Two ways to open a wall
Most aluminium doors we install are one of two systems, and they solve different problems.
Sliding doors have panels that run on rollers along a track. At least one panel slides in front of another, so the door opens without swinging into the room or out onto the patio. They suit wide openings where the glass stays closed much of the time and you want the view either way.
Sliding folding doors, often called bi-folds, are panels hinged to one another that fold up against one side of the opening, or both. Fully open, they clear almost the whole width of the wall, which is why people put them between a living area and a patio or pool.
Aluminium Sliding Doors
Panels that slide past each other on a track, from a simple two-panel door to stacking doors across a full wall.
Aluminium Sliding Folding Doors
Hinged panels that fold to one side and open almost the whole width of the wall.
Which one suits your opening
A sliding door makes sense if
- the opening is wide and you mostly look through it rather than walk through all of it
- a dining table, braai or walkway sits close to the door
- that wall takes the worst of the winter weather
- you want fewer moving parts to look after
A sliding folding door makes sense if
- you want the whole wall open on warm days
- there is room beside the opening for the folded panels to stack
- the room and the outside area are used as one space
- you are happy to look after hinges as well as tracks
Many openings can take either. If you are torn, ask us to price both on the same opening so you can compare like for like. Our article on choosing between sliding and folding doors goes into more detail.
Glass, thresholds and locks
Glass in doors must be safety glass under the National Building Regulations (SANS 10400 Part N), which means laminated or toughened glass.
The threshold is the part you step over. A low threshold is neat and easy underfoot, but on a wall that takes wind-driven rain, a raised sill keeps water out better. On exposed sites, particularly along the Atlantic Seaboard and the West Coast, it is worth discussing before you decide.
Locks and handles are matched to the door system. If security matters on a particular opening, mention it when you request a quote so it is part of the price, along with any security gate you plan to add.
Colours and finishes
Frames can be finished in any colour. Charcoal and black suit modern architecture, bronze sits well against face brick, and white still suits many older homes. If you are matching existing windows, have a photo or a colour reference ready when we measure.
Replacing old doors
Taking out an old steel, timber or aluminium door usually means opening up the plaster around the frame. Once the new frame is fixed and sealed, the plaster is made good, and the protective tape stays on the profiles until the messy work is finished.
If the new door is wider than the old one, the opening has to change too. Raise it when you request a quote so we can look at it properly when we measure.
Questions about aluminium doors
Can you install doors I have bought elsewhere?
Yes. We do installation only as well as supply and installation. Tell us what the units are and their sizes when you get in touch.
Can a sliding door be made for a very wide opening?
Yes. Doors are supplied to the measured size of the opening. Very wide openings take more panels or a stacking layout, which we work out from the measurements.
Will new doors match my windows?
If we are supplying both, the frames can be finished in the same colour. If you are matching windows you already have, bring a photo or colour reference so we can match it.
Do your doors and windows carry a warranty?
Yes. The doors, windows and hardware we supply carry their suppliers’ warranties.
Do you charge to come out and measure?
Quotations are free. A call-out fee of R200 applies only if you do not accept the quote.