If you want to save space in your home folding sliding doors or bi folding doors can be the best option. The effortlessly smooth sliding patio door will can transform a small ordinary room into a large open space bringing the outside inside. The limitations of traditional patio and French type doors greatly restrict the amount of space available when they are in the open position. With a modern looking set of sliding folding doors you can benefit from additional space and maximise on access as the sliding folding doors can open to almost 100% of their width. Sliding folding patio doors for example, can make a big difference to a room. An entire wall can incorporate the full width set of glass doors that provide increased amount of natural light penetrating the living space. Folding and sliding doors are very pleasing to eye and open effortlessly, transforming the inside and outside living space as one. Glass sliding doors offer good views from inside to outside and vice versa. Sliding and folding doors look great, are strong and protect the internal environment from the weather. When the weather is good they can be easily opened allowing the outside inside. They also provide an acoustic barrier reducing noise from outside when closed.
Folding sliding glass doors can be used in numerous applications including but not limited to the following:
- House extensions
- Conservatories
- Walk on balconies
- Car ports
- Outside dining areas
- Patios
- Swimming pools
- Restaurant patios
- Internal folding doors room dividers
The options available are endless and it just depends how creative you wish to be and the visual impact you want to achieve.
Frame Material Types
The various materials used in the manufacturer of folding doors are as follows:
Laminated timber frame type – Timber folding sliding doors provide a traditional appearance. The frames are manufactured from laminated timber. Nowadays hardwood door frames are manufactured to a very high standard by modern machining. The timber provides a warm feel, is rich in appearance and can blend in with other timber products already in place. Timber type is particularly ideal for internal folding sliding doors. Laminated timbers are generally used for additional strength to prevent warping. The lamination process involves the frame being constructed by splicing three layers of timbers together by gluing under high pressure. Each piece of timber in the frame is positioned with grains running opposite to each other. This prevents the frame from twisting or warping. The timber frames are then treated with an anti-rot and anti-fungal preservative to protect the frames from environmental conditions such as the harsh rays of the sun and rainwater. The timber framing is then finished with any colour to meet with your specification using either a natural type stain or perhaps a specific solid colour of your choice.
The timbers generally used are:
- Meranti timber
- Pine timber
- European Oak
Aluminium sliding door thermally broken frame type – Aluminium folding sliding doors are probably the most popular type used. The system offers a modern appearance coupled with strength and durability. Maintenance requirement is minimal in order to keep its looking good and they incorporate a thermal break to improve thermal efficiency. The frames come in a variety of powder coated colours to meet with your specification.
In brief aluminium doors offer the following advantages:
- Generally 70 mm (2¾ inches) thick framing
- Also available in 45mm (1¾ inches) thick framing slim style for smaller stacking space when folded
- Heavy duty for strength (using heavy duty cleats at frame joints)
- Larger panels available
- Frames thermally broken for greater thermal efficiency
- Condensation minimal
- Resistant to damage by scratches and dents
- Modern appearance
Combined aluminium/timber thermally broken type – Bring together the strength of aluminium and the pleasing appearance of timber to create a combined aluminium/timber framing. This combination offers a strong, durable and minimal maintenance product.
The benefits of this type of framing are as follows:
- Thermally broken and therefore thermally efficient
- Powder coated aluminium to any colour of your choice
- Interlocking glazing beads
- Timber section removable for painting
- Available in a different timber finishes to blend with existing timber finishes
UPVC type – Manufactured from uPVC profile framing high in strength and with excellent thermal efficiency. The framing is available in white as standard and at optional extra in ivory, black, cherry, oak, mahogany and even green. UPVC doors are becoming less and less popular with preference for aluminium type.
Glazing Types Available
When purchasing folding doors it is very important to make the right decision for the glazing component. Due to the large area of glazing in these types of doors there can be significant heat loss especially at night. During the day there can be significant heat gain and noise pollution. The type of glass installed will determine levels of comfort, the security, safety and noise transfer into your house.
Multiple Glazing Units (Double Glazed Units)
This consists of multiple layers of glass panes two or more panes comprising hermetically-sealed air spaces between. This arrangement helps to reduce thermal loss resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced build up of condensation on the internal side of the glazing i.e. warm side. Using this type of glass units will allow the use of larger glazed areas without increasing energy consumption.
Type of glass used for thermal efficiency in double glazed units:
Low-E Coated Glazing
Low-E (low emissivity) type glass has a special coating on one side which acts as a filter blocking long wave radiation i.e. infrared heat but letting through short wave radiation i.e. visible light. The suns heat and light energy (short wave radiation) passes through the glass and is absorb by furniture; carpet etc. in the room. This energy is then transferred into long wave energy or thermal radiation to form heat.
This in effect means that during the winter time the long-wave heat energy radiating from objects e.g. heating radiator in the room tries to escape through the window the weakest point but the Low E glass reflects the heat back inside therefore keeping the room warm and the lowering heating cost.
In the summer time the same thing happens but in reverse. The sun heats up the sidewalks, driveways etc. This heat wants to radiate through the glass again the weakest point to the inside of the house. The Low E glass filters the heat from getting through reducing the effects of solar heat gain and therefore lower cooling costs.
Radiation deflection internally and externally
There are two types of Low E glass as follows:
Glass with SOFT and HARD coatings.
Soft Coat Low E
Applying a layer of silver, tin or zinc onto the glass while in a vacuum chamber. Molecules of the metal are sputtered onto the glass and the coating is almost invisible. This layer is very delicate or soft making handling difficult. This glass must be used in double glazed units and the glass tempering process must be complete prior to applying the soft coat. This glass is considered to be the higher performer between the two types however it is more expensive.
Advantages are:
- Ultra-low giving optimum winter performance
- UV transmission is 70% less compared with standard glazing
- Optical clarity with minimal colour haze
- High levels of visible light transmission available
Hard Coat Low E
Manufactured by pouring a very thin layer of molten tin over the glass during the manufacturing process and therefore it becomes embedded in the glass making it difficult to remove. Slightly higher haze level with this coating.
Advantages are:
- Durable coating
- Can be used in single glazed applications
- The glass can be tempered later
Types of glass available for safety purposes in double glazed units:
Laminated Glass
A most important consideration in the double glazed units is the use of safety glass. Laminated glass consists of two layers of glass with a plastic layer in between forming a glass/plastic/glass sandwich (6.4mm thick). By using laminated glass the risk of penetration is considerably reduced. If the pane of glass breaks the plastic inner layer in between retains the overall integrity of the glass pane.
Advantages are:
- Increases security by taking longer to break through
- Withstands blows from heavy objects e.g. football
- Acts as a safety mechanism in the event of a person falling into the glass pane by holding the glass in place
- If broken the pane will still act as a barrier until replacement
- Is a requirement of building code
Tempered (Toughened) Glass
Tempered glass is considerably stronger than standard glass (about 4 times). The glass tempering process produces additional strength to the glass; it is resistance to thermal stress and impact. If the glass is broken the toughened glass shatters into small blunt pieces of glass fragments (known as dice) reducing the risk of injury to the building occupants. Unlike laminated glass when a toughened pane is broken it requires replacement immediately.
Using a sliding glass door system will give your home a modern appearance and their use is gaining in popularity by architects and home owners alike.
Aluminium doors can also be used internally separating individual rooms and opened when required to increase the room size. Glazed internal doors can be designed to fold into compartments in the wall structure providing a flush wall finish when fully opened providing maximum room’s space.
Why settle for anything less.
You may also be interested in reading about PVC French doors and interior doors folding options and composite door options.
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