Blog: The Re-Birth of the Sliding Door

Sliding patio doors have taken a bit of a backseat since the early 1990s. Considered old fashioned and passé, the market turned to the French Door for well over a decade. Then came the emergence of the bi-fold door in the UK, pushing its predecessor even further in to the shadows.

However, the desire to integrate bi-folding doors in to all domestic new-build and renovation projects has driven the contemporary architectural movement, or perhaps it was the other way around? Either way, the need for bigger glass areas and more light has completely changed the face of extensions and new homes.

In truth, sliding doors were out of date; the technologies and profiles had not moved on and they had no place in the new world. You may have missed it, but sliding doors these days are anything but dated!

The need for more glass and more light has motivated the industry to invest and develop. The combination of better engineering and improved design has meant that sliding doors can meet today’s desire for minimal, contemporary architecture in the home. And let’s not forget the good old British weather; sliding doors look good whether they are open or closed!

Panels can reach sizes of up to 4 meters wide and 3 metres high, with weights of up to 400kg! And yet they glide effortlessly along stainless-steel tracks which can sit flush with your outside space. They can be incorporated in to almost any home. In-line and lift & slide options offer different levels of performance and capability.

As with any vogue product there is a massive variety of quality out there! Be sure that the doors you choose are capable of achieving what you need. Although they look good closed, you need to be sure you’ll be able to open them when you want!

Despite the vast amounts of glass, sliding doors can be safe, secure and energy efficient and can even be suitable for Passive House projects. With options such as frameless windows, all-glass corners and panoramic windows, it may be time to take a closer look at sliding doors.

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