FOLDING & SLIDING DOORS 37
GETTING A HANDLE ON ALUMINIUM DOORS
Will Jones of Senior Architectural Systems looks at how aluminium doors can open up new opportunities to create homes that offer the highest standards of style, security and sustainability.
he term ‘patio door’ is often used to refer to a wide range of differing door types, but the most appropriate style to choose will depend on the budget and space available. Commonly known as French doors, these simple and elegant double or single doors, opening in or out, are perfect for smaller properties that require quick and easy access to the garden. Although a popular choice for traditional homes, the new generation of aluminium doors are well suited to contemporary properties. The slim frame offered by aluminium can also improve the flow of light, despite the smaller dimensions of this style. Perhaps the most popular choice is the bi-folding or folding sliding door. The advantage of this style is that it enables a whole wall of glass to be completely opened up to create a dramatic focal point and a seamless link with the outside space. Aluminium doors also offer the additional benefits of being strong enough to support large expanses of glazing within a slim frame, maximising the sense of light and space.
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Whereas bi-folds are well-suited to houses, particularly those with large gardens or patio areas that can accommodate the ‘fold back’ of this style, sliding doors are the ideal choice for smaller properties or high-rise apartments with balconies. Sliding doors can also make an exciting feature in new build properties as they can be designed as ‘pocket doors’ so that they slide into the wall cavity and provide an even wider and visually cleaner opening. With the ability to create the full range of standard RAL colours or specific colours for a more bespoke solution, powder coated aluminium frames can also make a real design statement and boost the ‘kerb appeal’ of a development.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS All buildings lose heat through windows and doors, but the amount of energy that is lost can vary significantly depending on the type of system used. Here, aluminium
systems can really have the edge. Specifying doors with double or even triple glazing is an obvious starting point, but choosing a system that contains a thermal barrier is where the real energy savings can be made. One of the major benefits of aluminium doors is the enhanced thermal performance and low U-values that they
offer. Traditionally the material of choice for thermal barriers has been the low thermal conductor polyamide, but new product innovations have been developed to offer even greater energy efficiency. As well as helping to create an interior environment that is both comfortable and more affordable to heat, the specification of
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