Ryan Thompson from SIEGENIA UK explains why architects need to consider lift and slide doors as an aesthetic and secure alternative to the near-ubiquitous choice of recent years that is bifold doors
With the recent hot summers and the events of the past few years meaning people are spending more time in their houses either for work or socialising, the idea of being able to completely open up your house to the outside is extremely appealing and has led to a resurgence in bi-fold door installations, both in new builds and renovations.
This is understandable as there are a number of extremely high quality and good-looking solutions on the market. However, it is important for architects and developers to know that there are alternative options available which can maximise the natural light into the home without compromising on performance and security. Indeed, these factors may even be enhanced.
An alternative to bi-folds
While bi-fold doors certainly have their merits, there are reasons to look at alternative solutions, such as lift and slide doors. Although we have been blessed with good weather over the past few years, the British climate is still notoriously unpredictable, meaning that for many months, doors will remain firmly shut.
When this is the case, sliding doors provide extremely large glass areas with very minimal profile, and therefore a less disrupted view of the outside from the warmth of the inside. Plus, when the
doors are open, lift and slide doors save space for the homeowner, in contrast to folding doors.
Keeping rain out & heat in
When thinking of sliding doors, many people’s minds might go to the traditional inline sliders, which could be cumbersome, tough to operate and can be lacking in terms of sealing. These are substantial hurdles in times where generational living and energy saving are such crucial topics for designers and householders. However, modern lift and slide doors are designed to be extremely smooth running. They also offer excellent ‘compression’ as the wheels and gasket drop into place and create a firm seal when the doors are closed. Indeed, this is a major benefit of lift and slide doors over other types of doors. Their superior sealing means that when our inevitable inclement weather does arrive, homeowners are well protected from the wind and rain, and can save money on their ever-rising heating bills due to the excellent compression and extremely high energy efficiency which comes with having large, glazed areas.
Ease of operation
It has already been noted that large openings are a significant trend at the moment, and using sliding doors can maximise the amount of light that doors let in when closed. Studies show that we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, therefore being able to optimise the amount of natural light is crucial to our wellbeing.
It could be thought that large amounts of glazing would make big doors unworkable due to their weight, yet lift and slide systems can be suitable for almost any project, as ranges are available which can carry sashes up to 3.3 metres wide and up to 400 kg in weight. Not only that, but with good quality hardware, even extremely large and heavy doors such as these can be easily and smoothly moved. And, as the gaskets retract, doors of any weight remain durable and long lasting, as the gaskets are not exposed to wear and tear as you may usually expect.
All of this can be achieved with extremely slim profiles given the right hardware. Glazing can be achieved down to – or even into – the threshold to maximise the view outside. It can also be an accessible solution, with low thresholds in accordance with accessibility standard DIN 18040-2. This, teamed with the long-lasting smooth running of the doors, makes them a solution suitable for all users and generations.
Maintaining the highest levels of security
Security is, of course, always a major concern for designers, developers and homeowners; this seems to be an even bigger issue than ever with a recent survey showing four in 10 adults have put in place DIY security measures for their homes, such as stronger locks, alarm systems and camera doorbells in the past year alone. 6% have even purchased a dog to ward off criminals. Large glass doors can be seen as a weakness in terms of security, however there are a number of lift and slide systems that are now PAS 24 certified, and some that are even capable of achieving security class RC3.
The tight seals on lift and slide systems not only offer fantastic weatherproofing and energy efficiency properties, as previously mentioned, but also make them extremely secure. Therefore, opting for large sliding doors need not be seen as detrimental to the security of the house, but could even enhance it.
Ryan Thompson is general manager at SIEGENIA UK