One of the reasons why folding door systems are in such high demand is their absolute versatility. While many homeowners simply use them to replace old-school sliding glass porch doors, others use them as the main entrance, or perform a complete restructuring of their home to accommodate extra-wide panoramic folding door systems.

Folding glass doors aren’t just for homeowners, either. In fact, they’ve become a popular way to modernize an office space or retail business! At the end of the day, a folding door system offers an increased sense of clarity and helps to make a confined space seem a lot bigger than what it actually is.

In today’s post, we’re going to take a look at 7 of the most commonly seen folding door setups on the market. We’ll start by going over the most common residential setups and then mention a few of the most common office/retail business setups. It’s time to get creative!

7 Types Of Folding Door Setups

Folding doors can occupy a small doorway or a large doorway, replace an entire wall in your home, be short, tall, or somewhere in-between. No matter who comes into your home or business, these doors are guaranteed to make a solid impression that will make your space hard to forget.

If you’re wondering what the best way to install your folding door system in your space is, then we’ve got you covered. Take a look below.

1) Small 3-Panel Door Setup

The most common residential folding door setup is a small 3-panel system. If you’re working with a smaller doorway (such as replacing your old sliding glass door from the 1980s), then each door panel will typically be around 6-feet tall and 2.5-feet wide.

3-panel folding door setups may also be designed large, using taller and wider door panels. It all depends on how the framing of your particular home is designed. These folding door systems are designed to utilize the existing doorway, so you won’t have to add-on or remove the physical structure of your home and the existing doorframe.

Last but not least, a 3-panel setup is always going to be the most wallet-friendly. Folding glass door systems are typically priced per panel, so the fewer panels you have in your system, the cheaper it will be!

2) Large 5 to 7-panel Door Setup

If you look at some of the major folding door manufacturers based out of Southern California (such as La Cantina, for instance), you’ll notice that many of the homes feature extra-wide panoramic door setups. These entrances are typically anywhere between 6 and 8-feet tall and may span up to 20-feet wide.

A setup like this is great if you live somewhere where the client is moderate and you can open up your home for extended periods throughout the day. This style was popularized in Southern Californian architecture, as the weather there is usually warm year-round, and there’s always a fresh sea breeze rolling in from the Pacific.

3) L-Shaped Setup

Today’s folding doors are a wonder of modern engineering. Despite many doors’ low-profile, all-glass appearance, these folding door systems are a lot stronger than you might imagine and can withstand a lot of weight.

This means that, if installed properly, you can arrange your folding door system in an L-shaped pattern that spans across two perpendicular walls at a 90-degree angle. There will, of course, have to be a post or solid support at the convergence of the two walls. However, as long as the frame and the track the doors are installed on is solid, the system will be strong and durable.

That being said, installing an L-shaped folding door system in an older home can be a bit of a struggle. This is because significant structural changes may need to be made to the walls that support your home.

For this reason, L-shaped folding door setups are usually installed as part of new construction projects, where the frame of the home can be customized and built around the pre-planned folding door system.

4) Square-Shaped Setup (For Meeting Rooms/Offices)

Folding doors have become a popular choice for office meeting rooms or conference rooms. When meetings are in session, the folding door system can be completely closed to provide increased security and privacy for the parties involved. When the meeting is over, though, the entire room can be opened back up for regular use.

Square-shaped setups typically feature three folding door “walls” arranged against a solid back wall or may feature four folding door “walls” that are aligned using four support posts around the room. The latter setup is commonly seen in meeting rooms that are arranged in the center of an office building (as opposed to being arranged on the wall) of the office.

5) As A Porch Entrance

If you’re trying to create a custom patio, porch, or renovate your existing outdoor space, then few things are quite as impressive as a set of folding doors. They’re an excellent choice if you frequently host parties, as it makes for an easy transition from your home’s interior to the backyard.

6) As The Main Entrance

Although folding doors are most commonly used as a porch entrance towards the rear of the home or on a patio, they can also be utilized as the main entrance of your home. All folding door systems feature a single swinging door designed for everyday entry and exiting, so you don’t have to worry about opening all of the panels every time that you want to walk outside.

7) As A Business Window

Before folding doors became a trend in residential homebuilding, they were actually used in old Spanish and Italian-style restaurants and businesses. Utilizing a large folding door system as either a window or entranceway for your business is a great way to attract new customers and keep fresh air circulating through your space.

Conclusion

When it comes to creating your custom folding door setup, the possibilities are endless! Whether you’re renovating an old space, building a new space, or looking for a tax-deductible expense for your office, folding doors are an excellent choice!