Sliding doors: types and nuances of manufacturing

Door sliding systems are an immortal trend in interior design. They have an original and elegant look, have excellent functional qualities, practical and ergonomic. Various options for sliding structures allow you to successfully zone the space or combine it, without reducing the area of ​​the room.

This article proposes to get acquainted with what are sliding doors that can be used for their homes, their features, how to choose the best design option.

pros и минусы конструкций

Before deciding on the installation of sliding doors, it is worth knowing what advantages and disadvantages they have, as presented in this table:

Types of sliding doors

From the name it is clear that the sliding doors move in the same plane, and do not rotate relative to the opening.

There are several types of sliding doors, which are combined in the table:

Type of door	Special features
Depending on the material used for construction
	Such cloths are made of solid pine. They can be covered with veneer from MDF or chipboard. But keep in mind that a very low cost may indicate: Saving raw materials, respectively, the presence inside the void; Poor or cheap coverage; Short life.
	Such canvases are made of their valuable types of wood (see Manufacturing of doors from solid wood - types of wood, nuances of work), which can be: Ash; Oak; Maple; Beck. Constructions: Harmless; Are reliable; Durable; Have a respectable look. Minus - the high cost of doors from the array.
	Characteristics of sliding glass doors: The cloth is made of whole glass; The box for doors is made of aluminum or wood; High level of protection against excessive noise; The used accessories - specialized for glass; Fixation to the box is performed on hinges, in the amount of 3-4 pieces; The glass is used tempered; Doors can have different colors; Enough high cost.
	When combined, the materials can be very different: wood and glass, veneered frames and glass.
	For their manufacture using aluminum profile, covered with a decorative layer of plastic. Constructions: Have a small mass; Durable; Can withstand heavy loads.
	Maintain a door cloth weighing up to 50 kg; Suitable for high height constructions; Provide a smooth ride; They differ in affordable price, with excellent quality.
By the number of paintings
	The single-field system includes a case in which only one canvas is placed, the width of which can be from 600 mm to 1 m. The width of the runners depends on the type of handles chosen and is two widths of the canvas or 10 cm more.
	The double-ended system consists of two canisters interconnected at the top of the guide. The width of the canisters is equal to the width of one door leaf. The length of the guide that connects the canisters is 4 web widths. In such systems, mechanisms of synchronous opening of the doorway can be used. Runners are made with a width equal to 4 web widths or slightly wider, about 10 cm.
	Such designs are composed of a number of sections that resemble an accordion (see Door - harmonica: chosen, done, beauty). They cannot provide good insulation against sounds, odors. Often used as a decorative element of the room or for conditional division of space into zones.
By design features
	Pencil case or cassette is a closed element, masquerading as a wall. In the open position, the door is hidden in the case. With a single-door door, the cassette is located on one side of the doorway, but often the wall on the other side has to be increased in thickness in order to resolve technical issues regarding their finishing.
	The leaves move along a guide fixed above the door opening along the wall. At the same time it is impossible to put the furniture close to the wall, along which the canvas moves.
	This is a compromise solution between two models of doors: hinged and sliding doors. When opened, the door leaf rotates slightly, is placed perpendicular to the opening, and then moves in any direction. This type of door, installed on rollers, provides good tightness and isolation from noise, with the device of a special sealant around the perimeter of the door leaf.
	The door made in ultramodern style does not hide fastening of sliding mechanisms. They are additional elements in interior design, its original decor. Cloths, most often, are made of tempered glass, plastic, metal.
	Often it is more expedient to replace stationary partitions with movable, insulating two rooms or helping to create a large common space. This design is used in the kitchen-living room, in the apartment of a small area, to highlight the sleeping area or office. A constructive feature of this type is the use of several mobile and fixed sashes. Moving doors-partitions along the rails fixed on the ceiling.

In addition to these designs, other models of sliding doors for different rooms are shown in the photo:

The choice of design

Tip: When purchasing a finished sliding door or making it yourself, special attention should be paid to the reliability of the model.

The main criteria for choosing a product are:

• The quality of the door leaf;
• Compliance with the technology of installation design, which contains instructions attached to the selected model;
• Acquisition of reliable components for assembling the sliding mechanism;
• Properly selected hardware for sliding doors.

There are two options for installing the door leaf:

1. Along the wall.

In this case:

• A bar is attached to the wall;
• Guides are installed on the timber for sliding doors, along which the rollers will move;
• Rollers are fixed on top of the door at the end through a special bracket;
• Keeping the door leaf free from vibrations, performs a groove located at the bottom end, into which the guide flag is inserted;
• Doorway, and guide escaped dobory and trim.

With this option, the installation design does not provide good sound and thermal insulation of the room, and proper tightness.

1. Inside the wall.

When assembling such a structure, the mount is hidden inside a false-wall, or a wall of plasterboard. Wherein:

• Redevelopment is performed, in which a U-shaped groove is made in the wall;

Tip: To simplify the installation of construction, the groove should be made at the stage of construction of a new wall.

• The hiding door leaf can also be inserted into a metal-assembled structure, which is called a canister or cassette, which are installed in the wall, plastered or finished with gypsum plasterboard.
• This door is completely hidden in the wall. At the same time it is necessary to consider that the handles and other accessories for the sliding door are located correctly.

The choice of design is influenced by the method of its fastening, which can be at the top or at the bottom.

The design consists of:

• Roller carriages - 2 pieces;
• Top rail;
• A stopper or stopper to secure the door.

There is no mounting from below, which visually makes the construction easier. There is no chance of getting unnecessary items on the rails that could cause the fabric to jam. But with this method of mounting the door leaf, there is always a backlash, because of which the door swings - nothing supports it from below.

Tip: To reduce the swinging of the canvas on the floor, you should install a special guide element or flag.

Bottom way. Such assembly is well demonstrated by sliding doors for the bathroom.

Roller cloth moves along rails that are attached above the bathtub. At the top there is an upper rail that supports the door, which gives the structure stability. The disadvantage of the model is the probability of dust getting on the rails or any objects.

What to choose sliding doors, everyone decides for himself.

Sliding door design

In the design of sliding doors there are several components. In the instructions in English, this is defined by the word kit, which means “set” for mounting sliding doors.

It includes:

• Canvas door. They are one or more, depending on the width of the opening;
• Door frame. This is an element that is placed in the doorway, and it hangs tightly on it. The design is made of solid pieces of wood, and fixed in the opening with screws or glue. This may be special fittings for sliding doors;
• Platbands or trims, for framing and decorating the doorway;
• A set of guides for moving doors. With it, the door is suspended in the door frame on the guide rail. In its composition:

1. Videos.
2. Stopper mounted on top of the wall.
3. The limiter is fixed on the floor.

The stopper and the stopper fix the door in a certain position.

When purchasing a mechanism, be sure to consider the weight of the door. For example, for a fabric weighing up to 75 kg, a device with two rollers will be suitable, and a fabric weighing from 75 kg and above will require the use of 4 rollers.

Tip: On the mechanism of movement of the canvas can not be saved. The rule should be followed: the higher the cost of the door, the more expensive the mechanism is purchased.

• Handles and other accessories for construction. The difference between door handles for ordinary doors and sliding doors is that for the latter the handle should not protrude beyond the edge of the canvas, so as not to interfere with the door to freely move along the wall. Most often, these handles are included in the door leaf kit, and when ordering according to the catalog, a lock for a sliding door can be inserted into the handle.

Accessories include a device that resembles a cylinder with a cap. Mounted element in the end of the door leaf. If you pry the cylinder head with your finger, you can force the door out of the wall. There are special sliding door contacts for easy closing of the leaf.

• Cassette. This element can be included in the set for sliding doors.

The cassette facilitates the installation of the canvas, and the door located in the cassette is more difficult to knock out or deform.

Automatic sliding doors

Such designs are often used in supermarkets, entertainment centers, electric trains.

They can be:

• Linear. Equipped with a single sash, moving in one direction, or two sliding canvases, which are rolled in different directions.
• Telescopic. This is a kind of linear construction. Installed in the absence of a side opening for the movement of the canvas, to the desired width. In telescopic models, the webs move one after the other in one direction.
• Radius. Installed in the facades of buildings with a semicircular shape.
• Angular. Mounted on the corners of the house or room.

All automatic models are electrically operated for sliding doors.

Tip: You can not hang on the guides very heavy sash. Large overload will quickly disable automatics.

Electric sliding doors, do-it-yourself in private houses and apartments is installed quite rarely.

Video in this article:

Sliding doors are an unusual element that can greatly decorate the interior of any home. Installing a sliding door is not a big deal. The main thing is to choose the design, and when installing to comply with the technology proposed by the manufacturer in the instructions for use of the product.