INSTALLING SLIDING DOORS THE MYTHS DEBUNKED

Against an increase in multi-generational living and as housing blueprints continue to decrease, space is becoming a premium for homeowners. As such, fittings and fixtures which aid flexibility and help families to adapt their homes as they mature, are in demand. Equally, open plan living, and clean, stylish aesthetics remain a priority.

Installing sliding doors is one way of helping a homeowner strike the perfect balance of these factors. From the more traditional systems homeowners might be more familiar with, to pocket doors, or technological solutions such as e-drive wardrobe systems, sliding doors are becoming integral to the look and feel of modern homes while simultaneously solving ageold, space-saving challenges. As these systems become more popular, installers might face questions from homeowners who want to know how they can achieve their desired look and space with sliding doors. Similarly, installers who aren’t yet experienced in fitting sliding doors might have questions about how easily they can add this to their portfolio of services. 

Our sliding door weight calculator simply asks for your customer’s preferred door material – whether timber, glass or aluminium – as well as the width and height of door required."

In this article, Elizabeth Briggs, category manager for sliding, room and building at Häfele busts the top five myths associated with installing sliding doors so you can support your customers in selecting and fitting the right system for their home. Sliding door systems are made up of lots of different parts – is that true?

“This is a question we get asked a lot. The important thing to remember is that every sliding door system is made up of a track, two rollers and a guide, whether that’s on the top or bottom of the door. Even pocket doors or technological sliding doors use these same core products. “Depending on the system you’re fitting, you might also need additional door stops or soft close fittings. But we’re doing everything we can to make the ordering of popular sliding door systems as easy as possible by putting all the components you require into a single door set.

“This means installers order just one part number but receive all the fittings they need for a complete sliding door system. Teamed with Häfele to Order – a bespoke service which allows installers to specify products to exact size, quantity and finish – the components can be delivered cut to a door’s exact width and pre-assembled.” I’ve heard sliding door systems can take hours to install. Are there any solutions that are quick to install but don’t compromise on quality?

“Our advice to installers who don’t regularly fit sliding doors is to not be afraid of them – many systems can be installed in under an hour, and they still look great and perform brilliantly. “If you are installing a sliding door within a kitchen cabinet, for example, your doors and cabinets would be ready made so you just need to cut your track to size, add your guide and fit a door stop or soft close fitting. Using Häfele to Order would cut this time down further, as the track and bottom channel would already be cut to size. “For example, one client is currently working on a student accommodation project, producing sliding door wardrobes for student bedrooms. His team of four joiners produced 30 wardrobes a day – so approximately one sliding door an hour. They utilise Häfele to Order to cut their track length, which makes their job much easier and more efficient.

“Our sliding door range is extensive, and some systems are more complex to fit than others, but they’re all based on the same basic components. For every system we manufacture, there are simple, printed fitting instructions with pictorials, and each of these guides is available online; additionally, they come with installation videos available on our website and YouTube.

“Other branded products we distribute, such as Hawa Concepta, have their own online product configurator and selector which offer clear advice on how the system can be fitted easily; we are also currently in the process of developing our own sliding door configurator.”

This means installers order just one part number but receive all the fittings they need for a complete sliding door system. Teamed with Häfele to Order – a bespoke service which allows installers to specify products to exact size, quantity and finish – the components can be delivered cut to a door’s exact width and pre-assembled."

My customers think the heaviest sliding doors gear systems are the highest quality. How can I explain that’s not the case?

“The belief that quality relates to weight is a misconception when it comes to sliding doors. In fact, opting for a heavy door when a lighter door would be more suitable could mean a homeowner experiences poorer functionality. This means you’ll get complaints and the customer will feel like they’ve not made the right choice for their home.

“The first step in approaching this with your customer is to show them you’ve correctly calculated the perfect door weight for their individual system. Our sliding door weight calculator simply asks for your customer’s preferred door material – whether timber, glass or aluminium – as well as the width and height of door required. It will then tell you the maximum door weight required for perfect functionality and smooth movement, so you can choose a suitable product set for the customer’s needs. component, this isn’t necessary for lighter doors. Soft close fittings perform at their best in partnership with a heavy door, above 20 kilos.”

My customers are worried that sliding doors can cause problems, like coming off their runners. What reassurance can I provide to them?

“A lot of Häfele-own sliding door systems are tested to 100,000 cycles, so are rigorously and heavily tested to ensure that doesn’t happen. Brands we distribute are well established in the sliding door gear market, and have their own standards of testing 

which are equally reputable. We offer a 10 year guarantee on many of our ranges, and we use only the highest quality of materials and components to develop our sliding door systems. By using Häfele’s products, you can pass all these reassurances on to your customers.”

If I’m going to start fitting sliding doors, I want to work with a supplier which provides me with ongoing support and service. Is that something you offer?

“We’ve worked hard to develop a series of services and tools which make ordering and installing sliding door gear as simple and professional as possible, including our sliding door weight calculator, which is coming soon, and Häfele to Order. As well as this, our highly experienced Häfele Assist Advisors are on hand to support installers with technical queries if they need any help whilst specifying or installing these products. For larger jobs, our Projects team consists of DipGAI qualified professionals, and sliding door specialists are available in each regional area of the UK, so that wherever you are in country, you can speak face to face with one of our experts.” You can find out more about Häfele’s sliding door gear range here:

www.hafele.co.uk/sliding-folding-door