This means that installers can save more time buying aluminium glazing such as our trade aluminium bi-fold doors, and make more money selling and installing them.

Our focus has always been to deliver our complete range of windows, doors and roof glazing, fast, and that’s how our aluminium bi-folds became one of the most sought after glazing products on the market.

We manufacture our aluminium bi-fold doors for the trade in our state-of-the-art factory in Blackburn, so we can deliver right first time, every time, directly to site, in only 2 weeks.

For installers, time really is money, and at AluFold Direct, we do everything that we can to make dealing with a fabricator as simple and straightforward as possible, so you can benefit from more profitable aluminium glazing jobs.

Make more profit with trade aluminium bi-fold doors

All too often, the fall-out for installers has been poorly designed and manufactured doors which don’t live up to expectations, are difficult to fit and ultimately end up costing money in repeated remedials.

It doesn’t have to be that way though. Choose one of our slimline aluminium bi-folds and you get a high specification, high quality but still competitively priced product, which lets you achieve strong and sustainable margins because you can fit it and forget it.

When it comes to specification, the key things to note are:

Slim sightlines of only 140mm across both door leaves

PAS24 accredited multi-point locking systems as standard with a choice of lever of pop-out T-handle

Stainless steel rollers which guarantee effortlessly smooth opening and closing

Chamfered or square bead options to suit the style of the property

Choice of thresholds including rebated versions which guarantee no leaks

Wide range of popular colour options in highly durable smooth or textured powder coated finishes.

Made to measure service with downloadable guides on how to get the sizing and specification exactly right

Online quoting tool to give you an instant online price

Two-week lead time on glazed doors in any standard single colour

Bifolds remain at the top of many aspirational buyers’ wish lists when it comes to extensions and refurbs. Despite this, they have become increasingly commoditised in recent years, with quality and specifications falling almost as quickly as prices.

Guide to Selling Bifolds

All packages are colour coded, so it’s really straightforward. Stock sizes and colours are available on next day delivery too, so the external works and flat roof can be completed beforehand, and measurements doubled checked before you order.

Before you start, make sure that the outside of your verge is exactly the same size as your roof lantern.

Unpack the red taped pack 1 and lay out the 4 ring beam profiles on your verge. Insert the small and large corner cleats, silicone the ends of the corners, square up and close the corners and screw the cleat screws into the pre-drilled holes.

Next, silicone both sealant channels on the underside of the ringbeam by turning it over or by marking the channels for the bead on to your verge. Once the silicone seal has been applied on the underside of the ringbeam, fix the ringbeam down on to the verge using the wood screws supplied in the pack.

Unpack the yellow taped pack next and set aside the top cap and pressure plate. Keep the beam.

Unpack the green taped pack and, if you have a Style 2 lantern with rafters, the blue taped pack. Set aside the top caps and pressure plates. The hip beams have a thermal break already attached and a hook loosely fitted at the top of each of them.

Offer up all four hips to the ridge, hooking them on, through the end slots of the ridge beam. If you have a style 2 roof lantern, position and fix the rafters at the same time as the hips.

Then lift it into position inside the ringbeam and ensure the ridge is level and all joints are neat and positioned. Screw down through the thermal break, into the ring beam at each corner. Make sure everything is neat and correct tighten the machine screw at the top of each hip to secure the hook in its final position.

Insert the ringbeam gasket. Fit the hip and rafter end caps to support the glass. Silicone the internal top edge of each glazing trim and fix to the glass units with the drip on the underside of the glass. Carefully place each glass unit into position. Fix the ridge pressure plate, through the thermal break with screws provided, then press on the ridge cap using a plastic hammer.

Next, fit the hip and rafter pressure plates and seal where they meet the ridge. Fit all top caps, with a plastic hammer and seal where they meet the ridge. Check that all the end caps on each hip and rafter are correctly fitted and snap the screw caps shut.

Finally, fix the external end caps to the ridge, give the glass a good clean and that’s that – a good job done!

We’ve made our roof lantern kits super easy to assemble and fit, so they can be installed in as little as 40 minutes.

How to Fit Roof Lanterns

Before you start fitting sliding doors, it’s always a good idea to check that you have everything you need and double check the size of the opening against the door outerframe, to ensure a good fit.

8 Steps to a Smooth Sliding Door Installation

Using the packers provided, ensure the cill is completely level. Once you are happy, bed on silicone and fix at the back edge through the thermal break into the brickwork.

To fit the door, position the sliding door in the opening, on the cill.

Use glazing packers in the corners of the frame to hold the sliding door in place and keep it level, plumb and square.

Check the outerframe is square by measuring the two diagonals - there should never be more than 1-2mm difference between the two diagonal measurements.

Screw fix through the thermal break (do not screw through the drainage holes).

The first fixing must always occur within 150mm of each corner, and at no more than 600mm centres. Do not over-tighten the fixings and make sure you use packers around the fixings to prevent any distortion of the frame.

Fix the outerframe into the brickwork up both sides.

The fixed sash is delivered temporarily fixed. Undo the fixings to access the jamb and fix behind the sash. Slide the sash back into position and permanently fix.

Fix the head of the outerframe into the brickwork or steel above.

Double check the diagonals to make sure they are still equal.

Check that all leafs are running smoothly.

Lift the glass into place and pack all sides

Fit extra packers where required and refit the glazing beads.

To make fitting the gasket easier, use silicone spray or warm soapy water, especially if you are fitting on a cold day.

Over stack the gaskets to allow for a small amount of shrinkage.

The gaskets are designed for a tight fit, so a glazing shovel is recommended – we send one out with every order.

Anti-lift Cap – Clip this into the prepared holes in the top and bottom of the sash.

Buffer Stops – Install these to suit the required fully opened position, by screw fixing into the sash. Where required on triple track sliding doors, one of the buffer stops should also be fitted to the second sash to prevent the handle of the first sash hitting the second sash.

Clip the aluminium cover plates in to place around the inside. The cover plates are only used on double track sliding doors.

Finally, silicone seal internally & externally.

Following these simple steps will ensure that the sliding door you install will operate smoothly for years to come, so you can avoid any unnecessary call backs. And if you have any questions on how to fit sliding doors, or you're working on a similar project, why not 

 today? We can help you with every aspect of your sliding door installation.

Aluminium sliding doors from AluFold Direct are delivered in full-frame, right first time, ready to install. We’ll deliver your doors direct to site, anywhere in the UK.

How to Install Aluminium Sliding Doors

Identify any skills gaps in your installation team and join us for a skills refresher. Tailored to your company’s needs, we can guide you through installing bi-fold doors, sliding doors, windows, roof lanterns and rooflights.

If you have new starters or want to get all of your installers fitting aluminium glazing with confidence, we offer a comprehensive aluminium glazing training option. The number of products you want to learn how to install and the number of people you bring from your team will determine the length of the course.

Want to know how to fit bi-fold doors? Looking for a window fitting course? Have new apprentices that need to learn the tricks of the trade? Or just want to refresh your aluminium glazing installation skills? Look no further than the AluFoldDirect Aluminium Installer Training Academy.

AluFoldDirect Aluminium Installer Training Academy

With the option of 2 different styles for our RD3 aluminium contemporary entrance door, your customer can choose the perfect modern entrance for their property. All of our aluminium entrance doors come with a full-height pole handle that adds a sleek look to your project – it’s the perfect retrofit product for an existing property and a great way to add sleek style to a new build project. There’s also a low threshold option available, lowering the step into your customers’ home for ease of access.

Each of our doors are manufactured so that they are ready to install, so you can get the job done fast. Our aluminium entrance doors deliver certainty to your customers with quick delivery and a right first time approach. Our reliable operations and quality control processes ensure the highest quality products for you and your customer. Aluminium entrance doors from AluFold Direct are ideal to add to your aluminium glazing specification to complete any project that you’re working on.

With a combination of style, security and high quality performance, AluFold Direct offer you and your customer thermally enhanced 58BD aluminium doors with U-Values as low as 1.4W/m²K. Our thermally efficient doors have high security options including AV2 slam shut multi-point locks and 3 star cylinders.

AluFold Direct offers a range of contemporary and high-performance aluminium entrance doors for your customers. With fast delivery, available direct to site, you can give quick, high-quality service. Our sleek, slimline aluminium entrance doors are thermally enhanced with high security standards to keep your customers safe in their home.

Trade supply aluminium entrance doors delivered direct to site

Creating large glazed walls allows extra sunlight into rooms, whilst the modern performance of aluminium sliding doors maintains high levels of security and efficiency.

AluFold Direct aluminium sliding doors are delivered direct to site, in just 2 weeks.

Aluminium is the best material for wide-span patio doors, because of its superior strength, rigidity and durability.

Aluminium sliding patio doors are the ideal choice for homes where extra light is needed.

Aluminium Sliding Patio Doors

Managing Director, Russell Yates says: “Since joining AluFold Direct after lockdown and talking with customers, it’s clear that fast lead times on aluminium windows are very important at this time."

“Fast delivery, direct to site makes it easier for them to get on and get the job done, so they can fit in more projects and make more profit out of installing aluminium.”

“Since May, our factory has gone through some fundamental changes, with strict safe space measures in place to keep our customers and team safe.”

“Our team and operations have quickly adapted to this new normal way of working and we are now able to deliver in just 2 weeks – so it’s back to business as usual for AluFold Direct customers.”

In the post-lockdown world, it’s more important than ever for installers to be able to rely on their suppliers for a right first-time service. Award-winning aluminium fabricator AluFold Direct has now returned to its speedy 2-week lead times, delivered direct to site.

2 Week Lead Times

Aluminium flush casement windows combine slim sightlines and high quality performance, with a clean, sleek flush finish. They’re perfect for a range of projects including new build and home improvements. AluFold Direct will deliver your windows direct to site, right first time, ready for you to install. We make your life easier when it comes to installation so you can concentrate on offering the best products to your customers and clients.

Aluminium flush casements are ideal for replacing old timber windows as well as replacing steel-framed windows. Whether it be a new build or a renovation, our windows are a stylish, energy-efficient alternative.

Why choose aluminium window frames for your next project?

From design stages, right through to delivery, the Aluminium Glazing Projects team gives you full project management support, connecting you, architects, specifiers, builders and developers together to help larger aluminium glazing jobs run smoothly.


The projects service is here to support you with your project every step of the way. We can support you with a variety of different builds including domestic, commercial and new-build constructions, along with large-scale refurbishment jobs. The projects team gives essential support, guidance and even installation training, so that you can confidently work on larger projects and grow your business further.

Have the confidence to take on big aluminium glazing jobs with AluFold Direct’s Aluminium Glazing Projects service.

AluFold Direct Aluminium Glazing Projects

As an aluminium bifold doors supplier, AluFold Direct offer you doors that are manufactured from high-quality aluminium profiles that offer impressive strength to weight ratio. The slim profiles that provide sleek lines add a contemporary look to your project. A full selection of suited hardware, RAL colours and dual option colours are available to choose from so that the bifold door can perfectly complement the property.

Using aluminium means that it will maintain its clean appearance considerably longer than other materials, and it’s more or less maintenance free! Our aluminium bifolds are designed and manufactured to deliver high-quality security standards and thermal efficiency so that your customers’ homes remain energy efficient and protected.

Using AluFold Direct for bifold doors means that you can offer a simple, stylish solution for your clients and customers looking for an innovative and contemporary way to open up space. We can custom design bifold doors to virtually any configuration that your customer wants, so that you can install the perfect doors for any project whether that be in a commercial or residential environment, confidently meeting any requirement and specification that you send our way.

How-to guides