necessary if you are using a Juliet balcony or have limited space outside. How many panels you will require will be dictated by the width of the aperture, but do consider which way you would like them to open, whether or not a single pass door is required for frequent use, and where in the system you would like it to be situated. If you choose a top hung folding sliding door
system this must be taken into account when designing the correct lintel for the aperture. If a larger lintel is not possible you have the option
of a bottom rolling system where the weight is taken through the threshold. Any fears over the bottom track getting clogged with dust and grit can be dispelled by using a good quality sys- tem, where the carriages will be run on rails that are raised from the bottom of the track itself to ensure continued smooth running. Aluminium has become an increasingly pop-
ular choice for folding sliding doors due to lower maintenance; most companies now also offer a marine grade coating for a small pre- mium giving a highly durable finish. Aluminium folding sliding doors also generally have slim- mer frames, resulting in narrower sight lines. Timber doors are also highly durable, provid-
ing they are manufactured from engineered timber for additional stability. They will require more regular maintenance than aluminium fold- ing sliding doors, as they will eventually require recoating but should still come in a full factory finish, which will last for some years. Both timber and aluminium paint finishes are
usually available in any RAL colour, which can be matched to existing glazed products. The choice of material really is down to personal choice and the style of build you are planning. The type of glazing available on the market
can be quite bewildering with double glazing, triple glazing, argon filled, krypton filled, toughened glass and many other options, to reduce solar heat and cleaning. UK Building Regulations state that all new-build projects should be fitted with doors and windows with overall product U-values of 2.0 or less. As glaz- ing is such a big part of any new build or exten-
sion project, it is advisable to carefully research the options available with each company to ensure that their glazing either meets or exceeds these requirements. Security is another important issue for all homeowners. Check that the glazing is inter- nally beaded for additional security and that the locks and shootbolts are of superior quality. Also check that the folding sliding doors you
purchase come with a full warranty. The war- ranty should be valid whether your own builder fits the doors or if you use the company’s own fitting team.
Aluminium has become an
increasingly popular choice
Finally, in the current economic climate, we
are all aware that budget is a serious consider- ation in making your final decision. For this rea- son, you may wish to consider a set-size option rather than bespoke. Sometimes a small tweak of your plans can save you money without com- promising on quality. Check if the company you are purchasing from has an ‘off the peg’ solution that you can incorporate into your build as this may give you a considerable saving on the bespoke cost.
Enq. 137 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.eu 43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68