Sliding Door Guide
Introduction
Sliding doors can easily separate two spaces in a house or apartment with less labor than traditional interior doors. Check out our guide to help you choose a sliding door.
6 Reasons to Install Sliding Doors
Sliding doors have several advantages:
1. It requires less installation than traditional doors.
2. It can be placed in the center of the room to divide the room into two different spaces.
3. It is ideal for small rooms as it does not require deep spaces to open or close
4. It favors the modular aspect of your interior. Enclosed, for example, it separates your bedroom from your office. When opened, it transforms the space into a leisure room or home theater.
5. It adds a design touch to your interiors. Then you can play with shapes and colors however you want.
6. Cheaper to buy and install than interior doors: no need for hinges, locks and other equipment.
Where Are Sliding Doors Installed?
Sliding doors can be installed in many rooms. For example, you can use them to:
1. Separate the hallway from the kitchen to form a separate entrance hall.
2. Separate the kitchen from the living room so cooking smells don't spill over.
3. Isolates shower or tub air in bathrooms.
4. Separate a large bedroom into two separate children's rooms, each with its own world.
5. With the rise of working from home, installing sliding doors can also be a great way to create an office at low cost. Separate it from other family activities so you can focus.
What is the Size of the Sliding Door?
Sliding doors traditionally measure: 80-1/4 inches (204cm) high and 28-3/4 inches (73cm) wide. But there are many other possible dimensions, whether you choose to buy materials at a DIY store, or go custom, with the intervention of a professional. The minimum width to allow one person to pass is 24-3/4" (63cm), but that might be a bit narrow for a living room, we'll measure more around 27-1/2" (70cm). If you want people with reduced mobility to be able to enter the room, you have to calculate the width needed for wheelchair access: 35-3/8 inches (90cm) and 39-3/8 inches (1m) depending on the equipment.
As for the height, it all depends on how comfortable you want it and what ceiling height you have. If it's low, a 78-3/4” (2m) sliding door will suffice. If it's taller, you can choose a larger height: at 82-5/8” and 102-3/8” (between 2.10 and 2.60m) or higher. However, doors that are too large in short walls may not be aesthetically pleasing.
What Material is the Sliding Door Made Of?
Sliding doors can be made from many different materials. Solid wood is undoubtedly the most noble of them all, and also the most expensive. It has excellent insulating properties. Oak, pine, fir and even exotic woods are all perfect combinations. If you think it's too expensive, a compromise is MDF. It is a faux wood that can be painted and decorated on both sides. It is usually made from conifer waste and is completely recyclable.
PVC is also a material traditionally used to make sliding doors, along with aluminum which is lightweight and easy to maintain. If the heat insulation is good, the sound insulation effect will be worse. Finally, glass is very aesthetically pleasing and stylish for every kind of fantasy. It can be coloured, sandblasted or frosted. It is available with opaque doors: it is a classic choice for bathrooms and shower enclosures.
What Type of Sliding Door Should I Choose?
The two most common types of sliding doors are solid doors and glass doors, which are usually a combination of PVC and aluminum construction with glass sections. To separate a kitchen or hallway from a room, it may be wise to use a transparent device. On the other hand, to isolate a room or office, a solid door is more necessary to maintain a sense of intimacy and tranquility.
Sliding Doors on Tracks: Wall-mounted or Concealed?
Sliding doors are usually mounted on visible or hidden tracks. Tracks can be installed in two different ways:
On the wall above the opening. This is called a wall-mounted sliding door. This requires the walls to be completely smooth and free of obstructions.
For sliding pocket doors, the track is hidden within the wall and disappears when the door is opened. However, a double wall is required to achieve this.
How Much Does a Sliding Door Cost?
The price range for sliding doors is quite large. Prices start at a few hundred dollars and can go up to several thousand dollars, especially if you hire a professional or require upfront work, especially for folding doors.
How to Install Sliding Doors?
The easiest way to install sliding doors is wall-mounting. Even if you are not very skilled, it is very easy to install with a few tools (electric screwdriver, electric drill, hacksaw and level) and a few methods.
Sliding pocket doors, on the other hand, are much more complicated to install. It requires installing a frame and a partitioned frame, if the latter allows it. For installations of this nature, it's best to use a professional unless you're very handy.
Sliding doors are a great way to make your space more affordable. As long as you choose the right material and wall mount, it's the cheapest.
If you would like more information on how to choose one of our sliding door hardware or you would like to buy sliding doors and sliding door hardware, please contact us!
WEKIS is a custom sliding door hardware manufacturer with nearly twenty years of experience. We keep an eye on the pulse of the market and release new products regularly. Our styles evolve with the times, but we never forget the classics. From traditional to contemporary, transitional to rustic, we have hardware to suit every style. We focus on the value behind the inconspicuous "little things" that improve functional design and quality for many different industries. This is the original intention of WEKIS and the principle that WEKIS has always adhered to.