Choosing Folding Sliding Door Frames

By Author: claire websmart
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Folding sliding doors are an impressive way to add the ultimate wow factor to any property. Whether developing your dream home from scratch or undertaking vast home improvements through renovation; or even simply if you're adding an extension to a kitchen/diner, folding sliding doors are designed to open up areas with no interrupted views to make the most of both internal and external space within a property. This makes external folding sliding doors perfect for the summer months when accessing outside areas and also for enhancing the light into a room when the doors are closed during the winter.

Choosing sliding folding doors for your project, isn't an easy decision to make as there are a number of options available. However, opting for bespoke folding sliding doors means that you can tailor your doors to fit exactly with the architecture of the building as well as your personal style whilst also saving both on energy and bills. Frame choice will therefore play a heavy part in meeting your exact requirements.

Aluminium folding sliding doors in particular are often considered more for contemporary building designs ...
... as tend to have slimmer sightlines (meaning less frame width). Despite their slimmer appearance, life expectancy of the frames is much higher than its counterparts as the aluminium is much more durable in strength and weather resistance in general. Aluminium sliding folding doors are a cost effective long-term solution but it's also important to ensure that the system includes a thermal break to bridge the gap between the exterior frame and the interior frame to ensure condensation isn't created within the glazing panels.

A more traditional style which is both classic and popular is opting for timber folding sliding doors. Timber folding door systems are often used in properties where timber is a requirement for the area, for example in listed or historic buildings, or in conservation areas. The natural thermal performance of timber sliding folding doors is beneficial to the property along with its noise reduction qualities, however, unfortunately as a natural material it will risk warping and deteriorating over time. The main downside to timber, unlike aluminium folding doors, is that wooden folding doors also require regular maintenance and treatments to ensure longevity of the product. With this in mind, the cost needs not only to be considered for the overall system but also for its upkeep.

An ideal alternative to opting for just aluminium or just timber is to look for composite folding sliding doors. These are made using a combination of both aluminium and timber utilising the longevity of aluminium cladding on the exterior and the natural benefits of a wooden framed interior. By opting for composite external folding doors, both the strength and lifespan of the doors is increased. The positives are the same as with aluminium ie low maintenance and ranging colour choices but due to the limited heat transferral between both materials thermal efficiency is also guaranteed. With the warmth of the natural look of wood inside but the protection of aluminium cladding on the outside means there is less fear of warping and also less maintenance required.

Choosing the right choice of frame for your folding sliding doors is an important step in the decision making process so always consider not only the look and style of the frame but also the lifespan, long-term cost savings which could be achieved and any maintenance which could be required for the upkeep of your folding sliding doors.

Sarah Maginn is a specialist in Interior Doors and folding sliding door systems.