The Visofold 1000 bifold door review

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Nick Dardalis

The Smart Systems Visofold 1000 bifold door is arguably one of the best-selling, established bifolding doors in the UK.  You’ll find this bifold available pretty much everywhere. The favourite of one-man installers, trade fabricators, retailers and chosen by some of the biggest and best aluminium manufacturers in the UK. Visofold 1000 is one of the older bifolding doors on the market. Yet, it remains a great seller and an ideal bifold door solution for many. 

In 2025, the Visofold 1000 has been upgraded, with slimmer sightlines, improved hardware and design upgrades to try to get the door meeting even lower U-Values. Who you buy it from very much determines the quality you get.

In producing this review, we’ve seen the door at numerous bifold door showrooms, in Essex, Gloucestershire and Bedfordshire factories as well as installed in dwellings. This review was originally written in 2018 and has been updated in 2025 to reflect the latest model.

Visofold 1000 bifold door
open living bifold doors e1502012698833

The tried and tested Visofold 1000 bifold is pleasing in appearance and offers a reliable bifold door at an attractive price. Updated for 2025, there is a slimmer and enhanced door. Who you buy it from very much affects the quality you get.

Editor's Rating:
4

Pros

  • Available everywhere.
  • Widely used, tried and tested.
  • A reliable bifold at a good price.

Cons

  • Not the most refined.
  • Sliding folding action can be juddery.
  • Styling is not the most modern.
  • U-Value compliance is vague.

What is the Smart Systems Visofold 1000 bifold door?

The Visofold 1000 is arguably the UK’s best selling bifold door. Widely used, tried and tested, available everywhere and often at the lowest prices, given the number of businesses offering this product.

From one-man in a van local installers to substantial home improvement firms, Visofold 1000 is a staple in doors and windows. You’ll also find it often rebranded by other buisinesses. Smart Systems designs, extrudes and paints the Visofold, which forms part of the wider Visofold collection.

visofold 1000 bifold door

The current Visofold bifolding door range from Smart Systems comprises:

Typically we receive around 1200 bifolding door related enquiries per year (source: Door and Window Experts Website internal data). Yet very few of these relate to Visofold products.  Given the dominance of Smart Systems in the marketplace, we would expect more people to ask questions about their products. But because Visofold is so widely available and a mature bifold door, it gets lost in the wider bifolding door market.

Smart Systems don’t actively target the end user like other system companies. They leave their substantial fabricator base to do the selling for them.  As a result end users may not know they’re looking at a Visofold. Brands using this system include Ezifold, REAL, Kloeber K-Fold , Express Bifold XP10, Durafold, Vufold Supreme and many others.

Visofold 1000 – Design and Engineering

The Visofold 1000 retains its original classic styling for 2025 whilst introducing a host of new profiles and features. Most of these are improved for the current demands of Building Regulations.

Trade manufacturers and end-users now demand a slimmer, higher-performance door, so Smart Systems had to now bring this mature door up to date. And the previous model was confusing as to how it met Building Regulations.

The Visofold 1000 bi-fold door system now comes with upgraded hardware that makes it stronger, smoother, and more secure. These improvements aren’t just technical changes—they make a real difference to how the doors perform and how easy they are to use.

3 sets of visofold 1000 in  large lounge extension

Visofold 1000 – New Profiles, Smarter Hardware, Better Performance

These upgrades don’t just improve the hardware—they enhance the whole door experience. Whether it’s sleeker aesthetics, smoother operation, better security, or greater reliability, the new Visofold 1000 is finally a modern bifold for 2025, rather than 2005.


Most notable is that Visofold has slimmed down where the folding panels meet, from 132mm to 122mm, comfortably now putting it within the more modern bifolds with a 110-120mm sightline. The slimmer Visofold 6000 is only 94mm at the mullions but comes at reduced maximum widths and heights.

cgi image of bifold door mullions and meeting door panels

The standard roller and top guide (ACDV232 & ACDV233) are now PAS 24 approved, meaning they meet the latest security and performance standards. For fabricators, this means less stock to manage, as a single, compliant solution now covers all security needs for end-user customers.

The new slimline shoot bolt gearbox (ACDV427) replaces older models, and provides a smoother andmore reliable locking system overall, that also takes up less space in the smaller aluminium profiles. We found the doors easier to operate while still feeling solid, reliable and reassuring when you lock the bifolds. A non-locking version (ACDV627) is also available.


New magnetic latches (ACDV382 & ACDV383) are fitted to the sashes, helping to keep the doors in place even in strong winds. No more doors swinging in the breeze or slamming shut unexpectedly. We would not rely entirely on this system, as up to now, only the Schüco bifold door catches actually hold a door panel in place. So any claims about magnets, holding doors in place you can be a little sceptical about and not rely on them on windy days.

Slimmer Sightlines for a Sleeker Look are another new feature and especially when doors are done in a four panel design, moving in one direction. The new underslung roller (ACDV382 & ACDV383) reduces the need for a floating mullion on even-numbered doors, cutting the sightline width from 144mm to just 107mm.

The result? A cleaner, more minimal look with bigger glass panels and less visible frame.

sectional pictures of visofold 1000 doors at the frame jamb.

The new heritage sash (available with the Visofold 6000 model) is still a unique feature amongst bifold doors in the steel look, where products such as Origin, Aluk, Senior, Reynaers, Schüco and many others, simply putting bars on an otherwise standard product.

We’ve always said that Smarts presently have the best-looking steel look bifold on the market. This heritage sash is also important as it works with the new Alitherm 400 Windows and doors.

Alongside the new sash as three transom/midrail options further addting to the styling options available.

close up picture of visofold 1000 heritage sash in bronze colour

The new heavy-duty shoot bolt handle (ACDV425 & ACDV426) allows you to ditch the second ‘D’ handle provided with most bifold doors if you prefer.

This makes opening and closing the doors simpler and more intuitive. It’s available in locking and non-locking versions to suit different needs.

close up of intermediate handle on bronze bifold door

System companies like Smarts are finally recognising that trickle vents are an essential part of windows and doors. They’ve therefore improved the head section to make the trickle vent dual-purpose.

So not only do you still get the required trickle ventilator, but now it’s more discreet with the new head section also acting as a weather bar, at the bead of the doors, deflecting rainwater away.

cgi image of trickel vent head above bifold doors

The great news now is that Visofold 1000 is no longer only a classically styled bifold. Flat and heritage profiles bring this door band up to date for 2025. And just like the original Visofold, you still get the features that made this model great.

  • 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 providing contemporary textured 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.

Visofold 1000 Technical Information

As is the case with system companies, Technical information is based on several factors and shouldn’t be taken as read in every case. For example, these doors will go up to 1200mm wide and 2500mm high, but only with certain frame and sash combinations, otherwise the maximum width is 900mm.

Security testing is carried out with enhanced hardware and laminated safety glass. You can get in touch for accurate product specifciations. In summary, Visofold 1000 offers:

U Value 1.5W/m2K
Air permeability Class 4 600 Pa
Water Class E 750 Pa
Wind Resistance Class 4 1800 Pa
Security PAS24:2016

Slide Folding Door Max Width (mm) 1200
Slide Folding Door Max Height (mm) 2500
Slide Folding Door Max Weight (kg) 100
Glazing (mm) 28
Frame Depth (mm) 70
Typical Sightlines (mm) 122

Visofold Bifold Doors – Security and Energy Efficiency

As you’d expect from a modern bifold door, multipoint locking, robust handles, shoot bolts top and bottom as well as central locking points all come as standard.

The handles and key cylinders will either be the standard offering by Smart Systems, or individual fabricators may choose to enhance the hardware to more premium offerings and to set their doors apart from me-too Visofolds.

visofold 1000 bifold door e1532253154540

For thermal performance, Smart Systems products remain vague in how they meet U-Values and the Smart Systems documentation itself isn’t consistent. We have data sheets with a 1.5 U-Value and others claiming a 1.4 U-Value when using a double glazed unit with a centre pane U-Value of 1.2Wm2K.

It is absolutely essential you don’t take U-Value claims as being correct because the sales person told you so verbally. Many will gloss over the figures and never go into detail. Insist on proof of performance. Ask for proofl of Glass U-Value and proof of overall product U-Value. It is the overall product value that is the most important. Or get in touch with us for more information.

Other products to consider with Smart Systems Visofold 1000.

If you are thinking about buying the latest 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.

Another is the Senior AliFold.  Senior Architectural Systems design some great doors and windows but little known residentially.  We think the Senior AliFold door gives you a contemporary door also with good design and aesthetics.

A better bifold in a contempoary style is the Cortizo bifold plus, that we think is more modern and better engineered than Visofold. As we always say, there is no bad bifold on the market and well made and properly installed, any will serve you well.

 Visofold 1000Aluk Optio BSF70Cortizo Bifold PlusSenior AliFold
Product Guarantee (from installers)10 years10 years10 years10 years
Bifolding door mullion sight line132mm140mm110mm123mm
Square or round edge profilesYesYesYesYes
Single and Double DoorsYesYesYesYes
Colour ChoiceFull Range inc Smarts Sensations & AlchemyFull RangeFull Range & FoilsFull Range
Woodgrain ColoursYesNoYes No
Deep bottom rail optionYesNoNoNo
Anti-finger trap featureStandardStandardStandardStandard
Traffic Door OptionYesYesYesYes
Maximum panel size1200×25001200×30001200×30001000×2616
Security CertificationPAS 24PAS24PAS24PAS24
Threshold OptionsThreeTwoThreeTwo
Weather rated low thresholdNoNoYes & Part M.No
Double or Triple GlazingDouble or Triple
Glazed
Double or Triple GlazedDouble or Triple
Glazed
Double or Triple Glazed
Typical Double Glazed U-Value1.5Wm2K1.4Wm2K0.8Wm2K1.4Wm2K

More information, where to view and buy Visofold 1000

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.  Exactly why everyone from one-man installers to large door and window companies love it and offer 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. For the trade, the Cortizo bifold plus is slimmer, more thermally efficient, goes wider and taller and looks more modern. The Aluk bifold is another contender.

For homeonwers, we’d again recommend the Cortizo, and the many independent brands that are slimmer, better performing, more modern and that look and feel better and more premium.

There’s no question these new Visofold bifolds will sell as well as they’ve always done and bought from a reputable installer, buying from a qualtiy manufacturer, these doors are safe, solid, reliable, attractive and worth the money. But who makes and fits them is important.

Contact us for more information or where to buy the Visofold 1000 bifold door other folding sliding door products.

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