The move to a more broken plan living rather than the traditional style of separate rooms, or the open plan living which has been popular in recent years, has opened up a demand for internal sliding glass doors.
Sliding glass doors can be supplied as single or double glass doors and the benefits are numerous.
Firstly, think space – sliding glass doors take up so much less room that a more traditional hinged door. It can slide across either another wall or a single fixed glass panel. If you are having a party, the sliding glass door can be left completely open and give a more open plan feel to the area, but on a colder winter night, or for a little privacy, simply slide the glass door closed for thermal and acoustic insulation.
Glass is the perfect material for a sliding door. Transparent in nature, it allows light to flood an area, giving a sense of space and calm. Using glass walls helps with well-being. It is strong, all sliding glass doors are made from a toughened glass.
Are Sliding Glass Doors safe?
Always insist on a UK manufactured toughened glass which has passed stringent BS and EN safety tests. The manufacture will be tested on their toughening processes many times so that you know your glass is safe. Most sliding glass doors are made from either 8 or 10mm toughened glass. This means that they can hang from the top track and still be structural. If you go into a shopping centre, much of the glass you see will be 10mm Toughened glass, in the glass walls and doors of the shops.
Another important thing to remember when ordering sliding glass doors is to use an easy clean glass. The edges of the glass should always be highly polished by machine and a minimum of 8mm glass is recommended. For larger and taller doors, think about using a 10mm or 12mm thickness as this eliminates any bow in the glass which will affect the sliding action.
How much do sliding glass doors cost?
There are several options for sliding glass doors, and if you use a manufacturer who custom makes them to fit your opening size, you won’t have large unsightly gaps. Clear glass doors are perfect for transferring light between rooms. For a single glass door, expect to pay around £700-£900 for a complete system. The full wall partition above includes fixed side panels and the cost would be around £1500 – £2000 excluding installation.
Do internal sliding glass doors need a bottom track?
The great thing about frameless glass sliding doors is that there is no need for a bottom track. In the past, sliding glass door tracks were common and often filled up with small stones and debris, eventually affecting the running action of the system. Modern-day systems have no need of a bottom track and simply include a small lower guide which holds the door in place and stops anyone from pushing it open as they would a hinged glass door. Even for larger doors of 1500 – 1800mm wide, a heavier duty clamp fitted onto the door means that it will not need a bottom runner.
What is a sliding door inside a wall called?
Pocket glass doors are a great way to enclose a door inside a partition or wall. Easy to install these glass doors also have a plunger fitted into the partition so that the door can be hidden away completely. Here are a few examples and a case study of an easy to install pocket glass door for our client. Two stud partitions are created and then the track is installed between the two. The important thing to remember is that the install should allow full access to the rollers at all times. The simple wall system is low cost and easy therefore to maintain.
If you'd like more information on glass sliding doors, get in touch with Instrument Glasses today.