ASK THE EXPERT
Sliding doors, made simple
Steve Bromberg of Express Bi-Folding Doors outlines the essential factors for self-builders who are considering sliding doors – from size limitations to energy efficiency
OTHER THAN SAVING SPACE, WHAT BENEFITS CAN SLIDING DOORS OFFER OVER BI-FOLDS?
The main benefit of sliding doors over bi- fold alternatives is the overall aesthetic when the doors are closed. Due to the technology of the mechanism, sliding door panels are generally larger, meaning more glass and less frame. This is obviously a benefit for those consumers looking to sliding doors for showcasing their view, as it means that the outside will not be completely obscured by the frame.
Also, because of how sliding doors are manufactured the frames are always a lot
slimmer – another reason why they’re increasing in popularity.
WHAT MATERIALS ARE FRAMES AVAILABLE IN, AND HOW THIN CAN THEY BE?
Materials are available in PVCu and timber, but the real benefits are seen in aluminium. Sightlines vary considerably but frames slimmer than 40 mm are quite standard and some go as slim as 21 mm. Some manufacturers offer a glass sliding door with a completely concealed frame and a visible sightline of just 25 mm – this means you have large pieces of glass literally separated by only 25 mm of
profiles – this is becoming a very popular solution, as it fulfils the needs of consumers, both practically and visually.
IS THERE A LIMIT ON HOW LARGE I CAN GO?
When it comes to size limitations, it varies entirely on the system. However, as a general rule of thumb we recommend keeping each individual glass panel less than 5 m2
this is because glass within that size can be 6 mm toughened. If 5 m2
. The reason for is exceeded
then the glass needs to be 8 mm toughened both sides. This is very heavy and expensive, as well as bringing logistic and access issues – it’s doable, but at a premium.
WHAT OTHER DESIGN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
There is a wide range of top-quality sliding doors available on the market, offering a variety of styles. The designs which boast the slimmest frames are the slim-line bonded sliding doors, while there are also slim-line products available that have been created specifically for patio doors, as well as lift and slide doors.
Doors are generally available with two, three, four, and six panels, so there are plenty of options including a triple track with three panels which allows for a 66 per cent clear opening, or even a quadruple track which allows for four panels and a 75 per cent clear opening – a great solution for really wide openings.
HOW ENERGY EFFICIENT ARE SLIDING DOORS?
Due to the reduction in framework, sliding doors are generally more thermally efficient than bi-folding doors. With the doors being predominantly made from glass, as long as a high- quality, low emissivity glass is used in the installation, the doors will be very thermally efficient.
ARE THEY 'USER-FRIENDLY' I.E. NOT
TOO HEAVY TO OPEN AND CLOSE? Panoramic sliding doors can be heavy because the weight of the glass is directly on the rollers – this is another reason why you shouldn’t be too ambitious with the size of the panels. Lift and slide doors alleviate this problem as the mechanism lifts the glass slightly, making them much lighter and easier to slide. Lift and slide doors are perfect for
january 2020
www.sbhonline.co.uk 13
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