Bi-fold and patio doors in Handsworth

Planning your bi-fold or patio doors in Handsworth

This kind of work rarely needs planning permission, but it does have to comply with Building Regulations, and some parts must be certified by a registered installer or signed off by building control. In Handsworth, building control is provided by Birmingham City Council or a registered building control approver (formerly an approved inspector).

Glass in a door must be safety glass up to 1,500 mm above the floor.
With a traffic door on a bi-fold set, you don't have to open every panel to step outside.
Widening an opening needs a structural engineer's design and building control approval.

Postcode district: B21
Planning and building control: Birmingham City Council
From our West Bromwich base: 2 miles

Choices to weigh up in Handsworth

Widening an opening

Turning a window into doors, or making an opening wider, means cutting the wall and fitting a new lintel or steel beam sized by a structural engineer. Building control must approve the structural work. We organise the calculations, temporary supports, steel and making good, and show these costs on their own lines in your quote.

Sliding patio doors

Two or more large panels slide past each other on a track, so nothing swings into the room or onto the patio. Sliders give the biggest uninterrupted panes and the narrowest frames, which makes them a good choice where the view matters more than opening the whole wall. Aluminium sliders also suit wide openings.

What does your bi-fold or patio doors cost in Handsworth?

For a home in Handsworth, our guide range is £1,200–£8,500 per doorset. Three-panel aluminium bi-fold, about 2.4 m wide, in an existing opening: usually £3,200–£4,800 per doorset.

Guide prices for bi-fold and patio doors
Option	Guide price	Good to know
uPVC French or sliding doors	£1,200 – £2,400 per doorset	Openings up to about 1.8 m
Three-panel aluminium bi-fold	£3,000 – £5,000 per doorset	Openings of about 2.4–3 m
Four- or five-panel aluminium bi-fold	£4,800 – £8,500 per doorset	Openings of about 3.6–4.8 m

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. A free survey turns this guide into a fixed, itemised price.

Before you book in Handsworth

What guarantee comes with the doors?

The frames, glass, rollers and locks are covered by the manufacturer's guarantee, and the terms for your doors are set out in your quote. Ask how sealed units, running gear and powder coating are covered, as these vary between systems. Keep the guarantee with your certificate and any structural sign-off from building control.

Do you cover Handsworth?

Yes. Handsworth (B21) is about 2 miles from our West Bromwich base and inside the area we cover. Call 0800 088 6248 or send the form on this page to book a free survey.

How long does fitting take?

Fitting doors into a ready opening usually takes one to two days. If we're widening the opening, allow another two to four days for propping, cutting, fitting the beam, inspection and making good. Manufacture usually takes four to eight weeks after the design is signed off, depending on the material and colour.

Does Birmingham City Council need to approve my bi-fold or patio doors?

You won't usually need planning permission, but the work must meet Building Regulations. Building control in Handsworth is provided by Birmingham City Council or a registered building control approver, and some work is self-certified by registered installers.

Also covering nearby

Other home improvements in Handsworth

Not sure whether bi-folds or sliders suit your room? We'll talk it through on site in Handsworth, with no obligation.