When it comes to choosing your sliding system, there are many different options and systems with different functions. There are also other things which must be considered if you already have your door; What is your door made of? How heavy is the door you’ll be using? How thick is the door you’ll be using? Does the door need to be fire rated? Are you looking to use more than one door? In this blog we will be looking at how to choose your perfect sliding system, and the different options we have available.
Door Materials and Number of Doors
When choosing a sliding system, it is important that you get a system which is compatible with the door(s) you will be using. There are different systems depending on whether your door is made of glass, or timber. If your door is made of glass, you will need a system designed for glass doors. If your door is made from timber, you will need a system designed for timber doors.
The size and weight of your door will also determine which systems will work for you. Each system has different weight ratings, it is important that your door does not exceed the maximum weight. Door size and thickness must also be taken into consideration, if you have a wide door, you may need a longer track, and the thickness of the door will also need to be looked at, as certain systems have minimum and maximum door thicknesses.
Finally, if you have multiple doors to use, you will need to ensure you are buying a system which allows for this. For example, if you have two doors, you will need a system for double doors. Some systems such as telescopic systems and wardrobe systems also allow for more than two doors to be used, should you have more than two.
Types of Sliding Systems
There are many different types of sliding systems which all work in different ways and have different functions.
Top hung sliding systems are the basic sliding systems which hang your door from a top track and allow the door to slide back and forth along the track, with a floor guide which sits in a groove at the bottom of your door, stopping the doors from swinging.
Bottom rolling sliding systems use two tracks, one top and one bottom. The bottom track is used for the sliding function, where doors will roll along the bottom track. The top tracks are used to guide the doors, rather than hanging the doors like top hung systems do.
Pocket kits allow a door to slide into a pocket, or cavity, in your wall. When the doors are ‘open’ they will be concealed inside this pocket, so the doors are only visible when they are closed. They are great for use in smaller rooms such as bathrooms or cupboards, where a standard hinged door may not have enough room for the door to swing out. Pocket doors therefore require much less space than a standard hinged swing door.
Wardrobe sliding systems are perfect for thinner doors, made of materials such as plywood or MDF. They are not only ideal for wardrobe doors but can also be used for showcase doors and interior doors. Wardrobe systems can be either top hung, or bottom rolling.
Telescopic systems are used to slide two or more doors to one side of a track, so that all doors will stack neatly together at one end of the track. This can also be done with pocket doors, so both doors would disappear into one wall cavity. With a progressive belt telescopic system, all doors can smoothly arrive in an open or closed position simultaneously, offering lots of functionality and a sleek, modern look.
Folding sliding systems, or bi-fold systems allow two or more doors to slide in a folding motion which, when opened, fold back against themselves. The doors, or panels, are connected using hinges which allow them to bend and fold, and they run back and forth using a top track and bottom guide. Though bi-fold doors are mainly used on an even number of panels, you can have an odd number where the final panel can be used as a hinged passage door, allowing access without sliding the entire system.
Automatic doors allow complete adaptation for the user’s needs and wishes from the product. All our automatic systems are low energy and therefore they are only recommended for use domestically, or very low use commercial application, where the time taken for doors to open is not a factor.. They can be used on both timber and frameless glass doors. The aluminium track can be cut down to the desired size and nylon rollers are used within the tracks to make the door glide effortlessly.
Finally, soft close systems will gently assist your sliding door into its final resting position. They are a great way to reduce the physical impact and damage of a slammed door as well as reducing any noise made by this action. Our soft stops and breaks are easy to fit and are concealed so they won’t stand out or be bulky to look at.
If you require any further information or advice, please do not hesitate to contact us by either popping us an e-mail or giving us a call. We will be happy to help.
