Create Indoor-Outdoor Flow With Sliding Doors
Sliding doors were used as early as the first century in Roman houses. From this, it would appear that they were ahead of their time when it came to creating a flow between the indoors and outdoors. If you’re looking to incorporate sliding doors into your next project, here are some things to think about.
Types of Sliding Doors
There are two standard types of sliding doors that are commonly available, top hung or bottom rolling systems.
Top Hung Sliding Doors
Top hung sliding doors have the rolling gear in the top of the door frame.
This provides maximum protection from dirt and damage to the track. It also allows the sill to be completely flush for low-maintenance cleaning and a sleek look.
Bottom Rolling Sliding Doors
There are several options, the most common being the classic inside slider which has a panel that slides in a channel on the inside face of a fixed panel.
A key benefit of the inside sliding door is the ability to have opening windows for ventilation in the fixed panel.
The downside is that the trough tends to build up unsightly dirt, debris and something as simple as a dead fly which can affect smooth operation on a more than regular basis. Weather performance is also an issue for the outside sliding system due to the fact that water is being brought into the house when opened.
Glare Protection & Thermal Efficiency
The glass that you use for your sliding door is just as important as the configuration. It affects the overall design, appearance and energy efficiency of your home. Choosing double glazed, tinted, toughened or laminated glass instead of single glazing will ensure that your home stays comfortable throughout the year.
Choosing The Right Glazing
There are three key areas that you need to consider when thinking about window glazing:
How much natural light you still want to enter while controlling UV and glare
How much you want to minimise solar heat gain to maintain ambient temperatures
Reducing heat loss to the outside
One of the best options is to use double glazed laminated tinted glass with a Low E coating and Argon gas between the panes. This controls solar heat gain while maintaining ambient temperature, keeping your house cool in summer and warm in winter.
Sliding doors are a practical option for most layouts, giving easy outdoor access from living areas and saving space when opening into narrow passageways. They also function well for ventilation control as they can be adjusted easily by how open the door is.
Saving Space
Sliding doors don’t require additional space to swing open, meaning they occupy less space than hinged doors. This allows the space around them to be utilised to the fullest with outdoor furniture, barbeques or outdoor plants without stopping the doors from opening. They also offer a large opening, making it easy to carry large items such as furniture without issue.
The only limitations are that they usually cannot open fully as the panels slide in front of each other. The only way to achieve this is by having the door go into a cavity.