Bi-fold and patio doors in West Bromwich

Bi-fold and patio doors in West Bromwich: approvals and local details

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 West Bromwich, building control is provided by Sandwell 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.
Sliding doors never swing into the room, which helps in a kitchen where space is tight.
With a traffic door on a bi-fold set, you don't have to open every panel to step outside.

Postcode districts: B70, B71
Planning and building control: Sandwell Council
From our West Bromwich base: Our home town

Choices to weigh up in West Bromwich

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.

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.

How much should you budget in West Bromwich?

For a home in West Bromwich, 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 West Bromwich

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.

Which postcodes in West Bromwich do you work in?

We cover B70, B71 and the streets around them. If you're on the edge of West Bromwich, neighbouring Oldbury and Smethwick are covered too.

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 Sandwell 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 West Bromwich is provided by Sandwell Council or a registered building control approver, and some work is self-certified by registered installers.

Also covering nearby

Other home improvements in West Bromwich

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