or equal to most traditional overhead doors. However, with fewer seams to seal and full insulation coverage, bifold doors provide insulation capabilities unmatched by overhead and sliding doors. You can learn more about our insulation package here.
Diamond Doors offers a stainless steel package to prevent early corrosion and rust damage.
Livestock barns are notoriously corrosive due to high humidity and concentration of gases such as ammonia. Using stainless steel materials in these conditions extends the lifespan and effectiveness of your door. The Diamond Doors stainless steel package includes the door frame, hinges, hinge pins, and lift cables. Learn more about the stainless steel package here.
A Diamond door is a tool that makes your workday easier.
There’s nothing quite like your door failing to open when you’re in a hurry to finish chores for the day. That’s why we take our commitment to quality and convenience seriously. Diamond bifold doors provide reliable operation and low-maintenance features for a door that you can rely on.
We manufacture as much of the door in-factory as possible – everything from the frame to the electrical box. This gives us greater control over the workmanship and quality of your door. Our CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) certified welders use approved techniques to manufacture each door frame, and our assembly department tests each electrical component before shipping your door to you.
Are bifold doors really that much more expensive than overhead doors?
This is a harder question to tackle because the short answer is that “it depends”. In general, smaller overhead doors – think garage doors – are more affordable than similarly sized bifold doors. However, the cost of an overhead door increases significantly – and is often more expensive – than a bifold door for anything larger than 280 square feet.
However, there are other factors to consider, including longevity, energy efficiency, maintenance, and convenience. These factors influence the long term cost of your door – such as time and money spent on repairs and replacement, heating or cooling, and time spent using the door.
Our blog post The Best Investment with Your Industrial Bifold Door provides a closer look at the performance and long-term affordability of a Diamond bifold door.
Pricing on a bifold door varies depending on the features and options you choose to include. Pricing comparisons and estimates are based on a standard door – including the door frame, electric lift motor, manual locking system. For a complete quote based on your specific door needs, please contact our sales team.
Which door style is best for your building needs?
While we can’t answer that definitively for you, we hope that the answers in this post give you a better understanding of how a bifold door maximizes the potential of your building. If you have more questions, or would like to share about your experience with bifold doors, talk to our sales team! They are always ready to help.
