Re-Align Bi-Fold Door

chriselevate · 21 Aug 2015

Since moving into a new house 1 year ago the door out to the back garden has annoyed me as it's miss aligned and catches making it difficult to close and lock. I have worked out to take the seals out and the glazing strips so wondered if someone could advise me what it needs to bring it into line please?

Here is where it currently sits...

Having exposed the glazing packers I can see this in the top right (and bottom left) corners. It seems to be a blue packer in the corner with a black packer sitting half way along it like this...

Please could you let me know what you would do to heel and toe the door in order to lift it to sit correctly?

Thanks for your time and help.

Gazman16 · 22 Aug 2015

Thats called "heel and toe packing" have a quick google.
Basically you want to lift that side of the door frame, A small crow bar or someone to help. While its lifted slide those packers further into the corners (you may even need to add some more packers) then replace the beads.

chriselevate · 22 Aug 2015

Thanks. So to lift the right hand side (handle side) will I need packers on the bottom left corner at the bottom or on the side? Or packers at the top right?

By lifting the glass with a glazing shovel this will in turn left the door I guess?

Thanks

crank39 · 23 Aug 2015

There's some good you tube videos on toe and heeling bi fold doors

chriselevate · 23 Aug 2015

Thanks I've seen them but this post was more about where I would need to put them as I guess I'm worried I'd damage the unit or glass if I pack the wrong parts.

Thanks.

Gazman16 · 23 Aug 2015

There will already be packers in the bottom left corner. Its the top right ones that will lift the door (mainly the top packer).
Lifting the door itself on that side either with a small crow bar underneath or someone to physically lift it will prevent putting strain on the glass rather than using a glazing shovel.
Just lift the door and push those packers right into the corner, See if that lifts the door enough. If not you may want to add another packer on the top.

chriselevate · 30 Aug 2015

Thanks for your help. I've managed to lift the door and pack it but it's snagging on the door next to it as it needs tilting left a bit too. Any tips/ideas on how to do this too please?

From inside, the hand is on the right and the top right edge is close to the door next to it than the bottom right hand corner is.

Thanks.

chriselevate · 8 Apr 2017

Hi guys, you gave me some advice on this some time ago. I managed to toe and heel one door a year or so ago and I'm now trying to do a similar job with another of my doors. I've managed to toe and heel it effectively but getting the aluminium beads back in is causing me a nightmare. Any tips with this please?

The top beed is angled on left and right (each end). The two uprights are angled at the bottom and flat at the top. The bottom bead is flat at both sides. Is there a technique for getting them all to fit back in please?

By beads.... I mean these....

Thanks.

Gazman16 · 10 Apr 2017

Are you sure the glass is out tight to the external gaskets?
Some times your packers can twist and catch on one of the panes of glass so it wont go in fully. Sometimes its easier to put the bottom bead (and packers) in before the glass as that is often the trickiest bead to get in.

Having said that it looks like its the side beads that go in first with yours, If so disregard my last tip.

You have to make sure the back edge of the bead is going into the grove. Check the beads and the leg it goes into for any bends

chriselevate · 10 Apr 2017

Cool, thanks for your help and advice. You're right, it was the fact that the back edge of the bead wasn't in the groove. Now it's in the groove they all slot back in fine and the rubber gaskets have gone back in.

Perfect! Thanks for that.

Only problem now is that after toe and heeling the units the door still catches at the top.

If you look at my very first picture, the top of the frame is now level but the vertical gap is much narrower at the top than the bottom. I'll see if I can photograph it to illustrate. I'm not sure what can be done about it as there's no adjust to alter this.

Gazman16 · 10 Apr 2017

When I saw your fist pic my first thoughts were that you have all sorts of problems there.
Who fitted the doors? Will they not come back and adjust them under guarentee?
Also what make are the doors?

chriselevate · 10 Apr 2017

Yeah I agree. The more I look at them and think about the more I think they are in a mess.

What sort of problems do you think it could be? I'm guessing it could be structural etc rather than just adjustment?

The previous owner owns the company who fitted them and he wrote out warranties for all the windows and doors so yeah, I should hold him to his warranties I guess. I've tried and he's always said he's busy and not bothered coming back!

Appreciate your help, advice and feedback.

Gazman16 · 11 Apr 2017

How long ago were they fitted and were the doors included on the FENSA certificate?
If it was within the last year or two there could also be a compulsory insurance policy in place.

My first guess would be that the frame has been fitted out of square/level as bifolds really do need to be fitted perfectly.
Can you buy or borrow a 6ft level to check the frame? Put it against the frame and threshold to check for any bows, And check the levels in both directions.
You can also use a tape measure (you will need a hand) to measure the frame diagonally in 2 directions to check the square.

Do you know the make of the doors? You should be able to download instructions for fitting and adjustments if you do.
If not post some pics of the doors from inside and out here and someone may recognize the make.

chriselevate · 12 Apr 2017

Ok, they were fitted approx 5 years ago and I bought the house from the guy who owns the building/fitting company 3 years ago. As part of the sale, he issued 5 (or maybe 10) year warranties on all of the the windows/doors as he said he knew we wouldn't have a problem with any so was happy to issue a fresh warranty on all of them.

I'll try to get a large spirit level to see if I can check as you mentioned. I'll also try to get a super long tape measure to measure the diagonals.

It seems that (from the inside) the doors on the right look perfect. It's the ones on the left (with the master door attached) that seem to be the problem. They are tilting right and therefore causing the rubbing issue. I'll try to get some photos of the whole area so it's easier to point out/talk about the problem if that's ok?

The doors are Sapa - does that help?

Thanks

Gazman16 · 12 Apr 2017

SAPA are good quality doors so thats a good thing at least but not a make I am overly familiar with. I used to make and fit SAPA stuff but that was back before bifolds came out.

Bifolds are finicky things and them really must be fitted and adjusted perfectly, Builders do tend not to be 100% accurate with levels and things when fitting windows and doors.
Did the doors work well when you first moved in? If so it should just be a adjustment problem and not a fitting problem.

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Re-Align Bi-Fold Door

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