Installation of sliding doors : step by step instructions

Sliding doors - the ideal solution for small rooms.Such structures do not conceal the space, besides, they look very original and unusual.In this article we will talk about the features and types of doors, as well as show you how to install a sliding door with his own hands.

Types sliding doors

Similar designs can be classified according to various criteria.For example, depending on the structural features of the sliding interior doors are divided into:

• cascading design;
• radius door;
• folding doors;
• single-wing, double-wing, triple-door.

Doors can be made of different materials, the most popular are wood and glass design.This factor is important in that if the system is to be installed by hand.For example, for the installation of the most simple wooden door you will need a guide with a groove, and two carriages with rollers.If you install the glass doors have to stock up on a lot of materials, namely, to prepare a lot of roller mechanisms as heavy glass exerts considerable pressure on the entire structure.

Glass fabric with poor consolidation risk to fall and break, so they should be mounted with the two rails: upper and lower.This method of installing doors provide good stability.Themselves sliding mechanisms in such a case are fixed between the two plates, padded inside with special rubber pads.

Sliding door systems are of two types:

1. Hidden under plaster mechanism provides a functioning structure in which it is hidden in the wall.Mount similar door can only during construction of the wall, since it is necessary to provide thicker gap, which will hide the sash.It should be borne in mind that the thickness of the walls will increase, and this will reduce the space in the room.But then the door itself will save much more space than a conventional hinged design.
2. open door mechanism can be mounted not only on the stage of construction of the walls, but also at any time.In the presence of such a flap mechanism will move along the wall, but it is necessary to provide space on the side in which the door will be opened.

External sliding mechanism allows the use of a mass movement of door options, so you can choose the most convenient way.To close a very wide door opening, it is recommended to use a system with four doors, which will open the internal web in the direction of the external.

Before you install a sliding door, should be familiar with their classification according to the type of fixation.Depending on the characteristics of this there are three types of structures:

1. doors, which are fixed on the upper suspension.
2. designs, which are fixed on the lower hanger.With this method of fixing is obtained at the bottom of a small threshold of what is acceptable for cabinets and closets, but inconvenient for interior doors.Nut can be recessed in the floor, but it will require additional time and labor.But the installation of systems to lower the suspension is the most quick and easy process.
3. doors, which are fixed two above mentioned methods.This type of installation is the most reliable and durable.

Advantages and disadvantages of sliding doors

Before installing the sliding interior doors, not hurt to get acquainted with the ins and outs of such structures.To begin with let's deal with the advantages of:

• advantage of sliding doors is their originality and originality, an attractive and unusual appearance;
• space savings - another advantage of such systems.For conventional swing door can not put furniture or other interior items, while in the presence of a sliding design the entire area of ​​the room can be used efficiently;
• considered a huge advantage and security of doors, because hitting the solid angle in the dark is simply impossible;
• sliding doors do not swing open from the draft.

Such constructions are not devoid of drawbacks and, among which are the following:

• complex and labor-intensive way to install;
• if the door is not mounted independently, have to spend money to pay for the work of masters;
• low acoustic and thermal insulation properties also can be attributed to the shortcomings;
• if the system is hidden under plaster mechanism to take care of them is problematic.If you need to clean up the space in the thickness of the wall, just enough to vacuum it using the handy tips, but will have to be disassembled for minor repairs to the construction of the wall;
• over time some rollers can come into disrepair and require replacement.

Installing sliding doors

Regardless of the mechanism of action and fixing all the sliding doors are made up of the same elements.These include guides, wheels and door panels themselves.In addition, various decorative items, tabs, transoms, as well as various accessories in the form of locks and handles.Work on installing the sliding system can be described step by step.

Step 1: Installation guide profiles

first step on the wall is applied markings in those areas where construction will be installed later.Focusing on this markup on the surface of fixed rails for sliding doors.If the system will be lower suspensions, they can be embedded in the floor to get rid of the nut.In this case, the thickness of the flooring will have to make a gap, but it is possible to provide for all in advance and before the floor finish to fix rails on a concrete screed.

Important: during installation profiles be sure to check them out horizontally with the spirit level.

The next phase - installation of the top guide profile.This profile should be fixed directly above the bottom, and you can check its status by using the control line.The height of the upper profile of the installation should be equal to the height of the door, and take into account the small increase in the 1.5-2 cm. This increase is necessary to ensure that the gaps between the door leaf and the surfaces of the ceiling and floor.Note that the guide should be mounted horizontally, so the design was smooth and does not move spontaneously.

With regard to the length of the guide profile, the figure must be equal to double the width of the web and to take into account an increase of 5 cm for the normal course of the door.If the system has a closer, and you need to leave a margin for it.

When installing a conventional wooden construction profiles can fix the brackets, but when it comes to the heavy glass doors or solid wood, it is best to further strengthen the system by means of a wooden rod.Initially, the wall is mounted a bar, and later on it is fixed guide profile.

If the wall in the house is lined with bricks or consists of reinforced concrete, the dowels should be used as fasteners.In the case of a plasterboard wall, its frame should be pre-equipped with an additional profile, and installation guide made directly at him.The paper is recommended to use drywall anchors.

Step 2: fixing brackets and accessories

next step in the installation of sliding doors - a fortification on canvas staples that will keep the door to the roller carriages.Such clips are assembled according to the instruction and positioned at the sides of the upper end.The optimum kind of holders for all types of sliding systems, except for the structure of an accordion-considered terminals, which are mounted on the sides of the door.In the case of metal fittings glass cloth with rubber gaskets are used between which the glass is fixed.These terminals eliminate the need to drill holes in the glass door for the fasteners.

When installing folding doors on each section it put special brackets with swiveling roller.

can also be equipped with handles and locks in the process of installing the door holders, if they are needed.Then, when the sliding system will take its place and will be adjusted, it will be possible to establish a response mechanism of the lock.Note that the installation of hidden systems, handles and other fittings should be recessed into the thickness of the door leaf.

Step 3: hanging doors

next step in installing the sliding door with his hands is a direct mounting of the door leaves.This job better perform together.One person will hold the door while the other gets into the grooves of the carriage of guide profiles.If the door serves as a room divider and profiles are mounted from wall to wall, sliding door rollers for pre-entered into the groove through a specially provided box.Thereafter, the bracket at the end joined to the anchor webs extending from the carriage.

Step 4: Set closers and limiters

To carriage with rollers from falling out of the grooves guide profiles, you need to put constraints.As such constraints apply special plug shaped profile, as well as studs, which are installed in the guide to the marked locations.

Council: that the door is not a loud sound, select stops with rubber stoppers.Such details also will not allow moving elements of the system to deteriorate too quickly.

Step 5: installation and transoms casings

casings on the sliding door mounted with a view to protect the mechanism from dust and various contaminants.Another function of these components - decorative.Casings are used to give an accurate type systems with an open mechanism, they are not needed for door-mounted.

casings mounted on the wall using brackets, but you can fix them in the guide profile with special latches.

Step 6: Adjust design mounted

last stage of assembly of the sliding door is to test the results and adjust the system.If at the initial stage door installation guide profiles are secured horizontally, the web must be kept evenly and do not move on their own.In this case, the adjustment process will not take much time.Suffice it to check closely whether the adjacent door to restrictive design, whether the fabric is moving parallel to the floor, there are no unnecessary gaps in the areas of contact with the wall doors.At the end of the work must also check whether the free and easy enough to move the leaf on the guide, is working properly fittings are properly tighten all parts.

sliding doors, photo:

Sliding interior doors.Video