Hi,

I'm framing a laundry closet in the basement for side-by-side washer and dryer. The doorway I made is 72" wide. My first thought was to install two 3ft wide bifold doors (one on either side). A neighbor suggested a pair of french doors (each 3ft wide). His thought is that bifolds get a bit wonky over time and a set of french doors (no glass panels) would be sturdier.
I have the swing space in front of this closet for either type, so that's no concern.
Does anyone have a strong pro or con on either type of door based on experience?
Or is this just a subjective decision?

Thanks
Theodore

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 10:06:04 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Hi,

I'm framing a laundry closet in the basement for side-by-side washer and dryer. The doorway I made is 72" wide. My first thought was to install two 3ft wide bifold doors (one on either side). A neighbor suggested a pair of french doors (each 3ft wide). His thought is that bifolds get a bit wonky over time and a set of french doors (no glass panels) would be sturdier.
I have the swing space in front of this closet for either type, so that's no concern.
Does anyone have a strong pro or con on either type of door based on experience?
Or is this just a subjective decision?

Thanks
Theodore

If you have French doors you will need them both open when doing laundry and they may be in your way even if they can
be swung the full 180 degrees. That could require opening and closing several times during the laundry process.

If you have two bi-fold doors they will open only 90 degrees when in use requiring you to maneuver around either one,
or both, all the time.

If you have an adjacent wall on one side you might consider a single bi-fold door on that side so it won't be an
obstacle when open.

The other choice would be no doors at all. That would eliminate all hassle when doing the laundry… except that of
doing the laundry itself. That would be my choice.

On 4/4/2017 1:06 PM, wrote:
Hi,

I'm framing a laundry closet in the basement for side-by-side washer and dryer. The doorway I made is 72" wide. My first thought was to install two 3ft wide bifold doors (one on either side). A neighbor suggested a pair of french doors (each 3ft wide). His thought is that bifolds get a bit wonky over time and a set of french doors (no glass panels) would be sturdier.
I have the swing space in front of this closet for either type, so that's no concern.
Does anyone have a strong pro or con on either type of door based on experience?
Or is this just a subjective decision?

Thanks
Theodore


Bifolds can get wonky over time. If there is such a thing as premium
grade hardware that would cure it. My only concern with French doors is
the extended portion when open. Will they be in the way when doing
laundry? If they can be hinged to open well past the 90 degrees and out
of the way, then it may be the best option.

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 10:06:04 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Hi,

I'm framing a laundry closet in the basement for side-by-side washer and dryer. The doorway I made is 72" wide. My first thought was to install two 3ft wide bifold doors (one on either side). A neighbor suggested a pair of french doors (each 3ft wide). His thought is that bifolds get a bit wonky over time and a set of french doors (no glass panels) would be sturdier.
I have the swing space in front of this closet for either type, so that's no concern.
Does anyone have a strong pro or con on either type of door based on experience?
Or is this just a subjective decision?

Thanks
Theodore

It's a coin flip. The French doors would need to open outward. Bi
fold (metal louvered) would be extending out less and give some
ventilation when closed. Two cents :-)

Bifolds are a pain in the rear to keep working.

Maybe if you have no kids and are ultra careful they'd be okay. Bang them once with the laundry basket and they're toast.

I'd go with the French. Unless..........do you have room for a pocket? Best of all worlds.

Do you really need a door? In a basement?

On 04/04/2017 12:30 PM, Gordon Shumway wrote:

[snip]

The other choice would be no doors at all. That would eliminate all hassle when doing the laundry… except that of
doing the laundry itself. That would be my choice.


My laundry closet is similar to the OP's, with bifold doors. I removed
them since they did little but get in the way. I have no need to hide
the fact that I have a washer and dryer.

BTW, for similar reasons, I have no doors on the kitchen cabinets.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Would raise a glass of champagne, but I don't drink... won't thank the
great Mojo since I'm an atheist. But there's always chocolate." [J.
Michael Straczynski]

On 4/4/2017 3:39 PM, Mark Lloyd wrote:


My laundry closet is similar to the OP's, with bifold doors. I removed
them since they did little but get in the way. I have no need to hide
the fact that I have a washer and dryer.

BTW, for similar reasons, I have no doors on the kitchen cabinets.


Ick. We cook in our kitchen and cooking releases moisture, grease, other
potential contaminants. I prefer to keep out food and dishes as clean
as possible.

On 4/4/17 12:06 PM, wrote:
Hi,

I'm framing a laundry closet in the basement for side-by-side washer
and dryer. The doorway I made is 72" wide. My first thought was to
install two 3ft wide bifold doors (one on either side). A neighbor
suggested a pair of french doors (each 3ft wide). His thought is
that bifolds get a bit wonky over time and a set of french doors (no
glass panels) would be sturdier. I have the swing space in front of
this closet for either type, so that's no concern. Does anyone have a
strong pro or con on either type of door based on experience? Or is
this just a subjective decision?

Thanks Theodore

Accordian door maybe?

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 18:52:26 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 4/4/2017 3:39 PM, Mark Lloyd wrote:


My laundry closet is similar to the OP's, with bifold doors. I removed
them since they did little but get in the way. I have no need to hide
the fact that I have a washer and dryer.

BTW, for similar reasons, I have no doors on the kitchen cabinets.


Ick. We cook in our kitchen and cooking releases moisture, grease, other
potential contaminants. I prefer to keep out food and dishes as clean
as possible.

Maybe Mark doesn't have curtains or shades on his windows either?

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 18:06:09 -0500, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

Accordian door maybe?

They get wonky too, not very sturdy?

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 11:57:08 -0700 (PDT), TimR
wrote:

I'd go with the French. Unless..........do you have room for a pocket? Best of all worlds.

Pocket doors are good until they aren't. If the rail or rollers fail
it can be a pain to fix inside a wall. OP would need double doors to
span the space. Leaving the space open may be the easiest approach.

On 4/4/17 6:46 PM, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 18:06:09 -0500, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

Accordian door maybe?

They get wonky too, not very sturdy?

The ones in my world probably would. Look at these from Menards:
https://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/folding-doors/c-7573.htm

I'd think $2900 would buy something a bit solid.

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 20:14:20 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:

On 4/4/17 6:46 PM, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 18:06:09 -0500, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

Accordian door maybe?

They get wonky too, not very sturdy?

The ones in my world probably would. Look at these from Menards:
https://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/folding-doors/c-7573.htm

I'd think $2900 would buy something a bit solid.

But, but, but the OP's opening is 72" so that would be a special order at about 4-5K.

These are all great suggestions and valid opinions. Thank you all very much.
Basement will ultimately be finished, so I do need some doors on this; and pocket doors not practical (but good suggestion).

Given that two french doors will need to be WIDE open each time, I think I'll go for the bifolds just to better manage the space fronting this area.

OK - Now go for the hardware that will allow them to be open as far wide as is possible. You might be able to get some hinges that have sort of an offset to allow the doors when open to not intrude on the available width. Badly explained but you8 probably should understand what I am trying to say.

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 20:14:20 -0500, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

Accordian door maybe?

They get wonky too, not very sturdy?

The ones in my world probably would. Look at these from Menards:
https://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/folding-doors/c-7573.htm

I'd think $2900 would buy something a bit solid.

Wow. They sure have improved over the last half century :-)

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 21:59:46 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

These are all great suggestions and valid opinions. Thank you all very much.
Basement will ultimately be finished, so I do need some doors on this; and pocket doors not practical (but good suggestion).

Given that two french doors will need to be WIDE open each time, I think I'll go for the bifolds just to better manage the space fronting this area.

I moved a master closet door from the bathroom, to enter on a bedroom
side, light switch, etc. A single metal louvered bi fold door with a
pivot pin in the tile/concrete. After ten years it works as well as
the day I installed it. The former entry door jamb is now a door
sized medicine cabinet in the master bath. Good luck.

On Tue, 4 Apr 2017 11:57:08 -0700 (PDT), TimR
wrote:

Bifolds are a pain in the rear to keep working.

Maybe if you have no kids and are ultra careful they'd be okay. Bang them once with the laundry basket and they're toast.

I'd go with the French. Unless..........do you have room for a pocket? Best of all worlds.

Do you really need a door? In a basement?

Of course he does. High-class people don't get dirty, they don't even
sweat, and they don't even have a washing machine. Letting people
see that you have one is the same as saying "I'm low-class."