What Is the Difference Between Origin Bifold, Sliding, and Entrance Doors?
Not sure which Origin system is right for your project? We break down the full Origin door range, bifold, sliding, and entrance, clearly.
Origin manufactures three distinct categories of external door system: bifold, sliding, and entrance. Each is engineered for a specific purpose, optimised for different opening sizes and usage patterns, and designed with a different set of performance priorities. Here's how to understand the differences and identify which is right for your project.
Origin Bifold Doors
How they work
Origin's bifold door system uses a concertina fold action, panels fold back on themselves and stack at one or both ends of the opening. When fully open, the bifold creates the largest possible clear opening of any door system type, with up to 90% of the frame width unobstructed.
Typical use cases
Kitchen-to-garden connections, open plan living spaces, garden rooms, large rear extension openings. Best suited to openings where the maximum clear width when open is the priority, the full indoor-outdoor connection that other door types can't match.
Size range
Configurable from two panels (from approximately 1200mm wide) up to seven or more panels for very large openings. Each panel is manufactured to your exact width specification within the range of approximately 600–1000mm per leaf.
Key features
Multi-point locking on all panels, traffic door (independently operable panel) available at either end, low or flush threshold options, dual-colour powder coat available. Integrated blind option available within the sealed glass units.
Origin Sliding Doors
How they work
Origin's sliding door system operates on precision overhead tracking, panels glide horizontally and stack at the side of the opening. Unlike bifolds, the stacked panels reduce the clear opening width slightly, but modern inline sliding configurations can clear a large proportion of the opening.
Typical use cases
Contemporary extensions where an architectural, frameless aesthetic is the priority. Tighter external spaces where bifold stack clearance is constrained. Wide openings where slim frame profiles and maximum glass are the primary design objectives.
Key features
Ultra-slim frame profiles, smooth overhead-track operation, PAS 24 security, dual-colour powder coat available. The sliding system's strength is the quality of the glass-to-frame ratio, more glass, less visible frame than most bifold configurations.
Origin Entrance Doors
How they work
Single or double hinged door panels, the traditional door action. Origin's entrance door range is designed for front and side entrances, bringing premium aluminium engineering and any-RAL powder coat to the part of the home that makes the first impression.
Typical use cases
Front entrance doors, side access gates, utility entrance doors, any external door where a hinged single or double panel is the appropriate configuration.
Key features
Secured by Design approved, multi-point locking, any glass configuration from fully solid to full-height glazed, side lights and over-lights available in the same frame system, dual-colour powder coat available.
Which One Do I Need?
The simplest guide: if you're opening a kitchen or living space onto a garden and you want the widest possible clear opening, choose bifold. If you want maximum glass area with razor-slim frames and the door is rear-facing, consider sliding. If you need a front door, entrance, or single-panel access point, choose an entrance door.
Many projects include more than one type, a bifold set across the rear of an extension and an entrance door at the front, both in matching anthracite from the same Origin range. SmartaView can specify the full package, all in the same colour, all with the same 20-year guarantee.
Contact SmartaView to Discuss Which Origin System Is Right for Your Project
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Author at SmartaView, writing about aluminium glazing, home improvements and the buying process.
