SLIDING DOORS
Sliding patio doors are perfect for creating a seamless link between inside and out, as Natasha Brinsmead explains
Sliding patio doors are favoured by many because of the slim sightlines they are associated with. A sightline is, in basic terms, the nonglass section of the door, or the thickness of the two frames where panels meet. The thinner the sightlines, the more glass. They are now available with slimmer sightlines than ever before. Aluminium sliding patio doors offer incredibly slim sightlines — 20mm is now quite possible. And not only do sliding doors allow you to view your garden better when you’re inside, but when opened up they make the garden feel like an extension of your interior.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
Sliding patio doors are operated on a track so that the panels stack behind one another when opened. There are several different track options. The most common choice is between a double or triple track. Double tracks suit door configurations consisting of two sets of doors, while triple tracks are recommended for three or more doors (this can be a combination of fixed and sliding doors).
Tracks can be recessed into the floor for a flush look that also provides easy access.
Lift and slide doors differ slightly in their operation. The doors sit directly into the track. A handle rotates to lift the door up out of the track onto its rollers before allowing it to slide effortlessly to one side.
WHAT SIZE CAN I HAVE?
Sliding patio door sizes vary hugely depending on your supplier, the material that you opt for and, of course, your personal preference — not everyone wants a wall of sliding doors.
The good news is that there is a sliding door size to suit all — with designs available for openings as small as 900mm wide right up to those to fit openings spanning a massive 24m. You will need to discuss your exact requirements with your architect and your supplier because in order for the doors to work well, structural considerations will need to be adhered to.
DOOR CONFIGURATIONS
When it comes to choosing a configuration for your sliding doors you will need to take into account the size of the opening you are fitting them into and how you want to use your new patio doors.
Sliding doors can be configured in lots of different ways — from a single panel up to an eight-panel system. Depending on the number of panels you opt for and the design of your home, they can all slide in the same direction, or away from one another in the case of double sliding doors, or even away from a corner to open up a house completely.
They can also be installed to slide into a pocket within the wall. There will also usually be one or two fixed panels within a sliding door configuration, too.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUDGET?
Sliding patio door costs vary hugely, with influencing factors including material, size, configuration and suppliers, as well as the security options and door hardware you have selected. Whether or not you choose double or triple glazing will also have an impact on your final costs and in some cases, the colour and finish will also have an effect.
Sliding patio doors do tend to be more expensive than bifold doors and French doors. As a very rough guide, it is advisable to budget from around £800/m² for aluminium sliding doors.