Blurring the boundaries with folding sliding doors

Folding sliding doors are the perfect way to blur the boundaries between the house and the garden. Made up of a run of glazed panels which can fold one way or the other, folding sliding doors can maximise the light entering the room.

Folding sliding doors installed with a flushed tracking and tiled straight through, from the room to the garden can create a seamless transition between your garden and house. The tiling can create the illusion of a larger room so when the doors are open fully it makes the room feel and look larger.

Choosing your doors

Folding sliding doors can be installed on any new or existing part of the home. In order to maximise the light make the opening for your folding sliding doors as large as possible. They can fulfil a corner configuration and stretch around two or even three walls depending on the structure. A corner configuration depends on the design and style of your roof.

If you align the aperture with entrances into other rooms or with any roof lights this allows light to flow through into other rooms and makes it brighter and more aesthetically pleasing.

Purchase your folding sliding doors as tall as available some companies provide doors up to three metres high. The benefit of having floor to ceiling doors is that they can be fully opened out and let the light in.

Consider which door combinations best suits your purpose. Folding sliding doors can fold inwards if the space outside is restricted or can fold outwards which allows for more space inside. Outwards folding doors are the most popular as all the doors stack to the outside so they are not taking up any extra space inside the room. The doors can also be adjusted so they can stack to the left or right depending on space available and the layout of the structure.

Decide how many doors you would like in your space. Just because you space is a certain size you may still have options as to how many doors your can fit in that space. Average folding sliding doors can be 0.5m wide and go up to 1.1m wide with a maximum of 12 doors in any one run.

Materials and finishes

Folding sliding doors come in a range of different materials and colours:
• Aluminum doors come with a choice of colour powder coating with a whole host of colours to suit all projects and properties.
• Timber frames are built in layers in order to prevent them from warping. Some companies also offer different paint finishes and colour options once they have been installed.
• Composite frames (combination of aluminum and timber) are ideal for harsh environments where the wood can become weather beaten. They can allow you to create a different look and feel to your property both inside and out.
Some manufacturers also offer the option of blinds which are built into the glass as well as different configurations.

The glazing for the doors can range from double and triple glazing to priva-lite glass. Priva-lite glass enables you to have the option of a clear glass and a frosted glass in one. With a flick of a switch your doors can go from a clear glass to a frosted glass allowing you privacy from your neighbours when you need it. Other glazing options include tinted and self cleaning.

Installation

Folding sliding doors can be installed by a manufacturer of the doors, a builder or some manufacturers provide guidance and instructions on how to install the doors yourself.

Manufacturers of folding sliding doors will be able to advise you on the best option for your space and how many can go in the aperture, so the structure is safe.

Hints and Tips

• Combining folding sliding doors with a roof light can give your room and orangery effect and increase the amount of light let in.
• Shop around to find the best choice for you. Some doors come with installation and delivery, some are doors only and some you have to pay for installation and delivery. Other optional extras include doors catches to lock them open so they don’t fold back in on themselves as well as additional sliding handles and finger safe gaskets to stop you getting your fingers trapped in them.
• Each set of doors no matter how large or small has to have a lead door. The lead door is the main door which can be used to get in or out of the property without opening the whole set. Carefully consider the best location to position your lead door.
• To ensure smooth running of your doors ensure to clean the tracking out so they can open and close without getting stuck.

Folding sliding doors are a cost effective way to add light into your home and can make your home look larger and brighter.