Bi-fold and patio doors in Lichfield

Planning your bi-fold or patio doors in Lichfield

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 Lichfield, building control is provided by Lichfield District Council or a registered building control approver (formerly an approved inspector).

Sliding doors never swing into the room, which helps in a kitchen where space is tight.
A flush threshold needs the outside ground set lower, with drainage in front of the door.
With a traffic door on a bi-fold set, you don't have to open every panel to step outside.

Postcode district: WS13
Planning and building control: Lichfield District Council
From our West Bromwich base: 13 miles

Choices to weigh up in Lichfield

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.

French doors

A pair of hinged doors that open outwards or inwards, sometimes with fixed side panels. French doors suit narrower openings and older houses. They're the simplest and most affordable way to replace an old single back door, or to turn a window into a wider opening onto a patio.

Bi-fold and patio doors prices in Lichfield

For a home in Lichfield, 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.

Questions about bi-fold and patio doors in Lichfield

What should I check before ordering?

Think about the floor level inside and out: a flush threshold needs the patio set lower, with drainage at the door. Decide which side the panels should stack and where the everyday traffic door goes, keeping furniture in mind. If the doors face south or west, ask about solar control glass to keep the room cooler.

How do I book a survey in Lichfield?

Send the form on this page, use the guide-price tool or call 0800 088 6248 free. We'll ask a few questions about your bi-fold or patio doors and arrange a time to visit.

Which is better, bi-fold or sliding doors?

It depends on how you use the space. Bi-folds open almost the whole width, which suits summer living and wide openings onto a patio. Sliders have fewer, larger panes and slimmer frames, so they give a better view when closed and never take up room when open. Sliders are often the better pick where the doors stay shut for most of the year.

Will I need permission from the council in Lichfield?

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

Nearby places we cover

Other work we do in Lichfield

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