Sliding Patio Doors

Sliding patio doors are external glazed doors with a panel that slides sideways along a track. Unlike a hinged door, the moving panel usually needs no swing space, so your furniture can sit close to the doorway, inside or out.

A sliding patio door has one fixed panel and one moving panel. The moving panel runs on rollers along a track. You open it with the handle, and the same handle locks it, giving a wide glazed doorway with no swing.

Yes, often. The panel slides sideways, so nothing swings into your room or garden. One trade-off is that part of the glass stays fixed, so the clear opening is narrower than the full door width. Ask us to check your layout.

Yes, in most cases. Slim frames and large panes give you a bigger glazed area than a hinged door of the same width, so more daylight comes in and the view of the garden is clearer. The final result still depends on the door size, the glazing and the layout of your room.

Yes, they can be. Heat loss depends on the whole door, not the frame alone. Low-E coating, argon-filled units, warm-edge spacers and good seals all keep heat in. A lower U-value means less heat escapes. Ask us for the U-value of your exact door before you order.

It can improve insulation, but most of the gain comes from moving from single to double glazing. Triple glazing makes each panel heavier and usually costs more. Ask whether it suits your door size and rollers.

Yes, but it depends on the wall. Lowering the sill is usually straightforward. Widening the opening may need a new lintel, which is structural work. We survey the opening first, so you know what is needed before work starts.

Sometimes. An existing Crittall window and brick-and-block opening can be adapted, as in a project we completed for anthracite grey patio doors. Every building differs, so we assess the wall, the load above and any support before we quote.

It depends on how you use the space. Sliding doors glide along a track and suit spaces with limited room. Bi-folds fold into sections and open most of the width at once. Your opening and preferred layout decide which suits you.

Modern sliding patio doors are secure when they have multi-point locking, anti-lift protection and toughened or laminated glass. Older or poorly maintained doors are easier to force, mainly because worn rollers and basic locks allow the sliding panel to be lifted out of its track. Look for PAS 24 or Secured by Design certification. Ask us to check the lock, frame and glazing on your door.

Price depends on the opening size, number of panels, glazing, colour, hardware and any work to the opening, such as a new lintel. We give a written quote after seeing the opening, so you can compare quotes like for like.

Mist on the room-facing glass is usually a humidity issue, common in kitchens and rooms where washing dries. Good ventilation helps with the first. Mist between the two panes means the sealed unit has failed, and the glass may need replacing.

Vacuum out loose debris, then wipe with a damp cloth and mild soapy cleaner. Check the drainage slots and rollers are not blocked. If the door still sticks, do not force it. Ask an installer to check the rollers.

Replacement windows and doors must meet Building Regulations. As a FENSA registered installer, we can self-certify this for windows and doors. Structural changes, such as a wider opening, are separate and may need their own approval.

Yes. Area Cladding supplies and fits uPVC sliding patio doors for homeowners in Cambridge and the surrounding area. We are a family business trading since 1987, FENSA registered and a Swish approved installer. We fit Liniar uPVC systems.