I have an opening between two rooms of about 8-foot that I want to
partition. The plan is to use 4 x 2-foot doors within a frame. The
usual way of doing this seems to be to effectively arrange these as 2
x 4-foot bi-fold doors e.g. see projects 22 & 23 in the wickes
good-idea leaflet :-

http://media.venda.com/wickes/ebiz/w...ages/gil/5.pdf

The problem is that SWMBO want to be able to open the middle two doors
leaving the outer two bolted to the frame for normal use, but then
open all four, folding them back to the wall on either side for
special occasions. The arrangement of the hinges in the wickes
designs would not permit this as the rebate would prevent the middle
two doors from opening if the outer two were bolted closed.

The only way that I can think of doing this is to use some kind of
double-action hinge, but the only ones I can find are spring-loaded
which would not be suitable. Does anybody know where I can get
unsprung double-action hinges in the uk ?

Anybody got any alternative methods ? I think I have seen a similar
arrangement in a friends previous house but I'm not sure and cannot
check. I have vague recollections of parliament hinges being used but
cannot think how they would work to fulfil my requirements.

Suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks. Kevin.

In article , Kevin
writes
I have an opening between two rooms of about 8-foot that I want to
partition. The plan is to use 4 x 2-foot doors within a frame. The
usual way of doing this seems to be to effectively arrange these as 2
x 4-foot bi-fold doors e.g. see projects 22 & 23 in the wickes
good-idea leaflet :-

http://media.venda.com/wickes/ebiz/w...ages/gil/5.pdf

The problem is that SWMBO want to be able to open the middle two doors
leaving the outer two bolted to the frame for normal use, but then
open all four, folding them back to the wall on either side for
special occasions. The arrangement of the hinges in the wickes
designs would not permit this as the rebate would prevent the middle
two doors from opening if the outer two were bolted closed.
Is the rebate on the frame? How about removing it from the centre section.


The only way that I can think of doing this is to use some kind of
double-action hinge, but the only ones I can find are spring-loaded
which would not be suitable. Does anybody know where I can get
unsprung double-action hinges in the uk ?

Anybody got any alternative methods ? I think I have seen a similar
arrangement in a friends previous house but I'm not sure and cannot
check. I have vague recollections of parliament hinges being used but
cannot think how they would work to fulfil my requirements.
Parliament hinges would let you have the doors opening into one room
irrespective of whether one or two halves were open and let you have a
proper latch, but depending on how you hinge at the frame side you may
limit the opening of each door pair. At least the bi-folds could be hinged in
such a way as to fold back flush against the partition wall. I'd def prefer the
former, I can't help thinking 70s DIY every time I see bi-folds.

Suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks. Kevin.
--
fred

"fred" wrote in message ...
In article , Kevin
writes
I have an opening between two rooms of about 8-foot that I want to
partition. The plan is to use 4 x 2-foot doors within a frame. The
usual way of doing this seems to be to effectively arrange these as 2
x 4-foot bi-fold doors e.g. see projects 22 & 23 in the wickes
good-idea leaflet :-

http://media.venda.com/wickes/ebiz/w...ages/gil/5.pdf

The problem is that SWMBO want to be able to open the middle two doors
leaving the outer two bolted to the frame for normal use, but then
open all four, folding them back to the wall on either side for
special occasions. The arrangement of the hinges in the wickes
designs would not permit this as the rebate would prevent the middle
two doors from opening if the outer two were bolted closed.
Is the rebate on the frame? How about removing it from the centre section.

I asked my builder how to solve the same problem. The opening bit is fairly
easy. You get 2 pairs of doors and fit two lefts on one side and two rights
on the other. Where each newly made pair join you remove the rebate and fit
hinges. You are then left with two doors on each side and a rebated join in
the middle. the middle doors can then open as a normal pair, back against
the outer ones. They can't go flat against a wall if you open right up, as
the next open has to go in the same direction because you generally have one
door stop (otherwise they won't shut nicely).

If you want a picture/more details, reply after following the de-spamming
instructions.


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Kevin wrote:

I have an opening between two rooms of about 8-foot that I want to
partition. The plan is to use 4 x 2-foot doors within a frame. The
usual way of doing this seems to be to effectively arrange these as 2
x 4-foot bi-fold doors e.g. see projects 22 & 23 in the wickes
good-idea leaflet :-

http://media.venda.com/wickes/ebiz/w...ages/gil/5.pdf

The problem is that SWMBO want to be able to open the middle two doors
leaving the outer two bolted to the frame for normal use, but then
open all four, folding them back to the wall on either side for
special occasions. The arrangement of the hinges in the wickes
designs would not permit this as the rebate would prevent the middle
two doors from opening if the outer two were bolted closed.

The only way that I can think of doing this is to use some kind of
double-action hinge, but the only ones I can find are spring-loaded
which would not be suitable. Does anybody know where I can get
unsprung double-action hinges in the uk ?

Anybody got any alternative methods ? I think I have seen a similar
arrangement in a friends previous house but I'm not sure and cannot
check. I have vague recollections of parliament hinges being used but
cannot think how they would work to fulfil my requirements.

Suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks. Kevin.

I don't know about Wickes' bi-fold doors specifically, but most bi-fold
doors work thus:
The outer leaf is hinged to the frame using pin-type hinges at the top and
bottom. The 2 leaves are hinged together down one vertical edge. The far
edge of inner leaf (in the centre of the room in your case) is constrained
to move in a straight line by a pin in the top which moves along an upturned
channel in the top of the frame. As the doors open, the hinged joint between
the two leaves swings out into the room.

If you put a bolt in the outer leaf which keeps the hinged joint in line
with the frame, the doors cannot open in the normal way. One thing you
*might* be able to do is to cut a slot in the upturned channel, which lines
up with the guide pin in the "doors closed" position. This would allow the
pin to come out of its channel, and the inner leaf could be opened using the
hinges between the leaves. You may need to cover this slot with something
removeable to stop the pin coming out of its channel when you want to use
the doors "normally".

--
Cheers,
Set Square
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

Thanks for the advice so far. Just a couple of points to clarify. I
am trying to avoid the bi-fold door arrangement, but it is useful in
that it allows the doors to be folded back on each other, maximising
the size of the opening.

The problem with the bi-fold door arrangement is that the rebate on
the door frame prevents the middle two doors from opening if the outer
two are bolted to the frame, which was one of the requirements.

What I would need to do is fold each of the middle doors back onto the
outer doors and then fold these back again towards the wall. The
problem here is that the thickness of the door pair would probably
prevent them from opening all the way back to the wall.

One way of fulfilling both requirements would be to use double-action
hinges, e.g.
http://www.sugatsune.com/products/Pr...D=BH %20HINGE

or
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...FD70&sid=AFD70

Th only ones I have been able to find in the UK are spring loaded as
you might find in hospitals or restaurant kitchens etc and I don't
really think these are suitable. I haven't been able to check
screwfix as their site is down at the moment. Obviously any that I
did find would have to be strong enough to carry the weight of the
doors.

In article , "Kevin"
says...
Thanks for the advice so far. Just a couple of points to clarify. I
am trying to avoid the bi-fold door arrangement, but it is useful in
that it allows the doors to be folded back on each other, maximising
the size of the opening.

The problem with the bi-fold door arrangement is that the rebate on
the door frame prevents the middle two doors from opening if the outer
two are bolted to the frame, which was one of the requirements.

What I would need to do is fold each of the middle doors back onto the
outer doors and then fold these back again towards the wall. The
problem here is that the thickness of the door pair would probably
prevent them from opening all the way back to the wall.

One way of fulfilling both requirements would be to use double-action
hinges, e.g.
http://www.sugatsune.com/products/Pr...D=BH %20HINGE

or
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...FD70&sid=AFD70

Th only ones I have been able to find in the UK are spring loaded as
you might find in hospitals or restaurant kitchens etc and I don't
really think these are suitable. I haven't been able to check
screwfix as their site is down at the moment. Obviously any that I
did find would have to be strong enough to carry the weight of the
doors.

How about a tri-fold door (no track, all hinges on the same side)? The
outside panel should be just wide enough to allow the assembly to fold
flush against the wall. Or did I misunderstand the question?