Sliding door mechanism - choose the best

The permanent trend in interior design is the device of a sliding door system. This is not only a refined and elegant appearance of the structure, but also excellent functionality, practicality and ergonomics.

A variety of sliding door options allow you to successfully zone a room or combine mating spaces, without prejudice to reducing their area. How to choose the right mechanism for the sliding door, prompts article.

Sliding door options

The correct choice of the mechanism for moving door leaves depends on the way they are opened and the number of flaps.

At the same time the doors can be:

• Coupe doors. With one flap that moves along guides parallel to the wall, or with two flaps that move from each other in different directions.

• Cassette. They differ from the previous version in the presence of special niches in the wall, in which the door leafs hide when opening the opening. The niche can be constructed by hand with drywall, or be purchased ready together with the design of a sliding door.

• Radius. They are characterized by the correct round shape, spectacular and original appearance. Moving paintings occurs on special guides that repeat the radius of the door.

• Cascading. They consist of one stationary canvas, and several moving. Each element moves along its guide, and comes together with the selected side of the opening.

• Inline. In this case, the design is placed inside the opening. The leaves move towards each other, and at the same time only half of the opening is free.

• Sliding and folding structures for doors. They are performed in the form of an "accordion" (see Door - an accordion: chosen, done, beauty) and "books." They are compact, easy to use and aesthetically pleasing. There are single and double models. In addition, each canvas includes several vertical sections, which are interconnected by a hinge.

This design does not require the presence of a free section of the wall for opening, which is necessary for compartment doors. They can develop in one direction or in opposite directions, but at the same time the door leaves occupy part of the opening, which reduces its width.

However, the small thickness of the canvas reduces the loss of space, they are insignificant. These models are well suited for devices in narrow aisles and corridors where other door designs cannot be used.

The device and principle of operation of the sliding mechanism

Different variations of the sliding system in different models of door designs have similar devices and the principle of operation.

Any sliding mechanism for a door consists of:

• Carriages with rollers.
• Rail.
• Latch or flag.

Carriages with rollers are fixed to the sash at two, three or more points, depending on the size of the door leaf, the material of manufacture and the mass of the structure. The rollers move along a special guide attached to the wall or installed inside it. On the device, the sliding door structure resembles a monorail.

Guide rails or rails are:

• Open. In appearance it is a pipe of round, square or rectangular cross section. The carriage moves along the top of the rail.

• Closed. This metal profile is usually square or rectangular, with a groove along the entire length. In such designs, the carriage with rollers moves inside the groove. For multi-leaf constructions a special bar is used, with several slots for each leaf.

• With special limiter on rail endswhich prevents further movement of the door leaf.

In order not to damage plastic, silicone or rubber rollers over time, the restraints are also made of plastic or thick rubber. The latch is placed on the opposite side of the carriage with the guide, vertically. If it is located at the top, then the flag is attached to the floor.

This is a metal base with a vertical pin, sometimes it stands in bearings. When the sash is moving, the pin with the bearings moves inside the door, keeping it in a vertical position. For this, a special channel is made at the bottom of the leaf.

In addition, if desired, an automatic opening system is installed with a built-in sensor, but the price of such a device is quite high.

Sliding door mounting mechanisms

For different types of designs used certain variants of accessories.

The weight of the door itself, its size and type of model depend on:

• The method of fastening the canvas.
• Form guides.
• The number of gutters.
• The number of roller mechanisms.

The designs of withdrawable systems used to move the canvases can be:

• With two guides, which are located below and above the opening.

The door moves on roller mechanisms along special guides: one of them is on the floor, the second is above the door. With this design, the door is securely fixed in an upright position, providing good sound and heat insulation of the room.

Disadvantages of this option:

1. The floor and the ceiling should have perfectly flat surfaces, strictly parallel to each other.
2. There should not be any ceiling structures on the ceiling, including tension, suspended and lath structures.
3. The need for frequent cleaning of the chute, located on the floor, it quickly clogs.

• With one rail mounted on top.

In such a mechanism provides for the movement of the door on rollers only one rail, placed above the door. The element should be mounted to reliable and durable walls. The design of this sliding system includes:

1. Aluminum profile.
2. A set of elements for mounting the frame.
3. Roller mechanisms.
4. Retaining elements.

The number of rollers is calculated according to this scheme: for a web weighing up to 70 kg, it is sufficient to use one set, with a larger mass the number of rollers increases.

Tip: To avoid accidental dismounting of the door from the top rail, it is necessary to install a stopper, and special flags to prevent the backlash of the door leaves.

The advantages of such structures include:

1. Silent and smooth movement of the valves that provide ball bearings and silicone coating the surface of the rollers.
2. System security.
3. Long service life. This provides increased rigidity and strength of the upper rail.

• For sliding folding doors.

This option is used for installation of doors like "accordion" and "book". The canvases are mounted along the vertical edge on the side profile attached to the wall. At the top of the door sections are carriages with rollers moving along a guide fixed at the top of the opening, as in the photo.

• For rotary doors. Canvases can open in any direction. The swivel mechanism has a roller that moves freely in the upper part of the box along a special slot. At the same time, the door rotates around the axis, simultaneously moving to the side, remaining inside the box.

The advantages and disadvantages of such a mechanism are presented in the table:

Preparation for installation of mechanisms

Before assembling the mechanism for a sliding door, it is necessary to prepare materials and tools.

This will require:

• Electric drill, screwdriver set, screwdriver.
• For fastening elements - screws, screws, dowels.
• Measuring tool.
• Pencil.
• Profile for installation of rollers. Its length depends on the size of the opening.

• Wooden beam. The thickness of the element depends on the thickness of the blade and the size of the mechanism. Usually selected 5 cm. The number depends on the number of upper guides.
• Restrictive brackets. Their number corresponds to twice the number of rails.
• Guide rails.
• Rollers with carriages.

Tip: Special attention should be paid to the reliability and quality of the rolling block, the most important part of the system. It depends on the life and functionality of the whole structure

• Decorative caps.

Having the drawing of the mechanism of the sliding door, tools and materials, you can proceed to the installation of the structure.

Installation mechanism

Usually, a special instruction is applied for mounting the device, according to which all work can be done quickly and efficiently. And to facilitate the assembly process, you can see the video in this article.

The order of work:

• Marked position guides. In this case, the rails are mounted 15 cm above the door, given the height of the roller mechanism. Height measurements are taken from the floor. Horizontal lines are drawn on the wall.

Tip: Layout installation guides should be controlled level. Their deviation from horizontal, can lead to spontaneous movement of the valves.

• Under the guide rails with dowels, a timber is fastened over the previously drawn lines.
• Guides are fixed to the tree. Sometimes they are immediately put on the wall. Between the wall and the bar it is necessary to ensure a small gap so that the sash does not touch the wall surface. The length of the rail is chosen twice the width of the opening.
• A block of roller carriages is placed in the rails.
• Brackets are attached to limit the movement of roller mechanisms, retreating from the edge of the blade 5 mm.
• Screws fastened to the brackets cloth.
• Stubs are put on the ends of the rails.
• Sliding block closes with decorative strips or platbands.

Adjusting the work of moving the door

After installation of all the mechanisms and the door leaf, a visual inspection of the structure is carried out, and the position of the blade is adjusted, which should meet such requirements as:

• Fit snugly to the structure.
• Movement parallel to the floor, smooth, without jerks and interference.
• The locking device should work softly, performing all its functions.

The mechanism for sliding doors and their entire construction do not require any special care, but care must be taken of the guides. Periodically wipe them with a damp cloth. Otherwise, dust may accumulate in hard-to-reach places, making it difficult to move the door leaf.

With proper installation and careful operation of sliding doors, they will serve for a long time, making the daily life of a person more convenient and comfortable.