Bifold doors are glazed panels that fold and stack to one side to open up a wide gap, while sliding doors glide past each other on tracks; both connect a living space to the garden and bring in more daylight.
Planning bifold or sliding doors for a home in Fulham means making a handful of decisions about materials, layout, finish and timing. We help you work through them at a free survey, then confirm in writing what it will cost for the options you pick. Most projects of this type need 1–2 days to fit into a ready opening, and we cover every SW5, SW6, SW10 and W6 address as well as the rest of London.
- Guide price
- £3,900–£10,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 days to fit into a ready opening
- Postcodes
- SW5, SW6, SW10, W6 and W8
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for bifold or sliding doors in Fulham?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for bifold or sliding doors in Fulham. Because rates in London are about 30% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £3,900–£10,500, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Fulham |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC sliding or French doors | Standard uPVC doors fitted into an existing opening of up to about 2m. | £1,950–£3,900 |
| 3m aluminium bifold | A three-panel aluminium bifold in a standard colour, fitted into a ready opening. | £4,600–£9,100 |
| Wide bifold or slimline slider | Openings of 4m or more and slim-frame doors, often with a new steel above. | £9,100–£18,000 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Width and height of the opening and number of panels
- Glazing upgrades such as solar control or triple glazing
- Widening the opening with a new steel beam
- Threshold type, colour choice and built-in blinds
Scope of the work
- Measured survey of the opening, lintel and floor levels
- Made-to-measure bifold, sliding or French doors in your chosen colour
- Toughened double glazing as standard, with solar control options
- Removal of existing doors or windows and disposal of waste
- Opening widened with a new lintel or steel where agreed
- Building regulations sign-off arranged for the new doors
Building in Fulham
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.
For bifold or sliding doors in Fulham, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Permissions for bifold or sliding doors in Fulham
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Fulham, the answer is England, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
Replacing windows and doors on a house is usually permitted development in England when the new ones look broadly similar to the old. Flats, listed buildings and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can need consent, and conservation areas may limit materials or styles.
Replacement windows and external doors must meet Building Regulations for energy efficiency, ventilation and, on upper floors, escape. The work is either self-certified by an installer registered with a competent person scheme or signed off by building control.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
From survey to handover
A visit to your home
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Your fixed price
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for bifold or sliding doors.
Dates and permissions
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
On site to finish
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
What you can expect from us
Common questions
How long do bifold doors take to make and fit?
Aluminium bifold and sliding doors usually take several weeks to manufacture after the survey, depending on the supplier and colour. Fitting into a ready opening normally takes one to two days, including sealing and finishing trims. If we are widening the opening, allow a few extra days for the structural work and making good before the doors arrive. We give you the expected timeline with your quote.
Should I choose bifold or sliding doors?
Bifold doors suit you if you want to open the whole width to the garden, because the panels fold and stack to one side. Sliding doors suit you if you mainly want the view, because they have fewer, larger panes and slimmer frames, though only part of the width opens. Sliding doors also take up no room when open. We help you weigh up how you will use the space in summer and winter.
Will large glass doors make my room cold?
Large glass doors lose more heat than an insulated wall, but modern double glazing with thermally broken frames performs far better than older patio doors. Solar control glass helps stop south-facing rooms overheating in summer. In extensions, building control looks at the total glazed area, so heat-loss calculations may be needed. We can suggest glass specifications that balance light, warmth and cost.
Do you cover Chelsea, Putney and Battersea?
Yes. As well as Fulham, we cover Chelsea, Putney and Battersea and the rest of London. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Can you combine bifold or sliding doors with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan bifold or sliding doors alongside other work on your Fulham home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Nearby towns
Our coverage in Fulham includes SW5, SW6, SW10 and W6. We also travel to Chelsea, Putney and Battersea, so neighbouring addresses are looked after on exactly the same terms as those in town.