Sliding Into Style
While bifold doors remain extremely popular, sliding patio continue to grow as the on-trend choice for homeowners, specifiers, housebuilders and more. Kerry Blackford, Senior Category Manager at ERA, discusses the drivers behind this, as well as what hardware options are best suited to optimise performance and security.
Bifold doors have undoubtedly become a defining feature of UK homes in recent decades, often being specified for open-plan kitchen and family room extensions that add space and light to both period and modern properties.
Throughout this time, demand for a more traditional sliding patio door has stood relatively firm, but trends and budgets are changing, and the inline door is now resurgent as a popular choice for homeowners with an equal focus on style and performance.
Classic Features
With sliding patio doors continuing to be a preferred choice , it’s important to look at the key benefits that have helped establish their popularity.
Space and Ease of Use: Inline patio doors are not only great for those who want to install doors in an area with limited space for doors to fold, such as a balcony or terrace, they can also offer a good alternative for the homeowner who may find a full run of bifolds difficult to operate or too intrusive when open.
Sliding doors can be easier to slide open than manoeuvring a full run of bifold panels, and they have no impact on the patio and garden area compared to bifolds, which require more space to account for the folding of the doors. This quick and easy access to the garden is a real positive for those who spend plenty of time outdoors.
Style: In addition, sliding doors use fewer panels and frames than bifolds, delivering open glazing which is perfect for customers’ who want a clear view of their garden, as well as helping to create the feeling of a larger space. Technical advances have led to the introduction of much larger panes of glass within inline doors than previously possible – while maintaining the same strength and integrity – and this is of huge appeal to modern homeowners, looking to bring the outside in.
Cost: With fewer panels needed to cover wide openings, this can often make sliding doors more affordable than bifolds. Other cost benefits are created by the thermal properties of sliding doors.
Generally, a sliding glass patio door is likely to lose more heat and energy than other types of doors, because glass is not an insulating material. However, to solve this problem, many modern patio doors are fitted with a thermal break, which acts as insulation between the inner and outer parts of the door frame. Minimising heat transfer, keeping warmth inside during winter and blocking heat in summer. Features such as airtight seals help maintain a stable indoor temperature, reducing the load on heating and cooling systems. This efficiency lowers energy bills, offering long-term cost savings for homeowners.
Sliding Doors for the Modern Era
Even though these features have been key to the enduring success of the sliding door, there is a series of wider considerations, relevant to the modern homeowner, which lie behind its popularity .
Practicality
There is always a strong aesthetic link to the emergence of any home design trend, but thanks to their potential to contribute towards improved energy efficiency and the emergence of new materials increasing the build quality, sliding patio doors now make more sense than ever from a practical perspective too. Large glass panels are, of course, heavy, but modern sliding doors incorporate easy-glide technology, allowing homeowners to open them effortlessly.
Efficiency
For energy conscious homeowners looking to prioritise thermal efficiency, sliding doors could very well be the right choice for them, given that they tend to offer better efficiencies, such as more natural light, and for those with thermally broken frames and Low-E glass options, improved insulation and less heat transfer. Previously, large sliding doors could contribute to heat loss in the home but more recently, improvements in thermal technology have helped to minimise heat transfer through sliding patio doors. In addition, the glass can trap cool air inside during summer to keep the home comfortable.
Things to Consider When Choosing Hardware for Sliding Doors
Complementary Aesthetics
There are more options than ever to make the classic sliding door feel personalised to the home and the surroundings it sits in – right down to the finer details. For handls that complement inline sliding patio doors, ERA’s Fab&Fix Pembroke D shaped handle is ideal. Matched with a vast range of Fab&Fix door and window hardware, the handle can be selected in a finish that complements the entire home. The Pembroke D shaped handle is available in standard and extended lever options. For non-locking applications, dummy handles, blanking plates and non-locking sliding door handles are also available. The versatility of ERA’s product range means that there is an option for nearly every requirement.
Security
Security is always a leading focus for homeowners and while customers may have been worried about having such an open aperture within the home in the past, recent advances in technology specifically tailored for sliding doors mean modern patio doors are some of the most secure you can install.
ERA provides a variety of secure locks and keeps for a wide range of sliding doors, such as the ERA Standard Patio Door Locking System. This offers a six-point multi-lock solution for PVCu doors with bi-directional hooks for anti-jemmying, security, strength and durability; plus anti slam pins to prevent misalignment of the lock until the door is closed correctly. Complete with 240 hours Corrosion Resistance to the BN EN 1670standard, and endurance testing in excess of 100,000 cycles.
From functionality to aesthetics and energy efficiency, it appears that the sliding door has moved with the times and is stronger than ever, ready to rule once again. By choosing the right high performance, certified hardware, door manufacturers can help homeowners reap the benefits, while enhancing the style and security of their home.
