small 2-leaf internal bifold door

[sm_jamieson]

Went to a friends new house, saw a very simple bifold door runner system that I would like to use on the standard door opening to my new downstairs loo.

2 leafs with one of these flush hinges between (one hinge plate fits into the other one). However, the mechanism was simply a runner on the top, with a small wheel on the leaf furthest from the main hinge, and a spring on the door frame. When you shut the door the wheel slides along the runner, then presses against the spring, which exerts force on the door assembly such that it snaps shut when you push the doors closed. Very simple, but I had not seen it before. Any idea where to get this ? Cheers, Simon.

[Andy Cap]

Wickes do them. I have a couple which work well. The only reservation I would have about using them on a loo, is that as supplied, you can see through the gap ! Perhaps you could arrange some kind of bead to cover it though.

C

[sm_jamieson]

I'm sure some sort of bead would do the trick. Only thing, they look like the fake wood-grain effect, which is a bit dodgy. I wonder if you can get the sliding gear separately, or a timber version. Cheers, Simon.

[Andy Cap]

'Bit b****y dodgy !!' ;-)

They do the kits as well, so presumably you can get plain wood doors.

[sm_jamieson]

I notice B&Q do a timber paneled bifold door, looks like without a track. Could fit the Wickes track. I wonder it the track is really needed ? Some type of locking mechanism like french doors would be cool, where a handle causes a bolt to rise near the middle hinge and keeps it flat. Ideas, ideas ;-)

[Andy Cap]

I think without a track, the movement of the door would be very peculiar. Not tried it though.

[sm_jamieson]

Yep, I guess it would tend to flap around and generally misbehave. I'll raise a separate thread for locking. Simon.

[Mike Barnes]

We have a bi-fold door from B&Q. It has a track but it's a simple pin that runs in a groove rather than a roller. Also there's no spring, you carefully adjust the position of the pivot so that the natural elasticity of the wood does the job. The upper half of the door is a grille that you can see though (great for our laundry room but not much good for a loo) but I think other patterns were available.