The Smart Systems Visofold 1000 bifold door is arguably one of the best selling, established bifolding doors in the UK. Smart Systems is the biggest aluminium systems company, based in Yatton, Bristol. Smarts’ Visofold 1000 door is widely sold to builders, via trade counters and direct to the public.
While one of the older bifolding doors on the market, it remains a great seller and an ideal bifold door solution for many. Here we review the product and provide some comparisons with other brands.
Why we are reviewing the Smart Systems Visofold 1000 bifold door.
First of all, the market share of the Visofold 1000 is substantial. It, therefore, makes sense to include this best-selling door with our many reviews of other systems on the market. Smart Systems designs, extrudes and even paints the Visofold, which forms part of a bigger suite of bifolding doors from Smart Systems. The current Visofold bifolding door range from Smart Systems comprises:
- Best for residential applications is the Visofold 1000
- A square profile bifold door for retail outlets or commercial buildings is the Visofold 2000
- Visofold 3000 offers rounded profiles for residential, commercial and retail use.
- The heavy-duty bifold door from Smarts is the Visofold 4000.
- Visofold 6000 – the latest and newest slimline bifolding door.
Most installers choose the Visofold 1000 rather than the others. The newest product is the Visofold 6000, one of the slimmest bifolding doors you can buy.
From the many thousands of consumer enquiries coming into this website every year, few ask about Smart Systems products. Given the dominance of Smart Systems in the marketplace, we would expect more people to ask questions about their products. Consequently, Aluk is another of the best-selling systems few ask us about.
It seems like Smart Systems do not actively target the end user like other systems companies. They leave their (substantial) trade fabricator base to do the selling for them. Some systems companies see their growth pattern in getting their brand to the end user. Others like Smarts want to sell metal to fabricators, and this they do in substantial quantities. Therefore this could explain why we get constantly asked about consumer-focused brands like Origin, Schuco, Reynaers, Sunflex, Air or Centor.
How good is the Smart Systems Visofold Bifolding Door?
The Visofold 1000 bifold door has cemented its place in the market as the staple bifold. There is nothing wrong whatsoever with this door. Some perceive it (like Aluk’s Optio BSF70) as the ‘builders favourite’. The Visofold 1000 is widely available everywhere including trade counters, most retail installers, trade suppliers and online. It is also available at unbelievably low prices for the trade to buy. Consequently, Smarts doors are for sale well below what other brands sell for on an unglazed fabricated basis.
What we also know about Smarts’ leading bifold door is how installers choose to sell it. For many, it is their ‘basic’ bifolding door, perfect for those who want a quality door at a good price. The entry-level bifold.
The Visofold many installers use to upsell other brands with a higher quality perception. Similarly, for many, it remains their only bifold door offering, and they do very well with it.
Features and Benefits of the Visofold 1000.
For us, there are a few stand-out features of the Visofold 1000. They are:
- Its trade and retail prices are generally very good. It is widely available.
- You get a woodgrain option.
- Choice of profiles including a deep bottom rail option and transoms.
- You even get the excellent Smarts Sensations and Alchemy range of colours.
- Colour matched hardware thanks to their own paint plant.
- Fixed or removable corner post option, cheaper than Schuco, Reynaers or Origin.
What the Visofold 1000 provides installers is a very flexible bifold. For example, you can have a single hinged door, with a midrail that even has the option of fitting a letter plate in it. There are other features such as optionally hidden door restrictor stays. These are intended to hold open traffic doors or single/double doors.
We have to mention the wood effect and individual colours available though Smarts’ Sensations and Alchemy range. These provide textured and other shades which give a different dimension to this product.
Finally, the Visofold meets industry standards for powder coating, quality of extrusions, weather performance and security.
Smart Systems Visofold 1000 bifold door compared to other brands.
If you are thinking about buying the Visofold 1000, then we suggest three other brands to compare with it. The first one is the Aluk Optio BSF 70 purely on the basis of it also being a huge seller alongside the Visofold. Aluk’s BSF70 is as widely available as the Visofold and equally popular with the trade.
The second is Liniar’s Alumina bifold door. We suggest you check out the many good features of Alumina such as woodgrain foil colours, the superb Modlock and the aesthetics and overall finish of the product.
Finally Senior AliFold. Senior Architectural Systems design some great doors and window but little known residentially. We think the Senior AliFold door gives you a contemporary door also with good design and aesthetics.
Be aware of businesses rebranding the Visofold 1000 for homeowners – by and large, it is the same door as you will find anywhere.
| Visofold 1000 | Aluk Optio BSF70 | Alumina Bifold Door | Senior AliFold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Guarantee (from installers) | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Bifolding door mullion sight line | 132mm | 140mm | 156mm | 123mm |
| Square or round edge profiles | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Single and Double Doors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colour Choice | Full Range inc Smarts Sensations & Alchemy | Full Range | Full Range & Foils | Full Range |
| Woodgrain Colours | Yes | No | Yes (foiled) | No |
| Deep bottom rail option | Yes | No | No | No |
| Anti-finger trap feature | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Traffic Door Option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum panel size | 1200×2500 | 1200×3000 | 1200×2500 | 1000×2616 |
| Security Certification | PAS 24 | PAS24 | PAS24 | PAS24 |
| Threshold Options | Three | Two | Three | Two |
| Weather rated low threshold | No | No | Yes & Part M. | No |
| Double or Triple Glazing | Double or Triple Glazed |
Double or Triple Glazed | Double or Triple Glazed |
Double or Triple Glazed |
| Typical Double Glazed U-Value | 1.5Wm2K | 1.6Wm2K | 1.5Wm2K | 1.64Wm2K |
Summary. Should you buy the Visofold 1000 bifold door?
Above all, the Visofold 1000 bifold door is an affordable, reliable, tried-and-tested bifolding door. As a result, Visofold is easy to buy, easy to fit and it works. Probably why so many builders love it.
In contrast, if you want a bifolding door with more premium brand perception, top quality door furniture and more engineering behind the product, there are other options available.
If you are a consumer, we suggest comparing the obvious Aluk alternative. We recommend hunting down bifolding doors such as Liniar’s Alumina Bifold Door or the Senior Systems Alifold range. Both Alumina bifold doors and Senior Alifold are newer, come with latest technology hardware and other features. We think they’re much better-looking doors too. You may even find very well priced Reynaers folding doors at similar prices to the Visofold. Another product from independent manufacturer Aluhaus is their Alufold Bifolding Door. Alufold is based on the Warmcore System. It’s welded, has premium door furniture found on Origin and Schuco doors, colour matched seals and gaskets even a mitred outer frame.
Contact us for more information or where to buy the Visofold 1000 and other bifolding door products.
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