How To Choose Reliable Sliding Door Hardware

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Types of sliding doors
• Elements of a sliding structure
• What should be included?
• What videos are used?
• Glass door application and fittings

Sliding door fittings are an important component on which the door's reliability and durability depend. Mechanisms do not fit from simple doors, and when choosing, you need to pay attention not only to price, but also to quality. We will help you understand the features of the fittings and the intricacies of its choice.

Types of sliding doors

What kind of structure you are going to install depends on what kind of fittings should be matched to it. There are the following types of doors:

• Swinging: most often you can find them. They have a standard look, are attached to hinges, open to one or both sides, depending on the structure of the hinge. Such a door takes up free space, since it requires a lot of space to open, which is inconvenient for narrow corridors or places where an open door will block the passage.
• Folding doors are not used very often, have an original look and are most often used for interior solutions. Such a structure consists of several sections, which are connected using steel springs. Such sections move apart like an accordion; similar designs can be seen in trolleybuses.

The design has a significant drawback: it cannot contain heat and noise, so it can not be used everywhere.

Compartment doors. This is a sliding structure that moves along the wall; a similar system can be seen in compartment cars or wardrobes. This popular design, which is used not only at home, but also in supermarkets, is equipped with an automatic opening system. The photocells react to the approach of a person, and the door moves to the side by itself. Such a model is able to significantly save space, since it does not take it up in the open state, it is well suited for use in narrow corridors, small rooms

Elements of a sliding structure

A sliding door is a complex product that has several details. In addition to the canvas and the frame, special sliding door fittings, cassette, door handles, guides, roller mechanism are required.

You can buy all the components both together with the door leaf, or separately. You can turn an ordinary door into a sliding door if you redo the opening mechanism, replace the hinges with a roller mechanism with guides. Having chosen the door you like, be sure to check what is included in the kit, not all companies put all the necessary elements. This can be done inadvertently or in order to reduce the cost of construction. What is missing will have to be purchased separately.

Before buying, be sure to check the condition of the canvas: it often happens that it gets damaged upon delivery.

What should be included?

The main component of any door is the canvas: this is the door itself. For sliding structures, one or more, but not more than 8 sections can be used. The canvas can be made of different materials: plastic, natural wood, MDF, metal, chipboard. If you want to reduce the cost of the structure, it is better to use several standard canvases, and not one large one with a non-standard large doorway.

Hardware for sliding interior doors is an important component. It may differ in quality: it is worth remembering that the cheaper the hardware, the less it will last. It is better not to skimp on the roller mechanism and door handles. If the door is planned with a locking mechanism, it is better to overpay a little, but install a lock that can withstand regular daily use, since replacing it is often more expensive than buying a new one. Pay attention to the style of your interior. If the room is small, do not get carried away with bulky natural wood structures, and if, for example, your room is decorated in a classic style, the glass door will be out of place. The design should be in harmony with the overall design of the room or building, when it comes to the front door.

Another important structural element is a box with platbands: it is a U-shaped system that is installed in the doorway. A door leaf is placed on it; most often solid wood is used to make the box. Please note that door trims must be included. They can be made of wood or other material, sometimes they are decorated with carved patterns. The shape of the platbands differs: there are curly, flat and rounded. From a practical point of view, there is no difference between them, the choice of form depends on the aesthetic preferences of the owners of the premises.

Sliding interior doors, the fittings of which are not adapted for such a model, will be inconvenient. We are talking about ordinary door handles: they will not allow to open correctly, they will cling to the wall. A special feature of the special handle is that it does not protrude beyond the door leaf, allowing you to open it completely, and not until the handle rests against the doorway and comes off.

Usually the pens are already included. They cut into the canvas, in which special cavities are cut under them. You can purchase the handle separately. There are models with locks, thanks to which the sliding door can be locked.

Additional devices are often not included in the standard equipment. They must be purchased separately: these can be fasteners, locks, designer handles. When purchasing such items, check that they are accompanied by installation instructions. It is not always easy to mount them yourself.

Additional elements include a seal. For sliding structures, it is recommended to use a brush-type sealing element: it is needed in order to protect the room from dust and cold air. It is worth paying attention to the fact that sliding structures cannot close tightly, therefore, without a seal, a draft will be quite natural.

An element of this type closes gaps and crevices well, making the connection between the door and the frame practically tight. It is also applicable to structures with multiple door leaves. It can be installed on any sliding structure, regardless of its type; The convenience of using the seal is that it is attached to an adhesive base, which allows you to fix it on the door quickly and without the use of special tools. You can do it yourself. Choose the thickness of the seal, taking into account the width of the gap between the door and the floor. The sealing material should be in close contact, but not interfere with the door opening. If you choose it correctly, you will not only get good protection from the cold, but also make the room much quieter.

Ways to hide a sliding door in the wall deserve special attention.

What videos are used?

Sliding door designs can be different, most often they are used with roller fastening from above, less often from below. The most reliable is the fastening with double rollers, in this case the door leaf is equipped with such elements both at the top and at the bottom, but this approach is not without its drawbacks.

The use of a sliding door with rollers attached from above allows you to practically get rid of the threshold: the guide can be sunk into the floor or made flush with it, and when the rollers are attached at the bottom, the threshold cannot be avoided. If you try to sink them into the floor, you will have to leave gaps in order for the rollers to function. Such slots are inconvenient because they are often clogged with dust and various debris, which is quite difficult to remove, and the clogged roller mechanism will not open well or will not allow the door to open at all.

Details about the installation of interior doors and fittings inset.

Glass door application and fittings

Glass doors are increasingly common and are used not only for offices and shops, but also for apartments. They transmit light well, are made of durable material, look stylish and do not clutter up the space. However, the glass sheet has some features that have to be taken into account when choosing fittings for it.

Fittings for glass cloths are structurally somewhat different from those intended for cloths made of other materials. First of all, it has a peculiar way of fastening, and when purchasing a glass door, immediately order a set of parts for this. It is not always possible to install accessories at home. The fact is that in many cases the canvas has to be drilled, and this, with the wrong approach, can either immediately destroy it or make it more fragile, which will affect further operation.

You shouldn't skimp on fittings for glass doors. It is more expensive than usual, but saving on quality is not a good idea. Replacement will cost more than overpayment when ordering a better product right away.

If you liked the canvas, but are not satisfied with the fittings that come with it, ask the seller to replace it with the one of your choice. Usually, everything you need can be purchased separately, and the seller will install the parts you need. This will only change the cost of your purchase. It is difficult to select fittings for sliding doors; when choosing, you need to rely on quality, since it depends on how long the door will serve you.

Video:

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