We are wanting to get some bi fold doors, have looked af a few different companies and designs.

If you have bifolds, did you get timber or aluminum?
Did you get a fly screen?
How much did you pay? Was that including installation?

Generally what we've seen have been around the $1000 mark per 850 section, obviously cheaper the more panels, fully installed. Separate fly screens tend to be around $1200 - 1500.

Are you happy with the end result?

We just had aluminium stacker doors put into the house we are building. We have a 7 leaf door and it was circa $8500. Each leaf/door is quite wide though (sorry that I cant tell you exactly but I thought definately >900). We also had to beef up the support beam that goes across the top too.
Our flyscreen was quoted at $2800 or $4500 depending on what type we wanted (retractable or curtain style) but I've actually decided against getting one as the cheaper option was a retractable screen that goes on the inside of the bifolds, not the outside like a normal flyscreen. Each end where the flyscreen retracts into juts out about 70mm into the room which I thought would look ugly and also be a pain when you install roller blinds and a heavy curtain to keep the warmth in (which we are doing as we live in a cool climate).
I love the look of the bifolds and I love the way ours opens our dining room up into the alfresco area, it is one thing I am so glad we spent the money on.
We also configured out so that the last leaf to the right operates independantly, and then the remaining 6 leaves to the left stack back into each other. This way, we can walk in and out of a 'normally opening' door to one side if that makes sense. Our was a custom order but some of the others were a split 4 leaf/4 leaf that opened for access in/out of the room in the centre.

We have bifolds with seven panels in wood with the fly screen. I think doors were up towards the $10,000 mark and the fly screen (internal) was @ $5,000. We have left the wood and just stained it. One door is the main door ie can be opened without opening the other doors.

We got quotes for blinds and curtains for the doors but so far haven't really needed them - we live in Melbourne so waiting to see how this winter goes (first winter since our renovation).

All included installation.

It was an extravagance that DH wanted and does make a feature in our open plan.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah we're definately going to have an independent door, great idea.

Oilucy yeah they people we have spoken to said once it is a certan size you need to do the 4/4 etc. was it hard to find someone to do a custom job?

What sort of curtains are you thinking katpaws? I hadn't really got that far in my thinking yet!

What made you decide on wood/aluminum? Our windows amd doors now are wooden, but not sure which way to go.

We have aluminium doors. They were already installed when we moved in and I hate them. My advice would be to definitely get the independant door and fly screen. We do not have the independant door and it's so difficult to keep the kids and cat inside when I need to go out to the clothes line or do any little thing outside. Also without the flyscreen we get a house full of bugs which drives me crazy, so it's definitely worth the cost. Fortunately we have just sold our house, but it's something we definitely take into account in our new house search.

I forgot to mention that the doors (apart from the main one) stack to one side.

Wood panels was what DH wanted. We sort of based our home design on a holiday house and they had the large glass sliding doors, which we wanted but could not afford.

(link: http://www.stayz.com.au/15294)

We haven't got curtains yet and i am not sure if we will. Sunlight can be a problem (the open plan can be very bright in the am) but we want to see how the light works in the room before we put anything permanet up. I think curtains will ruin the feel of the open plan and i think interior blinds would do the same. I did not have any money for window treatments either. I am thinking if sun remains a problem external blinds might be the answer. However, we are considering putting up sails at the back which could address this problem.

Our Builder did the legwork for the custom doors.
We chose aluminium as all our windows are aluminium but if your windows are currently timber I would definately choose timber so that they are the same.

Just from a different perspective. We have aluminum stacked doors with Crimsafe screens. Initially, DH wanted timber bifolds so you can see who was more persuasive

I like the look of bifolds but didn't want them in my own home from a practical perspective. I hate insects in the house and we live in an area with lots of mozzies (backs onto bush land and a creek) and flys (regional area near farms). I haven't seen any practical AND aesthetically pleasing way if integrating screens and bifold doors. I've seen the retractable ones but the mesh is not sturdy enough to withstand young children and pets. There are also stacked ones but they defeat the visual look of the bifold doors. So that ruled out bifolds.

We went with stackers so that everything stacked back and we could have the uninterrupted aspect if we wanted. It feels light and airy and I am especially happy in summer when I can leave the house with the glass doors open, Crimsafe screens locked and not come home to a stuffy hot box. Ocassional my when we have a party, we will open everything up for that free flowing feel.

We went with aluminum over timber for the low maintenance. I do like the look of timber but the practicalities of living in an area with humid summers and damp winters meant that timber swells and doors and windows jam. We have friends who can't open their doors/windows during wet weather and just accept it as part and parcel of life. I'm a creature of habit and it would annoy me to no end having to change my routine based on the weather. Or not be able to air out the house. We went with a chunky aluminum frame that looks better than the ordinary ones. Ours are powder coated white and from the street, it looks very neat, tidy and inviting without the coldness usually associated with aluminum.

We have plantation shutters and roller blinds over our doors. They are built under a pelmet type recess so it still has that modern look with clean lines. The pelmet is made of timber, goes up to the ceiling and painted the same colour as the walls do it just blends in. I definitely wanted some sort of covers for privacy and to keep in the warmth.

How do the crimsafe ones work Lucy? Do you have a pic?

I don't have photos of ours. Easy to google, but here's one, have a look at the second picture
http://www.btdw.com.au/products.html

We installed aluminum bifold doors leading from the kitchen into the alfresco. No fly screens but being in Melbourne this hasn't been a massive issue. We are able to install shade cloth blinds to enclose the alfresco area in later on anyway.

We went with aluminum to match our new aluminum windows & doors. We have the individual door & I wouldn't be without it, very handy as the kids are always in & out. We know people in the business so we only paid for materials. I know costs can vary massively between companies, so make sure you get a few different quotes, though the figures you provided are pretty on the ball for aluminum bi folds.

Ah yes now I see what you mean Lucy, thanks for the link!

Thanks Jane - wish we knew people in the business!! we'll get a few quotes when we work out exactly what we're after. Leaning towards wood but we'll see!

Thanks again everyone, given me lots to think about