So, it’s that time of year and you’re looking at your home trying to figure out what you can do to drastically improve the look of your home. Perhaps you renovated the porch or another area of the house in the last few years, and you’re looking to add to the progress.

Whether you’ve already started renovating your home or you’re just now getting into it, installing a set of exterior folding doors is a great way to completely revamp your space! Folding door systems can range from a simple bi-fold door to large projects that require a complete restructuring of your home. The good news is that you have plenty of options, depending on your budget and personal preferences.

The only question is, “Do exterior folding doors need to be professionally installed or is it an easy DIY project?”

Folding doors should always be installed by a professional. If you want your folding door system to operate smoothly, be properly insulated, and provide you with years of good service, it’s not the type of thing that you want to DIY. There’s a lot of specific measurements and micro-adjustments that need to be made while installing a folding door system, so unless you have previous experience, you’ll want to hire a contractor.

In today’s post, we’re going to discuss how to find a good contractor for folding door installation, and what type of experience you should look for. Then, we’ll spend a few minutes discussing where to find a good contractor, and why you should avoid “budget” contractors. Let’s dive in!

What Type of Experience Should You Look For In A Contractor?

As we mentioned, unless you have prior experience installing folding door systems, it’s always better to hire a professional. And even then, unless you’ve installed numerous folding door systems, you may not have the experience you need to do a perfect install.

When you’re looking for somebody to install folding doors, keep in mind that you don’t want to just hire any contractor. Rather, you’ll want to find somebody who has had previous experience working with exterior and/or porch door systems. Preferably, you’ll want to hire a contractor who’s installed the exact same folding doors you have (or something similar).

Now, it’s worth mentioning that some folding door companies may have a preferred list of contractors and companies that they’ve recommended to their customers before. However, not every company offers this or they may not have any listed contractors in your specific area.

So, that being said, let’s take a few minutes to discuss some of the key areas of expertise and experience that you should be on the lookout for when it comes to hiring a contractor.

Carpentry and Finish Carpentry

First and foremost, you want a good carpenter. Many contractors specialize, and its not uncommon to find contractors who focus more on an area like masonry. You’ll want to find a contractor who knows how to work with wood. They need to be comfortable knocking down a wall in your house and rebuilding it into a solid doorway for your folding door system.

After all, it’s your house we’re talking about… Hiring a contractor who doesn’t understand how to take your wall apart and put it back together can result in significant structural damage that you don’t want to deal with.

In addition to hiring somebody with general carpentry experience, you also want to find a contractor who is just as talented at “finish carpentry.” Finish carpentry is the final step and is the process that turns all of the rough edges and splinters into a well-sanded, smooth, sealed surface that just needs to be painted.

In some cases, you may hire a general contractor to install the door and hire a separate finish carpentry expert to put the final touches on the project. However, it’s almost always easier to find a contractor who can do it all in-house.

Patios and Exterior Door Systems

If at all possible, the contractor that you hire should have previous experience installing folding doors or at least working with exterior door systems. Doorways are often tricky areas and the door itself is often responsible for supporting the wall. If a contractor doesn’t know how to work with exterior doorways, then it could spell disaster.

Another important reason to find a contractor who has experience working with exterior door systems is that they’ll have a better grasp of how to waterproof the system. This is an important part of the process and helps to ensure that rainwater or outside flooding doesn’t get past the door and into your home.

Structural/Architectural Redesigns

Many exterior folding door installation jobs can be completed using an existing doorway. Most of the cheaper or smaller door sets can easily be placed in an opening where a standard sliding glass door once was. In most cases, these jobs will require little if any structural work on your home.

However, if you’re installing a large set of folding doors or you’re installing doors that span across two walls (in an L-shape), then you’ll need to rebuild the wall’s structure to ensure that your entire house doesn’t come crumbling down. So, do yourself a favor and find a contractor who knows how to work with home structures.

Where Can You Find A Company To Install Your Folding Doors?

There are several places you can look for contractors for your folding door installation. First, it’s usually a good idea to ask the company you purchased your folding doors from. As we mentioned, they may have a list of preferred contractors in your area that they trust and recommend.

However, if this isn’t a possibility, then you’ll need to find your own contractor. We recommend checking places like Google Business or Angie’s List to find a contracting company that specializes in patio doors, folding doors, or porch renovations. Make sure to find a company that has a history of positive reviews and plenty of experience, even if you have to pay them a little extra!