Are Folding Doors A Good Fit For An Office?
Are Folding Doors A Good Fit For An Office?
Gone are the old days of Mad Men-style offices with dull wooden doors. Today’s modern offices are all about openness and transparency. If you go into the offices of major tech companies like Apple or Facebook, you’ll see open glass walls and commercial glass folding doors, all of which encourage open communication and accountability. There’s no sleeping on the job here!
So, to answer the question, folding doors are an excellent fit for offices! Whether you’re a startup tech company, a doctor’s office, manage a retail business, or run a professional service that regularly hosts office meetings and invites clients in, a set of office folding doors can make a great first impression.
In today’s post, we’re going to go over some of the key reasons why more and more small business owners are adding commercial folding doors to their office spaces. We also understand that there may be some common concerns about privacy and overall safety, so we’ve done our best to address these frequently asked questions below as well! It’s time to revolutionize your office space.
Why You Should Consider Adding Folding Doors To Your Office
Let’s be honest, if you’re reading this post right now, then you’re probably already interested in installing a set of glass folding doors into your office. However, like any responsible business owner or manager, you’re probably doing your due diligence to make sure that they’re really worth the investment.
Admittedly, a set of folding doors can be a bit expensive. However, as long as you purchase a high-quality folding door system from a company that specializes in commercial folding door systems, we guarantee that they’ll be well worth every dollar that you invest into them.
Still not convinced? Here are the top 4 reasons why you should consider adding a folding door system to your office space!
1) They Create A More Open Feel
The biggest reason why commercial folding doors are being used more often in offices and businesses is due to the fact that they create a far more open feel. You have to admit that a panoramic folding glass wall is a lot more welcoming than a solid wall, right?
This makes commercial folding doors great for the main office or a meeting room space. They’ll allow managers to monitor what’s going on in the office while still giving them the privacy of having some type of glass wall so they can make their phone calls in private.
2) They’ll Impress Your Clients
One of the most common uses of glass folding doors in an office space is to enclose a meeting room! Unless you’re the head of the CIA, then it helps to have a meeting room that’s welcoming, friendly, and lets in plenty of natural light. However, you still want to be able to drown out the surrounding office noise and keep your board meetings private.
When a meeting is in effect, you can quickly and easily close all of the door panels to create a more private meeting space. Once the meeting is over, you can open all of the folding door panels and fold them to the side to create room for an open workspace or lunchroom!
3) Folding Doors Can Modernize Your Office
Although folding doors first became popular in SoCal beach houses, they’ve since spread across the country (and the world). Aside from the obvious benefits of creating a more open space and allowing more light into the room, a nice set of commercial folding doors creates a very modern aesthetic.
If you want your company to look like a progressive, forward-thinking, modern entity, then there’s no better way to achieve this look than to invest in creating a modern office space.
4) Increase The Market Value Of Your Office Space
Last but not least, a set of commercial folding doors can drastically increase the market value of your office space. Of course, if you’re renting, then this won’t make any difference (unless you get the landlord to take the cost of the doors off of your rent). However, if you own your office space, then you’ll have significantly increased your equity in the property!
Are Commercial Folding Doors Expensive?
The cost of your office folding doors will largely be determined by how big your folding door system is and how many folding doors you plan on installing throughout your office.
For example, if you’re just installed a small, 3-door multi-fold system, then you may be able to get one installed for less than $2,000. On the other hand, if you’re trying to enclose a large meeting room with a panoramic 7 to 10-panel multi-fold door, then you may pay upwards of $10,000 or more.
As we mentioned, though, all of the money invested will only serve to increase your equity in the office space. It may even be the finishing touch that gives a potential client the atmosphere they need to sign a large deal with you!
Privacy And Commercial Folding Doors
One of the biggest concerns about installing glass folding doors in an office is privacy. Thankfully, most commercial folding door manufacturers allow you to customize your door system with privacy glass, soundproof glass, and more, depending on your individual needs.
Adding Privacy Glass To Office Folding Doors
Let’s just say you running a professional counseling service. You (and your client) may not want everybody else who’s working in the office to be able to peek in and see what’s going on. The easiest solution to this problem is to customize your office folding doors with privacy glass.
Often referred to as “frosted” glass, this is the same type of glass that’s commonly seen used in bathrooms and shower doors. It’s accomplished by laser-etching or sandblasting the surface of the glass to create an opaque surface that still lets light in without allowing others to see through.
Generally speaking, customizing your folding door system with privacy glass shouldn’t cost all that much more than using standard transparent glass windowpanes. Not every company offers the option to customize with privacy glass, though. So if it’s a concern, make sure that you ask the manufacturer if it’s something that they offer.
Tinting Office Folding Doors
If you already have a set of commercial folding doors or you don’t want to pay extra for custom privacy glass, then you can always tint your office doors. Window tinting is an easy process can also be a quick DIY job. Even if you contract a professional for the job, it should still be relatively affordable.
If you’re tinting your windows for privacy, then we recommend using a metallic tint. These have a sleek, shiny finish that naturally reflects light and makes it harder for anybody outside to see inside. This is the same type of tint that’s used in limousines and party buses.
When it comes to selecting your tint, you’ll usually be able to select from a varying degree of percentages that range from light to very dark tint. If you’re looking for maximum privacy, then installing a 5% tint may be the best way to go.
Can You Soundproof Folding Doors?
For some businesses, confidentiality is key! Thankfully, many commercial door manufacturers can customize your doors with soundproof glass and a soundproof frame. To achieve this, they’ll either utilize multiple panes of glass or add a transparent polymer break that prevents sound waves from traveling through the folding doors.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve been able to clear up some of the confusion that you may have regarding the use of folding door systems in an office space. Ultimately, they’ll make a great addition to almost any office and can make an excellent first impression on both your clients and future employees. With plenty of options for customization, you’ll also be able to make them as open or private as you need!