Adjusting bifold doors is are an easy way to make storage space more functional. Accordion closet doors work well in restaurants, offices and retail shops as a way to keep storage areas out of sight and at the same time fully accessible. Additionally, since accordion doors come in a wide range of styles, colors and materials, they can enhance the overall design and beauty of a room.

Whether you are installing bifold interior doors, exterior bifold doors, custom bi-fold doors or glass bi-fold doors, you'll need certain supplies. Fortunately, these supplies are relatively inexpensive and can be found quickly on the Internet. Some of the supplies for bi-fold doors that you will need include:

1. Metal track;

2. Brackets and pivots;

3. And knobs and handles.

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Purchase metal track for bi-fold doors

The metal track along the top of the door frame is essential to the proper opening and closing of bi-fold doors. If you are installing bi-folding doors that are heavier than normal, you will need a commercial-grade track.

I recommend: Check out Designer Doors for a good selection of track for the top of bi-fold doors. You can also purchase kits that include the hardware for installing the track. ClosetDoorProducts.com specializes in selling hardware for bi-fold doors and has a good selection of track and track kits.

Purchase brackets and pivots for bi-fold doors

Adjustable brackets and pivots are what make accordion doors so unique. With a few quick turns of a screwdriver, you can tweak the height and width of the doors to ensure they fit properly into the door frame and easily open and close. If you are installing heavy-duty commercial doors, you should use heavy-duty brackets and pivots.

I recommend: Wholesale Replacement Hardware has a good selection of floor brackets, pivot brackets and top hanger brackets for bi-fold doors. The website does have a $25 minimum order. Hardware and Tools Corporation bills itself as the Internet's largest hardware store and, consequently, stocks a large number of bifold door brackets and pivots.

Purchase knobs and handles for bi-fold doors

Knobs and handles provide the finishing touch for bi-fold doors. In areas where customers or clients will be, a beautiful knob is a simple way to dress up your doors. If the doors will get a lot of use, you may want to select a sturdy set of knobs and handles that can withstand some abuse.

I recommend: For a great selection of knobs, check out MyKnobs.com. The website has more than 60 styles of bi-fold door knobs, ranging in price from around $10 for basic knobs to around $140 for elaborate designer knobs. Free shipping is available on purchases of more than $99. For basic knobs and handles, browse osCommerce's Door and Window Parts website. It sells simple metal and plastic knobs for less than $5.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before ordering supplies for bifold doors, be sure to check the retailer's return policy. Some charge a restocking fee as high as 50% on all returns. That is a fee you don't want to get stuck paying.

While sliding doors have been a feature of homes and offices since the 1950s, they limit functionality; only half of the space behind the doors is accessible at a time. Replacing sliding doors with bifold doors solves the space problem and adds character to an opening thanks to the many styles available.

With lightweight bifold interior doors and an opening that matches, it’s possible to install the tracks and doors in four hours at an affordable $200 to $750. Realistically, though, a contractor may need to alter the shape of the frame or doors to fit perfectly.

Use bifold interior doors when remodeling existing space to change the appearance of the following areas:

1. Laundry rooms;
2. Closet or storage areas with accordion doors
3. Bars or entertainment centers in offices especially with glass bifold doors
4. Large rooms;
5. Windows.

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Pick bifold doors to match the decor

Think beyond the traditional louvered style typical of many older bifold interior doors. You can find varied styles of paneled doors, French doors, mirrored doors, solid wood or hollow doors from vendors. Whether installation is in rental properties or offices will dictate style and ornamentation.

I recommend: Pick a bifold door manufacturer specializing in the type of door you want. Contact Interior Doors Direct for French doors with clear or beveled glass Try Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors for molded doors with varying panel profiles

Use bifold doors for unique space solutions

For the small business owner seeking to convert his home into a combined home/office, interior bifold doors can create office space from large rooms. Living rooms or dens particularly lend themselves to this; place tracking across the ceiling to subdivide the room. Another idea is to hang one door on each side of a large window for greater privacy and soundproofing than curtains provide.

I recommend: Search the American Society of Interior Designers website by state to find a designer to create custom bifold doors to meet your needs. Or use this free online design tool to create a virtual layout.

Find a contractor to install bifold doors

Several problems can occur when replacing sliding doors with bifold interior doors. Rare is the opening that's perfectly square and level. In addition, the new bifold doors are unlikely to fit perfectly; solutions include planing the doors or shimming the opening. To conceal the tracks for the doors, installation of additional trim may be necessary. Installing tracks over carpeting poses special problems.

I recommend: To find a reputable contractor to install bifold interior doors, check Associated General Contractors of America to search for a contractor in your area. In larger metropolitan areas, search Angie's List for local home improvement contractors to install interior or exterior bifold doors.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Eliminate size difficulties by ordering custom bifold doors. Contact a company where you can specify design, species and dimensions, as well as veneer and engineered core components or laminated lumber for interior or exterior bifold doors.
• •  For pre-existing carpeting, buy carpet risers hardware that can be installed over carpeting for stronger installation without cutting nap or using shims to support and stabilize bifold brackets.

Bifold doors are an inexpensive way to increase access to a closet, change the look of a room or make a space more functional. Additionally, replacing traditional doors with adjusting bifold doors in a business or rental property is relatively easy to do in most cases. The pricing and costs of bi-fold doors vary greatly depending on the door style, material and size. You can also have a custom bifold door built. So before you purchase adjusting bifold doors, ask yourself the following questions: 1. Do I want to buy interior bifold doors? 2. Am I interested in exterior bifold doors? 3. Would I like to have someone build custom bifold doors?

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Purchase bifold interior doors

Interior bi-fold doors can cost you as little as $30 or as much as $400. The price is largely dependant on the size of the door and the material that the door is made out of. In general, smaller accordion closet doors made out of inexpensive woods, such as pine, are cheaper. Larger doors that are mirrored, glassed or made out of an expensive wood, such as birch, will cost you more.

I recommend: Check out Do It Best, an online store that represents more than 4,000 independent hardware retailers. Seven distribution centers around the country will make sure your order is delivered in a timely fashion. Homer TLC's Home Depot website contains dozens of interior folding door choices, many of which are only available online and are not sold at local Home Depot stores.

Purchase exterior bifold doors

Glass exterior bifold doors can create a dramatic entrance out to a patio or pool area. These accordion doors are much more heavy and durable than their interior counterparts and so they cost quite a bit more. Most exterior doors are priced by the panel and range from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

I recommend: For beautiful wooden, aluminum and glass bi-fold doors, check out Lanai Doors. The company can create exterior bifold doors in virtually any size you need and even wrap the doors around corners. JELD-WEN is an exterior bifold door manufacturer that can create exterior folding doors in a range of configurations to accommodate many different openings.

Purchase custom bi fold doors

If you have odd-sized door frames or special needs for your bifold doors, you may find it best to contact a manufacturer of custom bifold doors. Custom doors will cost a minimum of several hundred dollars and take several weeks to be delivered, but if you are dealing with odd heights or widths, the price and wait can be worth it.

I recommend: Interior Doors Direct is a bifold door manufacturer that specializes in building custom-sized bifold doors. All doors are made at the company's facility in Ohio and are available in quantities from one to 100. Kestrel Shutters & Doors hand builds its custom bifold doors. Bi folding doors are available in any size, thickness or design that you desire.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing bifold doors, don't forget to add the cost of installation into the final purchase price. You will have to install a track onto the door frame, and if your door frame is not a standard size, you may have to hire a contractor to adjust the dimensions of the frame.

Bi-fold doors are multi-segment doors that slide on a track to fold open. These hinged doors can be used on the interior or exterior of a building. Bi-fold doors allow you to maximize your space since they require less room to open and close compared to typical doors. There are many types of bi-fold doors. The following terms will help you understand the various categories and uses of bi-fold doors.

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Molded Paneled

Molded paneled bi-fold doors are made with a molded skin on the outside that is often composed of recycled materials. These doors have either smooth or wood-grained finishes and often come primed and ready to paint. Glass inserts are available with molded bi-fold doors.

I recommend: Jeld-Wen has a description of bi-fold doors, including molded paneled doors.

Louvered bi-fold doors

Louvered bi-fold doors have slats in the door panels. These offer a ventilation feature that can be adjustable or fixed in place. The air flow allowed by louvered bi-fold doors is desirable for both interior and exterior doors.

I recommend: Kestrel Shutters & Doors offers louvered doors and shutters that you can custom design.

Interior and exterior

Interior bi-fold doors are usually made of molded or slab wood and glass can be added inside panels or mirrors. Exterior bi-fold doors are usually made of aluminum or steel. Exterior bi-fold doors can also be made almost entirely of glass to provide the most amount of natural light.

I recommend: You can find more information on exterior bi-fold doors at Lanai Doors, and more information on interior bi-fold door choices at The Home Depot.

Custom bi-fold doors

Exterior and interior bi-fold doors can be customized in every way -- including the type of wood, the finish, the color, the number and spacing of panels, the type of glass inserts and the size. Bi-fold doors can even go around corners, be set up as room dividers or custom-sized for air hangers or other industrial properties.

I recommend: More information on custom interior bi-fold doors can be found at Designer Doors.

Vertical bi-fold doors

Vertical bi-fold doors are usually used on the exterior of industrial buildings. The 'up' and 'out' movement of the doors save a great deal of room. Vertical bi-fold doors are often used in the aviation industry as airplane hanger doors.

I recommend: Wilson Doors offers both steel and aluminum vertical bi-fold doors.

Full access bi-fold doors

Full access bi-fold doors fold back 180 degrees and are stored flat against the wall to maximize the door jamb space. There is no top track used with full access bi-fold doors.

I recommend: ClosetDoorProducts.com sells hardware kits for bi-fold doors and offers diagrams to illustrate the difference between regular bi-fold doors and full access bi-fold doors.