Are you planning to redecorate your house? Or are you building a new one? Either way, you’re probably trying to choose a door design, right?In recent years, sliding doors have become highly sought after! Considering their versatility in terms of style and design, as well as space-saving features, no wonder homeowners prefer them above other doors!To understand whether a sliding door suits the design and decorations you have in mind, it is important to explore the types of sliding doors available on the market and assess their mechanism. We’re here to guide you! Keep reading to discover four types of sliding doors that can eventually become a smart, well-suited choice for your house.
Key Takeaways
- Various types of sliding doors are available on the market, including bi-fold sliding doors and accordion doors, sliding barn doors, pocket sliding doors, and shoji sliding doors.
- Sliding doors are made of various materials, the most common being wood, aluminum, and vinyl. Many sliding glass doors are made of fiberglass and have an aluminum frame.
- For an innovative and technologically advanced approach, opt for Magic Window Wall or Sliding Patio Door, both featuring our Hybrid Fusion Frame, vinyl reinforced with aluminum and steel.
- When choosing a sliding door, you should consider its durability, thermal insulation, and noise reduction. In addition, it is essential to talk to an expert to confirm how safe the door is and whether it’s possible to make it even more secure.
4 Types of Sliding Doors
If you think a sliding door will fit the interior or exterior of your house, keep reading! You’ll discover the mechanism and unique features of four most popular types of sliding doors.
Bi-fold Sliding Doors and Accordion Doors: Flexible and Aesthetically Pleasing
Sliding bi-fold doors, alternatively known as folding sliding doors, provide homeowners with a flexible and efficient space-saving solution. Bi-fold doors consist of several door panels that fold onto each other when opened.Although bi-fold sliding doors are flexible and can accommodate different room configurations, they are usually preferred for closets or pantries. Moreover, many homeowners prefer sliding bi-fold doors as options for their shower door.If you want to install a folding door in your living room that leads out to the patio, consider picking accordion doors. Their mechanism is similar to that of bi-fold doors, except that they can accommodate larger spaces, making for efficient external sliding doors.
Uninterrupted Views
If you choose to install a glass exterior folding door, for example, you’ll enjoy an uninterrupted view of your patio.Designed to fill a space from floor to ceiling with minimal obstruction, these folding doors maximize the natural light entering the house, even when closed. As such, the interior of your home will be bathed in sunlight!
Security Features
Security is not compromised with bi-fold sliding doors. They are usually equipped with multi-point locking systems that securely bolt the door at several points along the frame, offering enhanced protection against break-ins.Additional security measures, such as anti-pick and anti-drill cylinders in the locks and an internal beading design, ensure that only authorized persons can enter.
Magic Bi-Fold Window Wall
An excellent bi-fold option when looking for a Patio Door replacement is our fully customizable, four-season rated Magic Window Wall! It has been specifically designed for Ontario homeowners.Magic’s bi-folding system is unlike any other as it contains our patented Parallex hardware that improves the system’s durability, performance, and functionality. This system is constructed of glass panels that operate independently of each other. This way, you can customize the Window Wall’s opening to whatever size you desire. In other words, the same Window Wall can be as small as an entry door or as large as an entire wall!Furthermore, the Window Wall comes with installation and a 40-year warranty! It will also have a retractable bug screen integrated into the frame, meaning you can stop it along any opening point. This system allows you to use the screen regardless of how many panels are opened or closed.We also offer the possibility to install our thermal blind and solar shades – both integrated into the frame, just like the insect screen. The thermal blind provides complete blackout functionality, while the solar shade offers 5% visibility.Moreover, when the Window Wall closes, its panels interlock into one another, creating an airtight compression seal. In addition, it features a grade-40 security rating – the highest for a product in its class!
Sliding Barn Doors: Stylish and Versatile
Sliding barn doors are basically doors hung on an upper track. To open a sliding barn door, you simply have to push it from one side to the other along the track. As easy as that!However, there’s one thing to consider – barn doors require a wall space where the door can fit when it’s open. If there isn’t enough space, you can opt for bypass doors, which run on separate, parallel tracks and, therefore, overlap each other.
High Versatility
The high versatility of barn doors is often a decisive factor for homeowners. These doors can be installed in various areas within the home. They are particularly practical for spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and pantries, where seamless transition and space-saving are desired.In bedrooms, they can replace traditional closet doors to provide a modern look, at the same time allowing for easy access and space conservation. These sliding doors are also a preferred choice for those who want to separate the living room from the dining room.
Style Compatibility
Sliding barn doors offer any design an exquisite touch. If your house has a rustic appearance, you can go for a wooden barn door. If its interior is minimalistic, a sliding glass barn door will be an excellent choice.Or maybe you plan to decorate your house in an industrial style – in this case, sliding glass barn doors with heavy metal frames and bolts will accentuate the unique design.
Pocket Sliding Doors: The Ultimate Space Saver
Pocket sliding doors, also known as pocket doors, epitomize the space-saving design. These internal sliding doors have no hinges and are designed to slide away into a concealed cavity within the wall, thus saving space and maintaining a clean aesthetic when open.They are suitable for tight spaces where traditional doors would take too much space – pantries, en suite bathrooms, closets, or wardrobes.Additionally, with a bit of planning, pocket doors can be adapted and installed as sliding patio doors. These doors can be installed alongside the external wall of your living room, for example, thus offering direct access to your patio.Despite their functional benefits and aesthetically pleasing design, it’s important to note that pocket sliding doors do not block sounds, smells, and light as well as other doors.
Installation Considerations
Before choosing a pocket sliding door for your house, we recommend considering what its installation implies. You’ll have to check whether there’s enough wall space, determine if the wall is load-bearing, and identify potential issues with wiring or plumbing.While DIY installation may be feasible with care and understanding, professional installation is often recommended to ensure proper functionality.
Flexibility in Terms of Material and Form
A wide variety of material options are available for pocket sliding doors, so they can suit any preferences and budget.Pocket sliding doors can even be installed on curved walls! There are also telescopic sliding pocket doors, which open up to several meters long, thus becoming excellent sliding patio doors.Additionally, you can mix a pocket sliding door with a hinged door that swings open.
Shoji Sliding Doors: Privacy, Simplicity, and Cultural Significance
Shoji sliding doors originate from Japan, where they’re often used as room dividers. The frame of a shoji sliding door is made of wood or bamboo. The filling is most commonly made of rice paper or fine silk. Homeowners opt for glass fillings as well, especially if the shoji doors are installed as exterior doors.
An Exquisite and Flexible Choice
Naturally, shoji sliding doors are the perfect choice for houses decorated with other Japanese elements. However, they can bring aesthetic value to any house – the key is to adapt the design to your preferences.Furthermore, shoji sliding doors have a flexible sliding mechanism that allows for easy installation. They are highly efficient if you want to divide a larger space into two smaller spaces.
Privacy and Culture
Since they’re made of paper, shoji doors do offer privacy, but they do not block sounds. In Japan, shoji sliding doors highlight the importance of remaining calm and appreciating each other’s privacy.Therefore, a shoji sliding door can be an excellent choice for a room used for meditation, for example, as its materials, mechanism, and the way it catches the sunlight create a tranquil atmosphere.
Materials Used For Sliding Doors
You’ve chosen a type of sliding door. What now? The next in line waiting to be picked is the material.Sliding doors are usually made of wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, and glass. If you’re looking for a more advanced option, you should go for our Hybrid Fusion Frame. Keep reading to learn more about it!
Wooden Sliding Doors
Wooden sliding doors are a timeless choice, being highly versatile in terms of style – they can fit almost any design!What makes wood sliding doors a top choice for homeowners is their energy efficiency. These sliding doors have excellent insulation properties, thus ensuring your comfort and lowering your energy bills. In addition, wooden sliding doors have soundproofing properties and are long-lasting.Nonetheless, it is worth considering that wood is prone to damage caused by pests, rot, and fire. Therefore, wooden sliding doors probably aren’t the best choice as exterior doors.
Aluminum Sliding Doors
Aluminum sliding doors are a popular choice due to their strength, durability, and low-maintenance requirements. These doors are resistant to extreme weather conditions, corrosion, rot, and rust. Furthermore, aluminum doors often come with internal insulating material, which enhances their energy performance.Unlike wooden doors, those made of aluminum do not require specific regular care – you can simply wipe them with warm water and soap. This makes them perfect exterior doors!Aluminum sliding doors are also an excellent choice if you want a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that looks frameless. The thin door frame made of aluminum that secures the glass edges is almost unnoticeable!
Vinyl Sliding Doors
A vinyl sliding door is a budget-friendly choice. Homeowners often choose this material for sliding patio doors.Despite being more affordable than other materials, vinyl still ensures a durable, safe, and energy-efficient door that requires little maintenance.
Hybrid Fusion Frame Sliding Doors
All the materials mentioned above are good options, but none can be compared to Magic’s Hybrid Fusion Frame! Wooden frames are prone to rot, cracking, or warping due to heat or moisture. Aluminum is an excellent material in terms of maintenance, but it is a good conductor of heat. Vinyl is inexpensive and efficient, but it’s not durable.So, why is our Hybrid Fusion Frame better? Because we’re using a frame skeleton consisting of steel and aluminum wrapped in vinyl. This makes for a perfect combination of strength, durability, and efficiency. Our material is so advanced and resilient that we’re offering a 40-year warranty for all our products!
Glass
While considering the options available on the market, homeowners often pay more attention to sliding glass doors, so it’s only natural that we’ve included this material in our guide!Various glass types are used for sliding doors, including tempered glass, reflective glass, double pane, or solar-controlled glass.
Are You Looking for a Sliding Patio Door? Contact Magic!
All in all, we’ve concluded that sliding doors can be used both indoors and outdoors. Many homeowners pick sliding doors as patio doors thanks to the fact that they’re easy to open and close and provide unobstructed views.With Magic, you can get 2-panel, 3-panel, or 4-panel patio doors that maximize views and natural light. Our patio doors patented hardware system features eight stainless steel wheels that glide along an elevated stainless-steel track. This mechanism ensures incredibly smooth sliding even when dust and debris accumulates in the track!In addition, our patio doors are energy-efficient thanks to the fact that we incorporate the most advanced technology in the industry, including the best performing warm-edge spacer and the longest-lasting insulating gas fills.Besides this, our sliding patio door frames aren’t simply vinyl! They have a stainless steel and aluminum skeleton wrapped in vinyl. As such, your Hybrid Fusion Frame is exponentially more durable, stronger, and better insulated than other window frames.Let’s not forget about our retractable screens and blinds, which are convenient and extremely easy to use! You can equip your sliding patio doors with insect screens, sun shades, and blackout blinds, the latter doubling the insulating value of your patio door.Turning to security – Magic patio doors are equipped with a dual-point locking system, which contributes to the system’s grade-40 security rating. This is the highest attainable security rating for a product of this class. You can also install additional kick locks for extra security.
Summary
This was quite a journey through the market landscape of sliding doors! Thankfully, there’s an option for everyone!Whether you prefer the flexible configurations of bi-fold doors, the stylish versatility of sliding glass barn doors, the ultimate space-saving benefits of pocket sliding doors, or the cultural touch of shoji sliding doors – there’s a style to suit every home.If you need professional advice or want to get a free quote for our sliding patio doors, don’t hesitate to contact the Magic Window team!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best types of sliding glass doors?
The best types of sliding glass doors are those made of vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum, each offering various benefits such as energy efficiency and low maintenance. Naturally, each material has both advantages and disadvantages, so you should consider all options before choosing a sliding door.
What are the different options for patio doors?
Patio doors are usually of two types: hinged doors and sliding doors. The former swing in and out, whereas the latter slide from one side to another. In turn, both options come in various designs and with distinctive mechanisms.In recent years, sliding glass doors have become one of the top choices for patio doors.
What are the benefits of wooden sliding doors?
Besides their traditional and aesthetically pleasing design, wooden sliding doors are durable, well-insulated (thus energy efficient), soundproofed, and well-secured. In addition, wooden doors are usually easy to adjust for any space, position, and size.
How do aluminum sliding doors help in space maximization?
Aluminum sliding doors help maximize space by saving floor space and seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a sense of spaciousness within the home. If you choose sliding glass doors made of fiberglass and framed with aluminum, you won’t even notice the frame! This aspect creates a smooth transition between the interior and exterior of your house.