Installing a set of custom folding doors is a dream come true for many homeowners. Replacing a solid wall with a beautiful glass wall that can be folded to the side to let in fresh air and sunlight is something that you’d expect from a luxury resort or mansion.

Thanks to the abundance of high-quality folding door manufacturers on the market today, though, almost anybody can install folding doors in their home. That being said, the process often involves knocking down large walls within your house, which can quickly turn into a bigger job than expected.

In today’s post, we’re going to take a few minutes to discuss some of the most common concerns regarding the structural integrity of your home and planning your folding door installation. Here’s what you need to know!

Common Structural Concerns Regarding Folding Door Installation

Modern homes are designed very specifically. Unlike playing with a set of Legos, you can’t just go knocking down walls at will without some serious planning beforehand. Just because they make it look easy on HGTV home renovation shows doesn’t mean that it is.

What those shows often leave out is that the contractors have to carefully plan around the structure of the home to prevent the entire home from collapsing. Often, the contractors will have to install temporary supports and beams to keep the home steady and stable while the home improvement projects are being conducted. All of this takes work and planning.

That being said, the project is completely possible, and we’re not trying to dissuade you from going through with it in the least. However, we just want you to have an accurate idea of the amount of work, time, and money that’s going to go into making your dream a reality.

Here are some of the most common concerns regarding a new folding door install that you’ll need to keep in mind and discuss with your contractor.

Structural Supports

The biggest concern is whether or not your folding doors will affect your home’s structural supports. If you’re building a new home from the ground up, then this isn’t really a big issue. You can custom-build the home to accommodate your planned folding doors.

However, if you’re renovating a pre-existing home, then this is where it can become an issue…

You see, exterior folding doors are almost always going to be installed on one of the main four walls in your home. They’re usually meant to replace existing porch doors or function as the main entrance to a building. The problem is that each of the main four walls in your home helps to support the entire weight of your home, so you can’t just go knocking them down without having temporary support in place to take on the added weight.

Working With An Architect

If you or your contractor think that this could be a concern, then you’ll likely end up working with an architect or a structural engineer. They will be able to perform an inspection of your home and map out where all of the weak points are. Then, they can instruct the contractor where to place supports so that the rest of your home isn’t affected by the project.

Re-Routing Electrical Conduits

Another common concern is that the electrical conduits may need to be re-routed. The walls in your home are basically a grid full of electrical wiring and conduits that lead to every single outlet, light, and switch in your home.

You and your contractor will need to identify which (if any) conduits or going through the wall that you’re about to knock down or expand. Then, you will need to shut off electricity to that part of the house before removing and re-routing the conduits. This is very important if you want to avoid electrical accidents such as electrocution or even fires.

Re-Routing Plumbing

In addition to electrical conduits, your walls also house plumbing lines that lead to the various drains, sinks, and other appliances in your home. There might not be any plumbing lines running through the wall, but you never want to assume anything.

You and your contractor will need to look at a pre-existing blueprint of your home to see where any potential plumbing lines are. If there isn’t a blueprint to examine, then you may need to remove the surrounding drywall to check for yourself.

Installing Exterior Folding Doors Vs. Interior Folding Doors

Generally speaking, exterior folding door installations are a lot more labor-intensive than interior folding door installation. Interior folding door systems are far lighter-weight, and typically don’t require as much modification to the existing supports and structure of your home. This usually translates to lower installation costs.

How To Install Folding Doors Without Damaging Your Home’s Structure

The best way to ensure that your exterior folding door installation goes smoothly is to hire the right people for the job. In addition to hiring a contractor or an experienced carpenter to install the doors themselves, you may need to hire an architect or engineer to assist in the planning of the project.

Conclusion

If you’re installing high-quality doors and you’ve hired the right installation team, then no; folding doors shouldn’t damage the structural integrity of your home. In fact, after installation, your house may even be stronger than it was before!