Whether you’re looking at modern architecture or cutting-edge home improvement projects, folding door systems are where it’s at. All you need to do is turn on your favorite HGTV home improvement show to see all of your favorite construction superheroes ripping out ugly old porch doors and replacing them with beautiful sets of panoramic folding doors.

Just how big can these folding door systems get, though? How wide can you make your folding door systems?

When it comes to folding doors, the only real limit is your imagination! While most residential folding door sets typically feature 3 to 5-panel setups, it’s not uncommon to see extra-wide systems that link anywhere from 10 to 12 folding door panels together as part of a large, moving wall of glass.

Of course, the bigger your folding door system becomes, the more work you’ll have to put into it and the more structural work-arounds you’ll need to put into play. However, if you’re committed (and you’ve got the coin), then you can easily install an extra-wide panoramic folding door system in your home or office.

In today’s post, we’re going to go over some of the most common concerns and things to keep in mind when dealing with extra-wide folding doors. Then, we’ll spend a few minutes answering some of the most commonly asked questions about extra-large folding door sytsems.

Considerations When Installing Extra-Wide Folding Door Systems

When it comes to installing smaller bi-fold door setups, it’s a fairly simple task. Sure, you’ll probably need to hire a contractor, but the job itself shouldn’t take longer than a day or two max. However, if you plan on installing an extra-wide panoramic porch folding doors, then the process is going to be a lot more involved.

For one, it’ll cost a good bit more money. Secondly, you may have to work with an architect or structural engineer (as opposed to just hiring a general contractor with carpentry skills). That being said, the reward of having an amazing glass wall that you can open and close at will is hard to beat.

So, if you’re still interested, then it’s time to start seriously thinking and planning for some of the following considerations. Here’s what you need to plan for.

1) Possible Structural Issues With Your Home

The first, an arguably most important, consideration to think about is the overall size of the job. When installing a simple bi-fold door, you can almost always utilize an existing porch doorway. With any luck, you won’t need to significantly restructure your walls or supports. Any contractor or carpenter worth their salt should be able to take some basic measurements and make it happen.

Large glass walls, on the other hand, may require you to completely redesign the structure of an entire side of your home. It’s not as simple as just knocking the old structure down and putting in a folding door system.

Once you start tearing down large 20 to 30-feet-wide sections of your wall, there’s the risk that your entire home could fall and collapse in on itself. Houses are designed with leverage and balance in mind, which means that unbalancing an entire side of the home can be a bad idea.

This is why larger projects will typically need to be completed in conjunction with an architect or structural engineer. Some of the higher-end folding door companies may be able to put you in touch with one; otherwise, you’ll need to source one yourself.

The engineer or architect will closely examine the structure of your home and determine what actions need to be taken to prevent collapse. Temporary supports may need to be put up while the frame of the door is being installed. In some cases, an entire wing of your home may need to be re-built in order to accommodate an extra-wide panoramic folding door systems.

We’re not saying any of this to discourage you. However, it is a fact and it’s something that you’ll need to plan for if you want to turn your dream into a reality.

2) Privacy

One of the least thought about aspects in regards to installing large porch door systems is the fact that you’ll lose a considerable amount of privacy. If you previously had a large wall or a smaller sliding porch door, it was likely designed to provide you with privacy so nosey neighbors and passerbys couldn’t peep through and see what you were doing inside.

However, when you replace a 30-foot section of wall with pure glass, you’ll be opening up your home for the world to see. Now, if you live somewhere like the Hollywood Hills, where the homes are staggered for privacy, then this won’t be a major issue.

However, if you live in a more typical neighborhood or your back porch happens to be facing your neighbors house, then you may need to consider adding some privacy features to your folding door set.

Options For Privacy Folding Doors

Below are the most common options for maintaining your home’s privacy if you decide on installing a set of panoramic folding doors.

• Etched/Sandblasted Windows
• Window Tint
• Switchable Privacy Glass

3) Cost Of Installation

Installing a large panoramic folding door system is going to be expensive. There’s no escaping the fact that you’re going to shell out thousands of dollars. In fact, it’s not uncommon for extra-large projects to cost upwards of $10,000 to $15,000 or more!

Of course, if you’ve got the money, then it’s your right to spend it how you please. However, don’t jump into this project if you’re not prepared to pay the money required to get it done right. This isn’t the type of project that you want to do “on the cheap.”

Trying to get budget work done can not only end up voiding the warranty on your folding door system, but it could also end in disaster. As we discussed earlier, failure to account for the entire home’s structural integrity could cause your entire home to collapse.

This means that you’ll not only have to shell out money for the doors themselves but you’ll also have to hire a professional contractor to install them and an architect or structural engineer.

Will Large Folding Doors Increase My Home’s Value?

Ultimately, you’ll have an entire small construction team on payroll for the duration of the job.
All of that being said, though, every dollar you spend installing an extra-wide panoramic door system into your home will increase your homes value. If you end up spending $20,000 on the project, then it should at least increase your home’s market value by $30,000 or more, making it an investment that gives you a considerable return.

Additionally, if you ever plan on renting your property out, you can leverage the project as a reason to charge higher rent and turn a bigger and better profit from the location.

4) Future Maintenance Costs

If they’re installed the right way and you’ve had the help up a structural engineer, then your folding door system should last up to a decade or more before any real problems start to arise. That being said, you will have to keep up with maintenance and perform some extra cleaning if you want them to last that long.

For example, anytime you leave the doors open for an extended period of time, you’ll want to go back and vacuum the track out to ensure that it’s free from any debris that could hinder the movement of the door panels. Additionally, you’ll want to keep your windows themselves clean and sparkling year-round, which means a lot of glass cleaning.

If you installed a set of wooden folding doors, then you’ll also have to perform routine wood treatments to maintain the quality and integrity of the wood. This means mold treatment once or twice a year and re-staining them once every 3 to 5 years, depending on the amount of UV/sun exposure they get.

Can You Combine Separate Sets Of Folding Doors?

Some of you may already have a smaller set of folding doors. Perhaps you have a 4 or 5-door setup and you’re wondering if you can expand the doorway, and add in a separate 3-door setup to make the entrance wider.

The answer to this is, it depends.

A lot of this will depend on the type of doors and whether or not they were designed to be part of a closed system. There may also be structural concerns to keep in mind if you plan on expanding the doorway. It’s best to contact your existing door’s manufacturer to see what your options are.

Installing Large Folding Door Systems In An Office

One of the most common places that we see extra-wide folding door systems installed in is in large offices. Meeting and conference rooms are a great place to fully enclose with commercial folding doors. Plus, you’re investing into your business, so it’s technically a tax write-off!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, installing an extra-wide folding door system in your home is a pretty big project. For this reason, many people only choose to add these folding door systems on new construction projects where they can build the structure of the home around the folding door system.

However, if you’re comitted to the idea, and you have the resources and team to make it happen, then modifying your existing space by installing an extra-large folding door system is completely possible!