Aluminium sliding doors are making an impressive comeback. Strange to think now that they were replaced way back in the 80s, mainly by ugly white uPVC sliding doors that were as unreliable as they were unappealing to look at.
Fast-forward 30+ years and now a sliding aluminium door is a product every Gen Z influencer wants to show off in their IG reels and Tiktok videos. Funny how trends work…
It’s not just the style-savvy Instagram generation that is all over this product though…homeowners of all generations are now steering towards to the ‘new’ trend of bigger glass areas. That means sliding doors are in, and bi-folds……well, they aren’t out exactly, but if industry trends continue as they are, they could quickly be overtaken as the popular door of choice for larger openings.
At The Trade Village, we recognised the demand for sliding doors a while ago. That’s why we were the first trade supplier in the UK (to our knowledge) to offer an online designer for quoting and ordering Reynaers CP-130 lift and slide doors.
There are lots of great products out in this category, let’s be honest. Aluminium by its nature tends to be a more robust profile that leaves less distinction between a ‘good’ profile and a bad one. This puts more even emphasis on the quality of the manufacturing, service and aftercare.
We offer three of the finest doors on the market, from market-leading manufacturers Reynaers, Cortizo and Smart. We have chosen these doors based on covering all aspects of the sliding door market, so we have a product you can offer your customers that should cover any situation. Assuming that situation is they want a sliding door in the first place, of course…
In no particular order, here are the x3 aluminium sliding door option we currently offer…
1 – Smart Visoglide Plus
One of the most popular aluminium sliding doors on the market, the Visoglide Plus is a robust door that is suitable for both residential and commercial use. Smart Aluminium are renowned for reliability, and that’s exactly what you can expect with this door.
We offer the Smart Visolgide as our most competitively priced sliding door, and it’s an affordable entry into this market for a lot of customers. With that being said, although we offer the standard inline version to keep the cost down, the door can be upgraded to lift-and-slide for an additional cost.
The sightlines are fairly standard at 117mm, and there is even an option to upgrade to a slimline interlock for a thinner sightline between the doors.
The door can easily achieve most leading accreditations such as PAS24 and Document Q. However, the new, stricter 2022 building regulations mean that the door will unlikely be suitable for new builds based on U value alone. (Extensions and renovations are fine though).
Read below for a full specification and comparison to our other sliding doors.
In Summary:
Pros:
- A reliable and good-looking product that has stood the test of time.
- Very competitively priced (by us anyway)!
- Option to upgrade to a slim interlock.
Cons:
- Cannot currently meet the criteria for new builds (unless limiting value is factored in).
- Not suitable for big ‘wow factor’ glass sizes.
2 – Reynaers CP 130
The Reynaers CP 130 is widely regarded as one of the best sliding aluminium doors on the market. Reynaers are renowned for their vigorous research and testing facility in Belgium, and every product that they release has been precision-engineered down to the last detail.
The end result for your customers is a very impressive door that lets you slide doors weighing almost 300kg effortlessly with the push of a finger. With possible sash sizes of 2.7 metres in width and height, these doors are capable of creating some truly stunning panoramic views. The lift and slide operation really is a winner for customers, and you get a strange feeling of satisfaction moving such vast doors so easily. This is a product that if it’s in your showroom, it sells itself.
The door achieves PAS24 and document Q easily, but unfortunately like the Smart Visoglide Plus, it’s unlikely to ever achieve the required U value for a new build. Fortunately, these doors are mostly sourced on the replacement and extension market, so there is no major cause for concern just yet.
Read below for a full specification and comparison to our other sliding doors.
In Summary:
Pros:
- Impeccable quality. In our opinion, sliding aluminium doors don’t get much better than this.
- Massive glass sizes are achievable for genuine ‘wow factor’.
- Lift and slide operation is a customer favourite.
Cons:
- Cannot currently meet the criteria for new builds (unless limiting value is factored in).
- May cost may than other market options, but you get what you pay for!
- Special arrangements may need to be considered when ordering very large glass units (forklift, handling equipment etc).
3 – Cortizo Cor Vision
Last (but no means least) we come to the Cortizo Cor Vision. These slimline sliding doors are a little different to our other two options, as they represent the style of slimline doors that is quickly becoming the ‘on trend’ look in modern architecture and design.
The Cortizo Cor Vision has super slimline frames, and an interlocking section of just 20mm! This means these doors can create a ‘glass wall effect’, which is very sought after by customers wanting even more glass and less frame. For prestigious or modern projects, you can even fit these doors with the frame concealed behind the wall cavity or plaster, giving a ‘frameless effect’.
It doesn’t stop there – the Cor Vision doors can also be specified as a pocket door (where the door slides into the wall cavity) or a corner opening door for more bespoke projects. The wow factor of the doors is further enhanced by the huge glass sizes that are available (sashes available up to 2.5 metres wide x 3 metres high)!
Based in Spain, Cortizo are really making a splash on the UK market in recent years and the Cor Vision (along with it’s bigger brother the Cor Vision Plus) is quickly becoming the flagship product. PAS24 testing is scheduled for q4 in 2022 (which will easily be achieved), and with impressive U values capable of up to 1.3, the doors could potentially meet the new build criteria with a generous limiting value on the project (and an understanding building control officer).
Read below for a full specification and comparison to our other sliding doors.
In Summary:
Pros:
- Super slimline frames offer maximum glass for a ‘glazed wall’ effect. (Over 90% of the aperture is glass).
- Massive glass sizes are achievable for genuine ‘wow factor’.
- Available as a pocket door or as a corner system for more prestigious projects.
- A unique drainage valley is available to fit in front of the threshold in exposed locations.
Cons:
- PAS24 testing not carried out until q4 2022 (but will surpass requirements if submitted to building control).
- Special arrangements may need to be considered when ordering very large glass units (forklift, handling equipment etc).
- Glass units are bonded to the sash, so correct fitting is vital. Laser levels are always recommended to fit this product.
Aluminium Sliding Doors – A Comparison:
(Click on the below tables to enlarge or download them)
Which Aluminium Sliding Door Is Best For Your Customers?
So there you have it; 3 brilliant door options that will transform any home. The question of which is the best option is dependent on every project, but hopefully, this guide and comparison will help you and your customer choose the best fit.
If you have any further questions on any of our aluminium sliding doors, do not hesitate to contact us on 01642 309 574.
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