Choosing Folding Sliding & Patio Doors

Folding Sliding Doors

These allow for large glazed areas which can be completely opened up, giving great views of the outdoors from within your home. Although they can be bought off the shelf in standard sizes, they do tend to be custom made in a size that will suit your home, in your chosen material and in whatever opening configuration you opt for.

FoldIng sliding doors are a great choice for contemporary homes or extensions, as they give a sleek, seamless finish, running smoothly on a track recessed into the floor.

When it comes to the way in which this style of door opens, the choice really is down to you. You might decide that you want just a couple of panels of glass to open up, with the others fixed in place, or perhaps a long run of panels, all of which open. Doors can be top hung or bottom running and open in any direction — they can even open around corners.

Sliding Doors

Although some of the older styles of sliding door have left people with a negative view – think chunky yellowing plastic frames with debris getting lodged in the tracks – they have made quite a comeback. Now available with near invisible frames, they can effectively disappear into walls – into cavities incorporated in the walls either side – when open. Their sturdy operation and the newest large-pane designs mean that they are now anything but old-fashioned. Take a look at Sunparadise’s Monoslide doors which operate on a ‘slide and stack’ system, and can slide around corners of any angle between 90˚ and 180˚ into a remote stacking area (020 8538 9585).

French Doors

Ideal for period or traditional-style properties, French doors can add character and light without detracting from original features. Although it is hard to achieve the same sense of openness as with their sliding and folding sliding rivals, they come in a range of sizes and can be bespoke-made to include sidelights to allow more light in.

Mechanisms: Folding sliding doors can be either top hung or bottom running. If your doors are particularly tall it is usually required that they are top hung. In many cases, if the height of the doors exceeds 2,500mm, horizontal transoms or midrails may be required to stop the panels from flexing.

Materials

When it comes to folding sliding and sliding doors, aluminium is currently the material of choice. It allows for slim frames and comes in a range of colour finishes, making it ideal for contemporary properties.

Another popular option for all styles of patio doors is timber, which adds a real warmth and character to homes, and is particularly well suited to period-style French doors. Softwood and hardwood are both options. All timber will require maintenance, although hardwood less so.

Opting for a metal/timber composite is a good alternative, offering rich timber on the inside, with a more weather-resistant aluminium exterior.

Finally, PVCu is an affordable and low-maintenance option, although many experts agree it is hard to achieve either the slim frames often required for modern folding sliding doors, or the charm and beauty of natural timber with this material.

Glazing

Any large areas of glazing spell potential heat loss and with this in mind, you will need to be aware of the current Building Regulations regarding replacement windows and doors that came in October 2010. They state that they should achieve a U-value of 1.6W/m2k for glazing within all frame types. Your supplier will be able to advise you on whether you will meet the requirements.

Often, argon-filled panes combined with a low-E coating are recommended as they help to trap heat during the winter months whilst keeping rooms cool during the summer.

Other glazing options to consider include self-cleaning glass and integral blinds.

Costs: As with all bespoke items this very much depends on material, size, operating system and glazing. However, if buying off the shelf, prices for PVCu French doors come in at around £900, whilst standard folding sliding doors start at approx £1,300.

Design & Installation

If you are self-building, your patio doors should be designed in from the start with provision made for their installation. Depending on the doors you choose, this may mean steel support beams are included, that suitable drainage is built in for where there are level thresholds, or cavities in exterior walls for ‘disappearing’ sliding doors. Additionally, if you plan on having automated doors, your electrician will need to be notified early on.

Liaise closely with both your builder and the supplier you choose on sizes to ensure that the opening that is created is correct for your chosen doors. Also bear in mind that bespoke doors can take a couple of months to manufacture and deliver.

Level Thresholds

Both folding sliding and sliding doors look best with a level threshold between inside and out. A track for them to run on is recessed into the floor, whilst a sunken drainage channel in front of the track ensures no rainwater enters the house.

For the best effect, continue the same flooring inside and out, with natural stone or polished concrete, for example.