Wednesday 30 December 2009

three reasons to order your patio doors now

It's cold, wet, dark and miserable outside - why on earth would you want to order new patio doors now?

1. You could be warmer and reduce your heating costs.

If you have old patio doors, the chances are that you could improve the insulation qualities by having new ones installed. With the cost of fuel today, it wouldn't take long to make savings go a long way towards the cost of the new bi folding doors.

SunSeeker bi folding door frames are made from thermally broken aluminium - this means that a good conductor of heat and cold becomes a poor conductor so that the inside of the door feels warm despite the near-freezing temperatures outside.

2. Enjoy your money, act wisely, save VAT.

VAT goes up from 15% to 17.5% on 1st January 2010. Order your doors before then and you could save £75 or more. The VAT saving is approximately double the interest your money would earn if you left it in the bank until summer.

There is no doubt that modern bifolds are an investment in your property - an attractive enhancement that you can enjoy and, eventually, consider a vital selling point.

3. Buy SunSeeker Doors for peace of mind.

SunSeeker Doors are made to measure and made in England. We do not import cheap doors from China or Turkey. Our doors are made specifically to fit your measurements and, because we manufacture locally - including the powder-coating process, we can install your bifolding doors just days after receiving your order. And installation is often less than half a day!

We have been manufacturing and installing our bi folding doors for a number of years and have many happy customers, some of whom have been moved to write and tell us of their delight (testimonials and their photographs can be seen on our blog and web site).

So there you have it - three good reasons to order your bifolds from SunSeeker Doors without further delay! 

We wish you a Happy New Year and a prosperous and peaceful 2010.

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Bifolding Doors - the difference is in the detail

For elegance and unobtrusive functionality, SunSeeker Slimline bifolding doors - with aluminium frames available in a range of colours to suite your home - completely outclass any pvc bifolds available today.

For patio doors - and especially as room dividers - the SunSeeker Slimline frames are only 60mm wide (therefore offering more glass for light and viewing) and have the slimmest profile when open and stacked to the side wall. SunSeeker bifolding doors are available with a very low cill.
Shown on the compilation photograph are:
  • (left) stainless steel T-bar handle and lock from the inside of the door (there are other handle choices);
  • (top right) the outside of the door - notice that for added security, there is no keyhole on the outside of the patio doors;
  • (middle right) open doors showing the colour-coordinated white hinge (stainless steel is an option), the narrow profiles and the low cill;
  • (bottom right) discreet magnetic catches at the foot of each door keep the doors in place until you choose to move them.
More photographs and information can be found on our web site.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Save around £100 in VAT by placing your order in 2009.

Please don't leave it until the 11th hour - contact us as soon as possible to order your 2010 bifolding or frameless glass doors before VAT returns to 17.5% on 1st January.


Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 7 December 2009

Christmas is coming ...

You may not have left it too late to replace your patio doors or to fit room dividers! With Christmas fast approaching you will need to act quickly but SunSeeker Slimline Doors - manufactured in England - can be made-to-measure and installed as bi folding patio doors or low threshhold internal room partitions within two weeks of your order.

Imagine! Your guests will be amazed at the transformation to your home. Take a look at our website then contact us for an obligation free quote. Call us and ask about our Express Service ... but hurry! Act Now!

And an added bonus ... VAT is due to return to 17.5% on 1st January 2010 so buying your bifolding doors now will save you money!

STOP PRESS! 15th December: Sorry, it's too late now to fit your bifolds before Christmas but you still have a couple of weeks to save some VAT if you order before the end of this month. 

Season's Greetings to you all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday 5 November 2009

Frameless Glass Door Room Dividers



Frameless Glass Doors are the perfect room dividers for a through lounge in a terraced cottage that needs to maximise light flow and are ideal for large modern homes with a contemporary interior.

     Features:
  • Virtually no maximum width limit
  • Strong, virtually unbreakable glass 
  • Door panels that slide and turn
  • Tinted glass option

When closed, Frameless Glass Doors form a complete glass wall with no frames to interrupt the view. When fully open, Frameless Glass Doors stack against the wall at the side of the opening for maximum accessibility between areas.

     Benefits:
  • Maximum access when open
  • No interruption of light flow or view when closed
  • Noise reduction between areas when closed
  • Temperatures maintained separately each side of the divide

See our web site for more details and photographs and a quote request form or call us with your enquiry or for an instant quotation on  
01582 492730

Friday 23 October 2009

Modern French Doors with Aluminum Frames

SunSeeker Doors manufactures high quality aluminium framed French doors.

We measure the aperture where you want them so that they fit perfectly and work properly from installation onwards.

Thermally broken aluminium frames are strong and have good insulation qualities. and we include high quality K-glass double glazed units.

Compared with traditional wooden frames, aluminium is not prone to warping, swelling or shrinking with varying climates and remains draught-free at the joins and overlaps. Unlike wood, our powder-coated frames do not require to be stained, varnished, painted or protected in any way, year after year, and are available in a choice of almost 200 RAL colours.

Our French doors can be supplied with a traditional centre opening or as a side opening folding door. Styles include full glass, horizontal bar, Georgian, leaded light and a range of glass options including tinted and obscured. Our standard price is for K-glass clear glazed units in natural white SunSeeker Slimline 60mm frames.

Call us on 01582 492 730 to discuss any special options or see our web site for full details and an obligation-free quotation form.

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Slimline frames and frameless doors


SunSeeker Slimline, with its 60mm frame-width, is believed to be the highest glass-to-frame ratio of any bifolding door available in the UK. This means that when you want the best view and most light, SunSeeker Slimline is the ultimate choice.

Priced competitively for a good quality sliding-folding patio door, SunSeeker Slimline is constructed of thermally-broken aluminium for good insulation properties and is supplied with industry-standard K-glass. If required, the double-glazing cavity can have integral blinds fitted inside.

Because we manufacture in the UK, just off the M1, we can make your bi fold patio doors to measure and have them fitted in 2 to 4 weeks (if you choose standard white frames, K-glass and no additional options such as integral blinds - otherwise that will increase the time by 2 or 3 weeks).

Our Slimline bifolds are suitable for external or internal use; alternatively we can offer frameless Glass Curtains as room dividers. To view our products, visit our web site.

Monday 21 September 2009

Aluminum Frames Vs PVC Or Wood - Are They Worth the Extra Cost?

This article has been viewed over 1,000 times on Ezine Articles

Having lived with all three types of windows and patio doors in the past three years, I feel that I am an 'expert user' when it comes to opening and closing in each medium: wood, pvc and aluminium.

First, the novice's choice: wood. It looks great, feels warm, can be stained a medium or dark shade or painted any colour of the spectrum. It's an age-old medium so what can go wrong? The main problems are humidity and strong sunlight.

There are varying qualities of wood on offer, depending on your budget. A moderately-priced pair of French doors on a south-facing house wall suffered a degree of warping, creating gaps that had to be plugged each winter in an attempt to keep the cold draughts at bay whereas, in warmer damp circumstances, the door had to be forcibly pushed and pulled back into its aperture.

Two good summers and the four coats of varnish had virtually vapourised, revealing cracking wood that needed nourishing and protecting from the next couple of years' weather.

Second, the double-glazing salesman's special offer: PVC. Overpriced by a couple of well-known companies who then discount by 50% if you hesitate, PVC is also available in varying qualities. At the higher end of the market, the frames are often reinforced with metal.

Generally with more features than wooden doors and windows, PVC should not require much more than a quick wipe with a damp cloth for the first few years and its looks are therefore easier to maintain.

We have some PVC French Doors from the lower price range. As value for money, they are quite good but an element of trust is lacking in terms of defence against determined intruders. They feel floppy and flimsy when opening and closing and there's a knack to locking and unlocking them successfully.

We have older PVC doors from the higher price range and, whilst more sturdy (reinforced with metal) they are looking a tad ratty.

The PVC windows screeched with wind whistling through, like semi-detached tinnitus.

Thirdly and finally, the long term investment: powder-coated aluminium frames. If you are fed up with sanding down wooden frames and considering the easy option of PVC or coated aluminium, particularly for a wide opening with multi-folding doors. Consider whether PVC is up to the task of substituting for the wall of your house.

Stand back and look through closed doors at the difference between PVC and aluminium - it is very noticeable. With PVC, there are windows of scenery between wide areas of plastic (two frames together might measure between 8 and 10 inches, 20 to 25cms) so the doors block up to 20 per cent of the potential view and light-source.

Aluminium frames on bifolding doors from manufacturer SunSeeker Doors, being stronger, are only about 2 inches or 5 centimeters. The profile is also considerably smaller so the doors use far less space than PVC or wood when folded back. For those who want color, several options are available to order, the most popular (after standard white) are: Grey, blue, green, brown and silver. Aluminium Frames are more expensive than cheap PVC or wood but prices are comparable with the better quality PVC doors. Is aluminum worth the extra cost? If you want the "wow" factor, strength, longevity, maximum living space and the most panoramic view, Yes.

The author is a customer of SunSeeker Doors who independently researched prior to being asked to write testimonials for the company.

SunSeeker Doors measures, manufactures and installs bifolding doors from their Bedfordshire UK location. All sales have been sourced by recommendation or via their web site and they DO NOT employ hard-sell techniques.


Wednesday 16 September 2009

New Photographs sent to us by another Happy Customer!

Our customer says:
"Just wanted to say how delighted we are with the doors, and also how brilliant Adrian was - I have never seen people work so hard!!"
Sharon Potter.

Friday 4 September 2009

Beat the VAT increase!

VAT is due to return to 17.5% at the end of 2009. It may go higher after an election in 2010.

Take advantage of the current low VAT rate and order your SunSeeker doors now.
Choose from our folding-sliding Slimline Bifolds or sliding-stacking Glass Curtains.

SunSeeker bifolding doors with standard white slimline frame and double-glazed K-glass could be installed in your home in only 2 to 3 weeks from your deposit to final installation. Read what our clients have said about us briefly on our web site and complete case notes on this blog.

There is a choice of frame colours and glass options (call us for full information 01582 492 730).

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Buying / Investing during the Credit Crunch

:o)
Leading industry analysts, Plimsoll, have told us that a new industry report shows that
Sunseeker Doors Limited has maintained its performance levels much better than others operating in the difficult UK French Door Suppliers industry. The report also reveals that the number of competitors in real financial difficulty is rising.

The last thing you need when choosing your patio doors is to lose your hard-earned cash in a black hole.

At SunSeeker Doors, we can turn an order into an installation within 2 or 3 weeks*. We measure up then manufacture our bifolding patio doors in-house, including the powder-coating process. As soon as the unit has been checked by the QA manager, we despatch our installation team to your property, where you can be enjoying the view and the access within a few short hours.

For full details and to submit a quotation request, visit our web site: www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk - or for a faster response, call us on
01582 492730

*Applies to white frames, K-glass and standard options. We regret that some options, such as integral blinds, may add 2 to 4 weeks to the installation date.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Designing Rooms With a View And Easier Access

A country house, a penthouse apartment, a modest home with a pretty garden - wherever you live, your doors and windows are a lifestyle choice that, if given careful consideration, can bring lasting pleasure.

French Doors.

Wood-framed French doors will enhance a cottage in keeping with its origins and are loved by traditionalists. Styles vary from plain glass or half-glazed to Georgian panes, Victorian decorative glass panels and leaded-light. The wood itself can be softwood, such as pine, or hardwood, such as oak. Wood-framed French doors are available 'off the shelf' for d.i.y or professional installation. They are usually unfinished, which means that they can be stained or painted to suit.

In the UK, French doors usually open outwards, away from the house. Whilst this helps rainwater run off rather than run in, it makes the use of outside shutters very difficult. In France, for example, the doors open inwards so that shutters can then be accessed from the inside to open outwards. Shutters are better at keeping out hot sun and bright light than curtains, they can even be kept securely closed on hot nights with the doors wide open on the inside, allowing air to circulate. The downside of this arrangement is that on dull winter days, the doors have to be opened despite the cold, in order to open and close the shutters each morning and evening.

French doors need not be quaint and made of wood. There are modern 20th Century PVC versions, usually in white, often with a choice of plain or paneled glazing, which are still popular today because they can be produced very cheaply and are seen to require less maintenance than wood. There used to a 'Crittal' style metal version of French doors, popular in the 1960s but, though sturdy, these were very bad insulators with single glazing and appalling condensation problems.

During the late 20th Century, a better solution emerged, using powder-coated aluminium. Today's 'metal' French doors are manufactured using thermally broken architectural aluminium and K-glass double-glazed units for with high insulation properties. The powder-coating comes in a range of more than 40 colour options although white is the general standard. In addition to the tradtional centre opening French doors, these can be ordered as bi-folding doors with a side opening to the right or left and folding inwards or outwards.

This begins to open up possibilities of having much wider openings for French doors. For example, a single door of a standard pair would be straining the hinges at three feet wide but a pair of bi-folding doors could easily be in excess of twelve feet wide. And why stop there?

Patio Doors.

The 1970s saw the popularity of sliding patio doors. A great idea at the time but the eventual wrestling match to slide the doors open or closed dampened the thrill of having so much light flooding into the room. Improvements were made to the sliding or gliding mechanism over time but for every three feet of open doorway there was another three feet of double-double-glazed barrier as half the patio door became a patio window.

Bifolding Doors.

Very popular today, bifolding doors are available with wooden, plastic or metal frames. Bifolding doors combine the best of French doors with the best of patio doors to create a product that is better than the sum of its parts. A metal-framed bifolding door can span an opening of six or seven metres, most of it totally accessible when all the doors are open.

Think of bifolding doors as a set of multiple-fold French doors. When open, there is nothing obstructing the view or the access from inside to outside. When closed, the door panels form a virtual glass wall. Aluminium frames give the best view because the strength of the metal enables the frame width and profile to be considerably slimmer than either plastic or wooden frames, therefore allowing a higher percentage of glass for your viewing pleasure and, of course, for maximum natural light flow. Each of the aluminium door panels can be up to one metre wide.

Whilst an abundance of natural light is wonderful most of the time, consideration needs to be given to those times when curtains, shutters or blinds are desirable. Externally, traditional wooden shutters are not feasible for wide spans of bifolding doors but it may be possible to have roller (security) shutters fitted to the outside wall above the doors. These would be effective against light (and vandalism) but could be considered ugly and put off prospective future buyers.

Inside the home, seven metres of curtain material can be very heavy to hang and to open fully to the sides. Alternatives may include vertical blinds on custom-made long tracks for wide openings, a series of Venetian, pleated or roller blinds on the ceiling or wall above the doors, or sliding blinds. Sliding blinds are panels of celing-to-floor fabric blinds that are fixed to a ceiling-mounted channel. Typically, a pack of sliding blinds has a maximum total width of 4.5 metres, half of which may be blocked by the stacked blinds so there could be considerable access problems.

The most convenient option is to order integral blinds with the doors. A choice of pleated or Venetian blinds can be sealed inside the sealed double-glazed unit. Using an electronic remote control or the cheaper option of magnetic manual pull-string, the blinds are operated in the normal way. They can be fully retracted upwards for an open view or dropped down to a fully closed position. Integral Venetian blinds can also be slanted in any direction, as usual, so that the amount of sunlight can be controlled whilst retaining some of the view.

Glass Curtains.

And finally, another new product has been launched for the 21st Century, enabling even more glass-to-frame ratio and allowing more flexibility in terms of maximum width (theoretically, none) and where to open up the doors. Even with bifolding doors, there has to be an opening - a defined point where doors meet each other or the wall. With Glass Curtains, however, concepts have changed.

There are two categories of Glass Curtains. The original is a toughened glass, single-glazed, totally frameless option that is suitable as a room divider or as an enclosure for balconies or covered areas where thermal compliance is unnecessary. The latest version is double-glazed with a very small frame, necessary to hold the two panels of the glazed unit together. Both versions of the product operate in the same way.

Each glass panel can unlock, open, slide and turn individually. This means that they can all be stacked to one side of the aperture or spaced out with walk-through gaps wherever they are required. The effect can be stunning.

Summary.

Which doors are right for your home?

  • French doors,
  • Patio doors,
  • Bifolding doors or
  • Glass curtains?

What frames are in or out of the shortlist?

  • Hardwood/softwood frames,
  • Plastic/PVC frames or
  • Metal/aluminium?

When making your decision, consider:

  • Your budget,
  • Total price of purchase, delivery, installation and any decorating
  • Availability/timescale,
  • Durability/longevity of the product,
  • Visual appeal and liveability,
  • Investment value/saleability,
  • Future maintenance (eg. re-varnishing wood)

Make the right choice for your lifestyle.

SunSeeker Doors manufactures aluminium-framed Bifolding doors and French doors, with optional integral blinds, can also supply patio doors and windows to complement, and is the sole UK distributor for Clear Glass Curtains.

Enquiries are welcome and may be followed up with a courtesy call if you have no objection. Further information is available on http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bee_Primrose
http://EzineArticles.com/?Designing-Rooms-With-a-View-And-Easier-Access&id=2424563

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Modern Patio Doors on Traditional Properties



Not far from the office is a beautiful, 16th Century, Grade II listed, thatched Hall House. Its listing means that every external change - and some internal ones - have to be approved by the Heritage people as well as the local Planning Authority.

But not all cottages are listed. Owners of some have tastefully introduced new features to complement the original ones. For example, who amongst us would like to install a typical 18th Century farmworker's cottage kitchen or do away with bathrooms?

There are different degrees of modernisation to apply, depending on taste, budget and confidence. It is generally accepted that an old cottage facade should remain as true to its origins as possible, with wooden window frames, a solid wood front door and reclaimed or reproduction roof tiles, if needed. Inside or at the back of the house, particularly when extending the building, we are more adventurous.

Many attractive old cottages have beautiful gardens. SunSeeker Doors can offer three different styles of doors to enhance the experience of living in idyllic surroundings - all the doors facilitate maximum access between the house and garden when open and maximum viewing pleasure when closed.

Our classic bifolding doors have a narrow profile which takes up very little space when the doors are stacked to the side of the opening. The aluminium frames are also narrow (6 cm) which means that there is a greater percentage of glazed area to view through when doors are closed, compared with plastic frames. Bifolding doors have a traditionally opening main door which folds back to secure itself magnetically to the adjoining panel. If required, a larger opening can be made by easily sliding the panels, creating a concertina effect. All the panels can slide and fold to the side or sides of the opening for any aperture up to 7.2 metres (nearly 24 ft).

We also install Glass Curtains. Developed in Europe as frameless, single-glazed sliding panel enclosures for balconies and terraces, Glass Curtains have been installed in the UK as internal room dividers and commercially as frontages for cafés and restaurants. As the sole UK official installer of Glass Curtains, SunSeeker Doors is working with the originators to develop a double-glazed version that will comply with British Standards building regulations on thermal insulation properties. Glass Curtains operate in a similar way to SunSeeker Slimline doors but are entirely frameless.

We are updating our web site with details of all our products. If, in the meantime, you would like more information, please feel free to telephone the office on 01582 492 730 for a no obligation chat with our staff who are technically conversant with our products. We do not employ dedicated sales professionals to pressure you into buying our products.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Monday 10 August 2009

Fully Glazed Bifolding Doors link to Google Knol article

UK Home Improvement 1

Fully Glazed Bifolding Doors

A brighter, happier home can be achieved with more natural light and easier access between house and garden, patio, balcony or conservatory. If you are considering building an extension or replacing patio doors, you may find this information on folding sliding doors useful.

Read the full article on Google Knol.
.

Tuesday 14 July 2009

Case Study: Bristol

"An excellent product and brilliant service" is how Mark Guy of Parabola, a well respected building contractor based in Bristol, described SunSeeker Doors' bifolding door installation for one of his clients.

Engaged by his client to manage a renovation that includes a new kitchen, bifolding doors and a new balcony, Mark initially turned to a leading bifolding doors company, only to be disappointed with their product which, he says, had ugly profiles and couldn't do the job without compromises being made. Certain that his demands were not unreasonable, Mark 'hit the Internet' and narrowed his search to a handful of companies, each one of whom he contacted personally with a number of questions.

SunSeeker Doors is a family-run company that manufactures bifolding doors to order and that has a dedicated team of their own experienced fitters. Mark was impressed with the product knowledge of everyone he spoke to at the company; the staff had a level of confidence in the product that did not require high pressure sales techniques. Not only were SunSeeker Doors his favoured product but they provided best value and quickest turn-round.

The installation of a three-panel door system in olive green contributes to the overall stunning effect of the project, with lovely views over the garden from the kitchen. Mark said the client was "thrilled" with the result.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Key Features of BiFolding SunSeeker Doors

  • Tailor-made: 900mm to 7.2m wide; up to 2.5m high; custom-made to fit exactly
  • Wide range of colours - white as standard - your colour choice
  • 40 different fold options - from single door to multi-door - your selection
  • Safety glass options: clear toughened (internal), "K" glass (external), obscured, laminated, antisun, Argon-filled plus leaded-light or Georian bar styles
  • Handle and hinge options, including stainless steel, white or to match the door colour
  • Optional integral blinds in a choice of colours
  • Low threshold for internal use - no need to step over
  • Weatherproof cill for external use
  • Draught-proof and weather-proof doors
  • Thermally broken architectural aluminium for external use
  • Hidden castor system and in-line handles for added elegance
  • Slim profile - doors fold flat for maximum viewing area
  • Single key option for multiple doors
  • Shoot-bolt locking system into both upper and lower tracks for greater security
  • Inside only handles for added security
  • No ugly sliding mullion or ugly heavy, black rubber seals
  • Manufactured to order, here in the UK

Tuesday 16 June 2009

A Day in the Life of Glazed BiFolding Doors ... ... ... (with integral blinds)

June 2009.

6.30 a.m.: the integral blinds have their slats opened to welcome in the daylight, tilted slightly against the sun so that the early morning news, travel and weather can be seen on television.

8.00 a.m.: tilt the slats the other way to let light flood in whilst breakfast is cleared away and the room tidied.

9.00 a.m.: a glorious day - open the single door to let the fresh warm air flow inside.

10.30 a.m.: a guest has arrived - unlock the foldable doors and widen the gap for easy access to the patio.

11.30 a.m.: too hot and bright to sit outside - open the doors fully and sit inside whilst enjoying the fresh air, garden fragrances and views from a comfortable seat in the indoor shade.

1.00 p.m.: close and lock the doors, fully close the blinds to keep the sun at bay whilst leaving the house for the afternoon.

3.00 p.m.: return home and throw open the doors!

4.00 p.m.: children home from school and playing ball on the patio, close the doors a little to narrow the gap where the ball keeps coming in; consider closing the doors fully to keep out the noise as well as the ball!

5.30 p.m.: noisy playtime over, open the doors wide again to enjoy the late afternoon warmth.

7.30 p.m.: decide to carry the dining table outside through wide doorway to enjoy a family evening meal 'al fresco'.

8.30 p.m.: carry the table in through the wide opening.

9.00 p.m.: close the doors, leave the blind slats open as there is still daylight outside.

10.30 p.m.: close the blind slats, lock the doors.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday 3 June 2009

Hot Bright Sunlight ... Oh No!


We've been waiting for the summer since spring 2008
and now we have a taste of it, we remember how hot and bright the sun can be. Much as we have longed for this glorious sunshine, let's now consider the practical elements of bringing the outdoors inside with bifolding glass doors.


If you are thinking of installing bifolding doors, especially if they will be south-facing, you may need to consider the effect of prolonged strong sunlight on your interior furnishing. What are the options?


  • Hang drapes or vertical blinds inside the doors. These can be easily opened to the sides of the doors when required; vertical blinds can also be left in place and adjusted to allow some natural light through. This option becomes less feasible for very wide openings because there is an upper limit to the length of track that blinds can use.

  • Order integral blinds with the folding doors. Each of the double-glazed units can accommodate a pleated blind or Venetian (slatted) blind inside the cavity. Like the vertical blind, horizontal slatted blinds can be fully open, fully closed or adjusted to allow a measured amount of light through. As the blinds are housed within a vacuum, they will never become dusty (Oh Joy!). Operable by magnets or electronic remote control, the integral blinds are not subjected to heave-handedness and are therefore not prone to damage.

  • Order the bifolding doors with special anti-sun glass. This option will filter the sun's harmful rays but does not reduce the light dramatically, as blinds would.

To find out more about the options before you order your bifolding doors, take a look at the SunSeeker Doors
web site or call the Sales office on 01582 492730.

And you haven't missed the boat yet for this summer - from order to installation is currently less than 1 month. Contact us now for the best summer ever in your home.

:o)

Monday 18 May 2009

'Key Alike' locks option on bifolding doors

Imagine a span of, say, 8 folding doors. Each folding pair has a secure lock with a set of keys. That's a big bunch!

When you order your SunSeeker bifolding doors, you can opt for 'Key Alike' locks for a small extra charge. This means that all locks are keyed alike, requiring only one set of keys for the range, regardless of how many doors are installed.

Other options include stainless steel or colour-matched handles, frame colour choice, Georgian or leaded-light glass, various types of glazing unit (argon filled, laminated, anti-sun or obscured instead of standard toughened K-glass) and integral blinds.

The blinds option has options! Horizontal pleated or slatted Venetian blinds with colour choice can be set inside the double glazing during manufacture, with manual or remote-controlled open/close mechanism.

List of options | More about Blinds | Quote Request

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Slim Profiles. What’s that all about?


Aluminium bifolding doors have slimmer profiles than pvc doors.

Metal is a stronger material than plastic therefore less of it is required to support the double-glazed unit that is the centrepiece of your bifolding door panel.

The top image illustrates the profiles of a 4-panel bifolding door system from SunSeeker Doors compared with the equivalent pvc profiles in the picture beneath it.


In addition to the obvious benefits when the doors are closed (see previous blog post), this means that the profile (the edge of the door panel that can be seen when the doors are open) is narrower, typically 50mm compared with 75mm on the pvc doors we measured. The profile for a pair of doors is more than double because there needs to be a small gap (approx 15mm or so) between the hinged door panels.

Given that pvc profiles are, on average, 50% wider than SunSeeker Doors’ aluminium profiles, the difference increases proportionally with the number of doors. The space required by an open set of six pvc door panels is in the region of 50cm, 6 or 7 inches more than SunSeeker Doors.


Click through to SunSeekerDoors.co.uk and look at the main image illustrating the doors in an open position, closed and closed with closed integral blinds.

Monday 20 April 2009

BiFolding Door Frames: metal, wood, pvc comparison.

sunseekerdoors.co.uk aluminium framesThe irony is ... you can spend thousands of pounds on something you DON'T want to see!

Bifolding doors from your home to your conservatory or garden. You need them to keep the weather out but you probably want maximum natural light and the least interrupted view. The less you see of the doors, the better! Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

There are three main choices of frame: aluminium, wood and pvc. Aluminium, being the strongest material, requires the least amount of frame, therefore enabling more glass per square metre and the slimmest profile for when the doors are opened and pushed aside.

PVC is sometimes reinforced with metal; the strength of the pvc in a make of doors will vary and the frame width may therefore range from maybe just under twice as wide as aluminium to almost three times as wide, leaving a much smaller panel of glass.

Wood is somewhere in between.

The comparisons are illustrated in the scaled image of a six-panel bifolding door with a view of horses in a field. The green door frames represent aluminium which is powder-coated in the colour of your choice when you place your order. The brown frames represent wood and the white frames pvc. Choose your horse and compare how much of it is visible through the glass panels. No bets taken on the winner!

Take a look at the SunSeeker Doors web site for more details and an obligation-free quotation.

Thursday 2 April 2009

BiFolding Doors vs French Doors, Illustrated

SunSeeker Bifolding Doors
The photograph shows an aluminium-framed 3-door SunSeeker biFolding Doors installation, partly opened to the size of a typical French Door aperture size. It ideally illustrates the difference between the two types of door openings and their potential aperture sizes.

This installation also has integral blinds fitted to the doors, between the glass. You can see from the shadows in the photograph how the blinds can protect a south-facing room from intense light and therefore soaring temperatures and also help prevent carpets and furniture from sun-bleaching.

SunSeeker Doors sourced the side windows for the client, with matching integral blinds, and completed the installation in less than half a day, only five weeks from initial order.

To see more photographs of SunSeeker Doors installations, visit the web site gallery at www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk
; if you would like a no-obligation quotation to have your bifolding doors fitted this spring, call SunSeeker Doors on 01582 492 730 or submit the quotation form.

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Tuesday 17 March 2009

Summer's coming ... need patio doors with integral blinds and no dusting!

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There are several issues to be covered here. First, planning ahead. Summer is coming and bifolding-sliding doors that open across the whole wall, either to the conservatory or the garden, would be brilliant! You could feel like you were on holiday in the Mediterranean with an
al fresco lifestyle. Furniture can easily be carried onto the patio through the wide opening and the balmy breeze can waft into the room, carrying with it the scent of garden flowers.

Secondly, if you make that decision early to catch the Spring sunshine, it may be a little nippy to keep the doors fully open all day but with a south-facing aspect the house will be warm all day. However, if the house is empty during hot summer days, you may want a contingency plan to keep the temperature down a little - maybe curtains or vertical blinds to stop the sun's penetrating rays from making the room too stuffy.

Here's a great idea ... order your patio doors with integral blinds! You can choose pleated or slatted, fitted inside the double glazing cavity and operated from within the room, either manually (using magnets) or with a remote control. The blinds will never need dusting or cleaning, they are not subjected to heavy-handedness so they are unlikely to need repair. Integral blinds are available in a range of colours, as are the powder-coated door frames. Match them or contrast to establish your style.

If you want integral blinds, you will need to order your bifolding doors at least a month before installation (maybe longer, depending on work schedules) but if you just want a fabulous range of up to 7.2 metres of folding glass wall between your home and the great outdoors, current timescales are from two to four weeks between order and installation.

SunSeeker Doors are made to order in their factory near the M1 in Bedfordshire, fitted by their experienced installation team and carry a two-year warranty. Client testimonials are included amongst the blog posts; further information plus a photograph gallery and a quotation request form are on the web site:
SunSeekerDoors.co.uk.

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Monday 9 March 2009

BiFolding Doors - Builders' Cheaper Alternatives

No matter what the budget for home improvement, it always seems to escalate and cost-cutting becomes essential.

A single storey extension might be priced by the builder at around £40,000. Whether the builder is charging time-and-materials or a fixed-price-job, there will almost always be extras to pay for. For example, is there a percentage allowed for unforeseen problems such as uncovering rotting timbers or discovering damaged pipework?

Have you checked any 'PC' items in the builders quote/estimate? These are Provisional Costings and therefore subject to change. Examples here might include doors, windows, sanitaryware, taps, floor tiles, etc. These PCs are often for basic options and most home-owners tend to be a bit more choosy. If you haven't already sourced and priced specific items, these extras can add up to a significant amount.

Not to mention how many changes to the original specification happen during the process!


Many builders are good sources of information when it comes to suggesting suppliers and best value for money but, even with the best intentions, following that advice can sometimes be detrimental.

During the past week, here at SunSeeker Doors, two cases have come to our attention. In each entirely separate case, a builder had suggested that costs of bifolding doors could be reduced if sourced elsewhere through the trade. In both cases, the doors were supplied by companies that do not specialise in bifolding doors and, unfortunately, the doors soon became difficult to operate.

At the end of the job
the doors were working but it transpired that they came with no further guarantee nor warranty. Who is responsible? The supplier, the builder or the home-owner? In the end, it's the home-owner who has paid the money and has to sort out any problems.

Bifolding doors, manufactured by specialist companies such as SunSeeker Doors, can offer warranties on their products and installations because the products have been tried and tested in thousands of homes over the years, measured and fitted by experienced professionals.


Typical pitfalls with bifolding doors are: (1) materials used (2) tension calculations.


Wood, particularly softwood but including unseasoned hardwood, can warp and can expand in hot or wet weather. Once this happens, there could be problems with opening, closing and sliding. More importantly, this means that the doors may not be keeping the heat in or the draught out.
The weight of the doors needs to be distributed correctly to enable the doors to slide smoothly in the runners for the full length of the opening, particularly as the openings can be 5, 6 or 7 metres in length.

SunSeeker BiFolding Doors are made from aluminium. It's strength, compared with pvc or wood, enables a much narrower frame around each glass door panel and a slimmer profile for maximum access when doors are fully opened. A real benefit of the powder-coated finish is that it doesn't require painting or varnishing.
And, though a major objective is to see as little door-frame as possible, what you can see will remain looking good just wiped with a damp cloth occasionally.

SunSeeker Door prices are very competitive for the quality and anticipated life of the product, they will continue to perform for years, in terms of both functionality and thermal efficiency.

Please take a look at our web site before making your final decision:
www.SunSeekerDoors.co.uk

......... Features
......... Gallery
......... Testimonials
......... Quote Request
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Wednesday 25 February 2009

Clear Glass Curtains

Our December feature introduced the concept of Glass Curtains; our original press announcement can be seen on www.GlassCurtainsUK.blogspot.com

SunSeeker Doors Ltd is please to announce that DOUBLE-GLAZED GLASS CURTAINS are now available to order for installation in a few weeks.

Original Frameless Glass Curtains for balconies, terraces and internal room dividers are currently available for installation.

More details about Clear Glass Curtains and our aluminium-framed folding doors, made in Bedfordshire, can be found on our web site: http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk/

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Monday 2 February 2009

An Open View

February has begun with a blanket of snow covering, transforming the views from our cosy homes!

But what if your home isn't so cosy because your patio doors or windows need replacing? What if you don't have a full width of panoramic glazing to view the scenery and let in maximum natural light on dull days?

It's time to consider opening up that gloomy wall and treat yourself to high quality aluminium-framed double-glazed, thermally-compliant, fully insulated K-glass folding patio/balcony doors from
SunSeeker Doors.

Here are some comments from people who have made that choice:

London: Nicola S "Excellent Service and Installation", Francis B "Great Job", Anthony S "Brilliant Job", Claire T "The Service was Excellent, the fitting fabulous", John D "Quick and Easy, Most Impressed";

Kent: Julian K "It looks great and we are really pleased", Nicola N "The Doors look wonderful", Paul S "Good Job Done";

Surrey: Robert D "Brilliant Workers - really quick and efficient", Chris L "Helpful and Efficient Installation";

Hertfordshire: Maria C "Really pleased with the quick friendly service throughout", Brian P "Very Pleased with the doors and windows, especially the integral blinds";

Bedfordshire: Paul B "Looks Good, very tidy installation", Ann H "Good efficient service, friendly workmen";

For more comments from
Essex, Leicester, Nottingham, Solihull and other parts of the UK, view the home page of our web site: http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk and to view some photographs of the finished installations, visit the gallery page.

You can even email a request form for a free quotation with no obligation - we do not employ salesmen to pester people and have grown our business on personal recommendations.

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Friday 9 January 2009

A New Year Resolution: Don't Move ... Improve!

If you are lucky enough to be a house-owner with a comfortable mortgage, no mortgage at all or even if you have savings, the best thing to do with your cash right now is exactly what the Government wants you to do - spend it!

With current low interest rates, your money is losing value just sitting in the bank waiting for another rainy day so here's an alternative idea ... improve your house by installing good quality aluminium bifolding doors that will bring pleasure to your weather-watching and, if you are replacing old wooden french doors or pvc patio doors, you may also reduce your heating bills.

History shows that house prices will recover so home improvements are a good investment and buying British helps the local economy. Bedfordshire-based SunSeeker Doors Ltd manufactures folding patio doors to order, made with aluminium shipped direct from a factory in the north of England.

An enquiry costs nothing. Visit the web site and find out how much your new doors will cost: http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk

Open new doors - you'll be amazed how life can change for the better!