Are you looking for a practical option to get in and out of environments and need to save space as much as possible? Sliding doors are perfect for this and other situations and still give a different touch to the place.
Like conventional doors in the style that opens and closes with a handle, the sliding gate offers numerous possibilities to match the rest of the environment. In this way, this type of door meets a wide range of needs, helping you in your daily life, in addition to giving beauty to the space.
Check out in this article’s fundamental tips on sliding doors, which will help you a lot in your choice!
1. Sliding doors can have an apparent track
An apparent rail is an option that leaves a robust look in the room. So, if you want to go that aesthetic in place, you can opt for this running track.
The material varies between steel, aluminum, or even stainless steel, with different pulleys and finishes – focus, glossy or brushed.
The advantage is that this system can withstand a lot of weight compared to built-in rails. Therefore, if you intend to use a solid wood door or other weighty material, you can choose this rail type.
2. They are intended for compact locations
Sliding doors are, a priori, for places where every extra free centimeter makes a difference. Thus, it is a perfect door for dividing environments such as hallways, small rooms, and other rooms that need to maximize space.
Of course, if the environment is high-traffic, this door type may not be the best choice, as it takes longer to open and close by sliding than a regular door. So, think about it before choosing this item for your home.
3. You can customize your doors
If the sliding doors are, for example, made of pallets, solid wood, or MDF, knows that it is possible to customize them to your liking. You can either paint the door or leave the wood just sanded and stick the piece.
In either option, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do according to your personality and environment, to create the most authorial effect possible.
You can use a bright color in the paint, a minimalist sticker, or apply varnish, from matte to glossy.
There are sliding doors in different materials
The material of sliding doors is quite varied, and they are divided, among others, into the wood, steel, plywood, MDF. Still, there is the option of glass, wood with glass, and also in metal structure with glass.
Of course, the choice of material depends on the environment in which you will be staying and what effect you want to convey.
Each material has advantages and disadvantages; for example, wood should be avoided infrequently washed places, and glass does not provide much privacy.
What matters is to study the place of installation, the project proposal, and the cost-benefit of some viable options for the room.
4- Wood
Wood is one of the most traditional materials in sliding doors. Because it is easy to give different shapes to the piece, it becomes the darling of cozy environments.
Natural, varnished, hardwood, plywood, among many other types and wood finishes, can be chosen. What matters is making a nice pair with your environment project.
5- Wood with glass
This type is perfect for entryways and other more eye-catching areas when light enters. Models in which the glass is in sandblasted stained glass style are classic, but you can dare with other profiles.
6- Glass
Sliding glass doors are commonly used in indoor divisions. They ensure more amplitude to the room and deliver an integrated climate to spaces.
Bet on this suggestion if your idea is to create unique environments with a modern office look full of lighting.
7- Steel
Steel is guaranteed to provide a lot of security when used in sliding doors. Therefore, a good tip is to apply the material in openings that face external areas.
In addition, the steel sliding door does not rust soon, making good protection in the surroundings. Roofing is essential in this case.
8- Steel with glass
Steel and glass make a beautiful combination for industrial-style environments. This type of sliding door can still be found in junkyards, which always have used models in good condition.
9- Fiberglass
Fiberglass is a very resistant material, so it is used in the automobile industry. Its main advantage, besides this is that it has a low weight.
These two attributes and the guarantee of having a finish to your liking earn many points for sliding doors of this type—a good choice suggestion.
10- Aluminum
Aluminum does not rust, is very simple to clean, and still shines in the polished version. This makes sliding doors in the material ideal for laundry rooms and kitchens.
Balconies with a gourmet balcony or just a barbecue are also lovely with the option. Detail: aluminum can be painted in shades such as white and black. But this must come readily from the store, as the process is industrial.
11- The sliding door can be recessed into the wall
In addition to the apparent rails and those covered by wood or another type of decoration, it is possible to embed the sliding doors entirely inside the wall.
This is an option when you have almost no space to run around or want that more hidden design effect.
This type requires that the installation site receive drywall — plaster — walls to create space for the door to run through. In addition to giving a very discreet appearance, the room is more optimized.
12- Pay attention to the installation location
Sliding doors should preferably be installed indoors, as they are better protected from the weather.
One of the causes for this is that these doors are not as firm as a door suspended by hinges on the jamb. Then, with blows of air, they are swaying, which forces their structure.
Also, depending on the material chosen, the place of installation will not be able to get intense sun or rain. For example, steel rusts, wood warps, MDF swells and bursts, and glass can break in the wind.
13- This type of door isolates sound a little
A detail that you need to know before opting for sliding doors is that they do not guarantee very efficient sound insulation. This can hinder using this system in some rooms that need sound privacy.
To get around this noise annoyance, if the only viable option is a sliding door, it is to use gap seals on the sides of the door. Where air passes, sound also passes, so these small and narrow spaces must be closed to prevent noise from invading the environment.
14- Requires little maintenance
Sliding doors have the advantage of requiring little maintenance, of course, when of good quality and well installed.
This system does not require oil on the rails to slide, but only periodic cleaning that can be done with a dry cloth. This prevents the accumulation of dust and facilitates the movement of the pulleys.
On the other hand, the doors need cleaning with a slightly damp cloth, in the case of wood or coated MDF.
Doors with steel or aluminum frames can also be cleaned in this way. The glass parts must be cleaned with specific products for the material.
15. May have handles and locks
Sliding doors can receive handles of different types, which match both with them and with the details of the environment.
There are built-in handles, suitable for doors that slide inside the wall or even for those that run on the wall beyond the end of the door.
There are also knob-type handles, making it easier to grip when opening and closing the door.
Handle materials range from steel to aluminum or even wood. Just check the type of place where the door will be installed to choose the most suitable handle.
Know that you can also use locks on sliding doors, which can be either mechanical or even modern digital ones.
16. Optimize space
The maxim of sliding doors is that they significantly optimize environments. So, for you looking to relieve the area in your house or apartment, you can trust that the profile of this door will meet your demand.
The requirement for this door to be the ideal option for your project is that there must be a wall for it to run through. Many compact designs don’t have one, so the folding door or shrimp may be suitable in these cases.
17- They are easily installed
With a good project, the chosen material and model of door, and the hand of agile professionals, the installation will be done in minutes.
Installation usually requires drilling holes in the wall where the rail will be installed, and the sliding guide will be placed on the floor.
So that unforeseen circumstances do not impede your project, make sure the wall is level and that there are no pipes or electrical wiring in the area. Nobody wants a new door and run out of water or light.
18. You can use a port that is already in your environment
Have you ever thought that you could reuse a door that is already in the background? This can be done with the help of an architect or interior designer.
This possibility is inevitable when the sliding door has enormous dimensions. Thus, it can cover the gap without leaving empty spaces on the sides.
Also, most of the time, adaptations will have to be made. Thus, cutting an old door and leaving it in the default to run may be necessary.
They can have numerous styles
Sliding doors can have styles from the most discreet to the most daring. So, there’s nothing to fret about in that consideration.
19- Classical
Classic doors are made of fine wood and last a lifetime when preserved. Because they are heavy, they need very sturdy rails, so invest in these pieces.
20- Modern
Modern doors can be in wood, MDF, plywood, or other materials and have both design and color, well up to date with current trends.
21- Retro
The retro sliding door is brand new but carries an old aesthetic. If you want a 1950s-style design in your living room, invest in stickers, styles, and formats that mark that time.
22- Rustic
Rustic doors are in screwed demolition wood or even in whole pieces. The less finish it has, the more faithful it will be to the concept of rustic. So, no-frills.
23- Natural wood
This style combines well with spaces marked by light and contemporary, with light tones and, at most, a coat of varnish.
24- Provencal
Provençal takes on a modern and more lively appearance with a patina painting effect. Blue, yellow, red, white, among other colors, guarantee a lot of vivacity to the room.
25- Industrial
The industrial style is on the rise, proving that you can combine different materials in the same concept. So, if you intend to do a project along these lines, look for steel doors, corten steel — with rusty effect.
Do not forget that sliding doors are always purchased to order, as a door like this, made for your project, is not always produced in scale. This has an even more positive side: more exclusivity for your environment.
