Bi-fold & sliding door openings · East Lothian
Bi-fold & sliding door openings in East Lothian
Survey, engineer's design and installation of bi-fold & sliding door openings anywhere in East Lothian.
- Itemised written quote
- Beam sized by a structural engineer
- Covering East Lothian and nearby
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
Planning bi-fold & sliding door openings in East Lothian
Bi-fold and sliding door openings are wide gaps formed in an external wall, usually at the back of the house, to take a run of folding or sliding glazed doors. A steel beam carries the wall, floor and roof loads above, and it is designed stiff enough that its movement does not press on the glass or stop the doors running.
Homes across East Lothian range from Victorian terraces to post-war semis and newer estates, and bi-fold & sliding door openings look different in each. Coverage takes in Haddington, Musselburgh and North Berwick and everywhere in between. We plan the steel, the temporary support and the approvals around the building, then fix the price in writing once the scope is agreed.
Worth knowing before you start
- In cavity walls a cavity tray above the new head directs any water in the cavity out through weep vents. Without it, damp can show inside above the doors, so the tray is lapped and sealed correctly as the brickwork is rebuilt.
- The structural work for a typical bi-fold opening usually takes three to five working days. Doors are often made to order, so the steel goes in once opening sizes are confirmed and the doors are fitted soon after.
- Width, what sits above, whether columns or a goalpost are needed, outer leaf support, threshold works and how much brickwork needs matching all affect the price. The doors themselves are normally supplied separately unless agreed otherwise.
- The house is open to the weather between taking out the wall and fitting the doors. Temporary sheeting or a boarded frame keeps rain out and the house secure, so the gap between the structural work and door fitting should be kept short.
- Both leaves of a cavity wall need support over the opening. Depending on the design, the outer brickwork may sit on a plate fixed to the beam or on a separate external lintel, and the engineer specifies which suits the loads and the look.
What happens, step by step
Survey in East Lothian
We visit, look at the wall and what sits above it, measure the opening and note services, access and how the steel can be brought in.
Engineer's design
A structural engineer sizes the beam, padstones and any posts, and sets out the temporary support needed while the wall is out.
Building warrant
A building warrant is applied for from East Lothian Council, and work starts only once the warrant has been granted.
Install and sign-off
Props go in, the opening is formed, the steel is set and packed, building standards inspects it, and we make good.
How much should I budget in East Lothian?
As a guide, budget £2,300–£6,350 including VAT for rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors in East Lothian, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Scotland (-9%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors | £2,300–£6,350 | External wall opened up to about 5 m with steel, propping, cavity tray and making good (doors supplied separately) |
| RSJ supply and fit (single beam) | £730–£2,280 per beam | Beam supplied, delivered, lifted and packed on padstones, with propping (calculations and approval priced separately) |
| Widening an internal doorway | £910–£2,280 | Opening widened with a new lintel or short beam, approval where structural, and making good |
| Opening into a rear extension | £2,300–£6,350 | Original rear wall removed with a beam or goalpost, approvals and propping, coordinated with the extension build |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Scotland (-9%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Approvals in East Lothian
Steel beam work in East Lothian needs a building warrant from East Lothian Council. The structural design is part of the application, and the council's building standards team accepts the completion certificate once the work is done as approved.
There is no party wall notice system in Scotland. Instead, check your title deeds and, for flats, the tenement management scheme, and talk to neighbours early if the beam bears into a shared wall.
Bi-fold & sliding door openings by town
Questions about bi-fold & sliding door openings in East Lothian
How much do bi-fold & sliding door openings cost in East Lothian?
As a guide, budget £2,300–£6,350 including VAT for rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors in East Lothian, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Scotland (-9%). The exact figure depends on the span, what the wall carries, access and the finish, and is fixed in writing once the scope is agreed.
Do you cover East Lothian for bi-fold & sliding door openings?
Yes. We carry out bi-fold & sliding door openings in East Lothian. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.
How long does it take to make an opening for bi-fold doors?
The structural opening usually takes three to five working days, including propping, cutting out the wall, fitting the steel and outer leaf support, and forming the reveals. The doors can then be fitted, with inside making good and outside brickwork finishing following on. Lead times on made-to-order doors affect the overall timeline more than the steelwork.
What does a bi-fold opening quote include?
Our itemised written quote covers the survey, calculations, building standards, propping, removing the wall, steel and padstones, outer leaf support, cavity trays and closers, temporary weather protection and making good. Doors, threshold drainage and patio work are shown separately unless agreed. The price is fixed in writing once the opening size and specification are agreed.
Should I order my doors before the opening is made?
It helps to choose them first. The supplier's structural opening size and threshold detail feed into the steel design, so the opening is formed to suit the doors exactly. Many people order once the engineer has confirmed the opening, then time the structural work so the gap is weathered for as short a time as possible.
Will the house be open to the weather while the wall is out?
Only briefly, and it is protected throughout. Once the wall is out, the opening is sheeted or boarded so it stays weathertight and secure until the doors arrive. Timing the structural work close to the door delivery date keeps that period as short as possible.
What happens at the survey visit in East Lothian?
We look at the wall, the floor and ceiling either side and what sits above, measure the opening you want, and note cables, pipes and access for the steel. It usually takes under an hour and there is no charge.