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.
We arrange bifold or sliding doors for homeowners in Godalming and the wider Surrey. The job is planned, priced and managed by us and carried out by tradespeople engaged under our contract, so there is one agreement and one contact. On a typical home the work takes 1–2 days to fit into a ready opening, and guide pricing in the South East is £3,400–£9,000, VAT included.
- Guide price
- £3,400–£9,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 days to fit into a ready opening
- Postcodes
- GU7
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Surrey
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for bifold or sliding doors in Godalming?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for bifold or sliding doors in Godalming. Because rates in the South East are about 12% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £3,400–£9,000, 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 Godalming |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC sliding or French doors | Standard uPVC doors fitted into an existing opening of up to about 2m. | £1,700–£3,400 |
| 3m aluminium bifold | A three-panel aluminium bifold in a standard colour, fitted into a ready opening. | £3,900–£7,800 |
| Wide bifold or slimline slider | Openings of 4m or more and slim-frame doors, often with a new steel above. | £7,800–£15,500 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- 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
What do you get?
- Measured survey of the opening, lintel and floor levels
- Toughened double glazing as standard, with solar control options
- Removal of existing doors or windows and disposal of waste
- Level or low threshold options to suit your patio
- Weather seals, cills and internal trims finished neatly
- Building regulations sign-off arranged for the new doors
What are homes like around Godalming?
Surrey has many Victorian and Edwardian villas, interwar semis in the commuter towns near London, and Arts and Crafts houses with tile-hanging and tall chimneys. Bargate stone appears around Godalming, and large detached homes are common in Guildford, Woking, Weybridge and the Surrey Hills villages.
Mild and relatively dry, with clay soils in the north and Weald that can move in summer; mature trees near houses affect foundations.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle bifold or sliding doors for homes in Godalming, from the first visit to the finished result.
Planning and building rules in Godalming
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Godalming, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
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
Survey and measure
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price bifold or sliding doors properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
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.
Booking the work
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
The work itself
Our trades complete bifold or sliding doors while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Can you fit bifold doors where I have a window now?
Bifold doors can usually replace a window by cutting the wall down to floor level and, if the opening is being widened, fitting a new lintel or steel beam. A structural engineer sizes the beam, and building control approval is needed. Radiators, pipes and cables under the window may need moving. We check all of this at the survey and include it in a single written quote.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
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.
Are bifold doors secure?
Modern bifold and sliding doors are designed to be secure, with multi-point locks, shoot bolts into the frame, internally beaded glass and toughened or laminated glazing. The traffic door, which you use day to day, has a cylinder lock that can take an anti-snap barrel. Sliding doors also have anti-lift features. We explain the locking on each option so you can compare like for like.
Do I need planning permission in Godalming?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Godalming is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Also covering areas around Godalming
Coverage for Godalming spans GU7. Close by, Guildford, Aldershot and Farnham are covered too, and the rest of our UK-wide area follows the same survey-then-quote process from start to finish.