Patio and bifold door security glass

What is patio and bifold door security glass?

Patio and bifold door security glass means fitting large sealed units with a laminated pane into sliding, French or bifolding doors. These doors are usually the biggest glass at the back of the house and out of view, so making the glass hold when it is struck closes one of the easiest routes in.

Patio and bifold doors are full of glass in critical locations, so the units must be toughened or laminated safety glass. Most are toughened on both sides. That is safe, but a large toughened pane can be broken and cleared quickly, and the hole is big enough to step through. A unit with a laminated inner pane stays in the frame when broken, so the door has to be attacked for much longer.

Large units are heavy. A 2 metre high bifold leaf with a laminated pane can need two or three installers and a glass lifter, and the doors may need hinge, roller or carriage adjustment afterwards. We also check the parts that matter as much as the glass: anti-lift blocks on sliding doors, multi-point locks and whether the beads are inside. Where the beads are external we add security tape so the glass cannot be lifted out.

How much does patio and bifold door security glass cost?

Our guide range is £354 to £1,074 including VAT (£295 to £895 plus VAT) per pane, supplied and fitted. The exact figure depends on size, glass makeup, frame condition and access, and your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the free survey. See all glass prices.

Specification and options

Laminated inner pane with toughened outer pane
Units sized for sliding, French and bifold doors
Low-E, argon and solar control glass options
Glass lifters and enough installers for heavy panes
Roller, carriage and hinge adjustment after fitting
Anti-lift and lock checks on sliding doors
Integral blind units replaced like for like where possible
Security tape on externally beaded frames

Where patio and bifold door security glass is used

Sliding patio doors at the back of a house
Bifold doors in kitchen extensions
French doors onto gardens
Ground-floor flats with doors onto terraces
Doors hidden from the street by fences or hedges

What to decide before you order

Laminated inner or both panes

A laminated inner pane is the usual security upgrade. On very exposed doors both panes can be laminated.

Solar control

South-facing doors can overheat. Adding solar control glass at the same time keeps rooms cooler.

Door hardware

Glass is only part of the picture. Worn rollers, missing anti-lift blocks or old locks are often worth fixing at the same visit.

Integral blinds

Units with blinds inside the glass can be made with a laminated pane, but lead times are longer.

Rules across the UK

Safety glazing, building regulations, planning and listed building rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These are the points most relevant to patio and bifold door security glass; local pages show the version for your nation.

England (similar principles apply in Wales, Scotland and NI)

Safety glass in critical locations

In England, section 5 of Approved Document K treats glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door edge, from floor level up to 1,500 mm, and any other glazing below 800 mm, as a critical location. Glass there should break safely, be robust, or be guarded. Laminated or toughened glass meeting BS EN 12600 class 3 is the usual answer, rising to class 2 for door and side-panel panes wider than 900 mm.

Replacing glass in an existing frame

Replacing only the glass or sealed unit in an existing frame is generally treated as a repair in England rather than notifiable building work. Replacing a whole window or door is notifiable and is normally certified through a competent person scheme or approved by building control. Either way, new glass in a critical location should still be safety glass.

Security rules for new homes

Approved Document Q has applied to new homes in England since 1 October 2015. Easily accessible doors and windows, meaning any part within 2 m vertically of the ground or another accessible surface, should meet PAS 24 or an equivalent, and glazing in doors and in windows within 400 mm of a door should be laminated to at least BS EN 356 P1A. It does not apply when you change the glass in an existing home, although it is a sensible benchmark.

How it works

Tell us what needs securing

Use the guide price tool or form, or call. Pane sizes and a few photos help us give a guide figure straight away.

Free survey

A surveyor measures each pane, checks the existing glass, frame and beads, and talks through the rating that suits the risk.

Fixed price in writing

You get a written quote listing each pane, the glass type and class, the price and the lead time. Nothing is ordered until you accept.

Made to measure and fitted

Glass is made to order and fitted by glaziers working under our contract with you, then cleaned, checked and explained.

Patio and bifold door security glass: questions

How much does patio door security glass cost?

Most patio and bifold door panes cost from £295 to £895 plus VAT (£354 to £1,074 inc VAT) each supplied and fitted, depending on size, glass specification and access. Your fixed price follows a free survey.

Is patio door glass already safety glass?

It should be, because doors are critical locations. Most is toughened, which is safe but not secure. Adding a laminated pane makes it both.

Can you replace just one pane of a bifold?

Yes. Each leaf takes its own unit, so we can upgrade one leaf or all of them.

Will laminated glass make my bifolds harder to open?

Units are slightly heavier. We adjust hinges, rollers and carriages after fitting so the doors run smoothly.

Can sliding doors be lifted out?

Older sliding doors without anti-lift blocks can be. We check for this at the survey and can fit blocks at the same visit.

Do you work on aluminium bifolds?

Yes, on aluminium, uPVC and timber doors, provided the frame can take the new unit thickness.

Find patio and bifold door security glass near you

Choose your county or region for local information and the rules that apply where you are.