Sliding door mechanisms

Sliding doors - this is a very convenient and compact design, which is perfect not only for the separation of interior space, but also for zoning rooms. This is a universal modern version, which is very popular. When choosing a sliding door, it is important to know what mechanisms they have and how they work.

Depending on their design, sliding interior doors are divided into certain types. So, there are:

These may be rail designs from above or below, and there may also be two-rail models. The most popular products are on the same top rail. They look very elegant and unusual. Such doors can be single or double. It all depends on the width of the passage in which they are installed.

These doors are quite unusual and completely transform the interior of any room. They are pretty massive. All such designs have the form of a semicircle.As a rule, they are made of tempered glass with a thickness of at least 8 mm. This design also implies the presence of a rail mechanism. This kind of door is perfect for zoning.

These are models that fold sideways and each leaf is assembled in a zigzag pattern. Each section of such a door is superimposed alternately on each other and the door is very compactly folded. The design looks very light and usually has a bright design. They can be installed in any aisles.

Such a mechanism involves moving the web in and out of the way when the door moves. The coupe door belongs to such version. In this case, there is a special frame on the wall adjacent to the entrance, in which the sash is located at the moment when you open the door. In addition, such models may have special places in the wall in which this structure is hidden.

These are very unusual models that involve the connection of two door structures at once: sliding and hinged. This version is perfect for installation in the living room and is very popular because it is very convenient.

Most models have mechanisms with guides.Door leaf is usually presented in the form of one or two shutters, but there are also models with a large number of shutters. The canvas moves along guides located on the top and bottom on special rollers. So, there are models with a single-motion type of movement, in which the lower guides are completely absent, and the canvas moves along the upper one.

Double-crawling type - when the door moves along the lower rail, and on top it adheres with an emphasis to ensure a perfect vertical position. Such a principle of work has designs with great weight.

The principle of movement of the sash may be different. She can move along the wall, as if superimposed on it. The second option is to move inside the wall. It will be correct to say that the door leaves are hidden not inside the wall, but inside the cassette located there.

Another option is to move with overlapping, when one movable leaf covers the main deaf, standing without movement. This option is the simplest, but not very convenient, it is absolutely not suitable for narrow aisles.

Door designs can be varied.So, there are the following types:

This option is different in that it allows you to open two doors at the same time. In this case, the door leaf is divided in two and opens in different directions along the wall. As a rule, for this purpose, lighter materials are used, since, in general, the construction will not withstand the heavy door leaf. The design includes rollers, guides, cable, hook, as well as special accessories for fasteners. This is a rather complicated, but generally reliable mechanism. Self-installation of such a door will be quite difficult, so the installation often trust only the professionals.

This design option is suitable for installation in the event that at least two doors enter the sliding system. As a rule, these are two or three doors that, when opened, move in one direction. The doors are fixed with a special synchronizer and are placed not on the same rail, but on two different, parallel ones. Thus, the sash is also synchronously moved apart, but one main sash pulls all subsequent ones. This design is fixed either at the top of the doorway or at the bottom with an aluminum profile. It is for him moving the sash with the help of the support carriages.

This is a very convenient mechanism of the hidden type, which is hidden behind a specially designed fake panel. In a different way, such a construction is called a coupon. For its installation is not used threshold. This mechanism is attached to the upper part of the door.

The peculiarity of the invisible mechanism is that its installation is possible only if initially during the construction for it was provided a place inside the wall.

Such a mechanism is otherwise called Standart. It is a structure without a threshold, on which there is also no lower guide. The door moves only along the upper rail.By itself, the design has an open type and moves to the side along the wall. Suspension doors of movable type can be easily installed with your own hands.

The mechanism of this type is most often made of steel. This design refers to the open type and includes a steel rail, rollers and door leaf. This mechanism is most often acquired for fairly spacious passages. The barn mechanism is quiet and smooth. As a rule, reliable bearings provide this quality. Often this mechanism is complemented by a special closer.

This design option has the rollers not at the bottom, but at the top. That is, the guides are often located on top, and the door structure is attached to them with the help of special elements and moves along it with the help of special rollers that roll only along the upper part of the skid. Such a mechanism is perfect for decorating an apartment or house in retro style.

Such a sliding design assumes the presence of additional accessories in the form of a lock or lock mask.The latch or lock is mounted in the locking mechanism, which will be activated when the lever is pressed. The locking mechanism may be different. To do this, often use the buttons, which at one point can block the movement of the door. So you can close it and lock it or open and lock in a convenient position for you. The locking mechanism is installed in any door leaf. Such designs can be with a lock, turnkey or magnetic.

There are also various variations of the systems of separation.

Such a system assumes the presence of a separate skid for each door leaf. Thus, when you open this structure, each half pushes and the other over it. Most often in this case, used models with two door leaves. But if there are three canvases, then the separation system becomes tripolar.

An alternative variant of the coplanar extension system is to install the central section on a separate runner, and the two extreme sections on one common one. Thus, it will not be possible to open two sections at once, since two door leafs located on one runner will not allow this.When closed, they have a stepped design of an open type. One part of the rail will always be visible.

Door leaves are installed in separate runners more often than in general. This option is suitable for two and three door panels. Thus, when the doors are closed, they line up in one line and close the guides. For this, the extension system is supplemented with special brackets with a running gear. Such a door is somewhat reminiscent of a coupe, but when you open the canvas moves a little forward and to the side, it differs from the coupe door. Closing the door, the canvases put into place and the ladder system becomes invisible.

The coplanar extension system is different in that it is a combination of several types of mechanism at once.

This system, whose mechanism is based on supports. It has no frame and guides are also necessary for it. As a rule, it can be single or double structures. Both metal and plastic are used as material for guide sliding systems of this type. But the guides themselves are usually very narrow, so they allow you to save space in the room. To install such a door does not require milling.

This design and all door fittings are completely closed from prying eyes. The guides are not visible either above or below the opening. Most often, it is still located on top, but it is very invisible, thereby expanding the space. There are very convenient hidden models in which the guides are located not in the door frame, but directly inside the door. Thus, only the mount and the rollers are mounted on the wall. So the system of separation becomes completely invisible, and at the sight of it even it seems that the door is literally floating in the air. Such models of doors and sliding systems are perfect for more modern interiors, because they look very unusual and elegant.

It is characterized by the fact that it works from a turning mechanism. As a rule, for its creation use aluminum profiles and other components from the same material. This is one of the most reliable and durable separation systems, which at the same time saves room space. It is quite easy to install and use.

A huge advantage of any sliding design is its compactness. It allows you to reduce the doorway and makes it easier.It is also able to make the passage wider and higher, especially for suspended models. Sliding design does not require a swing, so you can furnish the room into which the door leads at your discretion, not considering the design of the door.

The big advantage is also that the door moves very smoothly and silently. She will not wake the household with unnecessary claps and other loud sounds. In addition, the sliding door mechanism prevents the tails of animals or the fingers of children from slamming, as the door closes very smoothly.

Separately, it should be noted the advantages of coplanar sliding door systems. This mechanism minimizes the appearance of unnecessary gaps, which can not be said about other doors. This ensures not only the proper level of noise insulation, but also the whole structure in closed form creates a feeling of unity. Another advantage of the coplanar system, as well as other types of closed structures, is that the guide runners are closed from prying eyes. In addition, since they are inside the structure, dust and dirt do not accumulate on them, so it becomes quite easy to maintain the structure.

The coplanar system has many advantages over the compartment doors, since the passage is completely free and the door takes up much less space. The same can be said about the models - “accordions”, since they are compactly assembled near the door jamb when opening.

The mechanism of sliding doors has various latches, which is its undoubted advantage. So you can lock the door in a fully open, half-open or closed position and you can adjust and ease your passage. In addition, such a mechanism and this function prevents the doors from slamming at the wrong moment.

Another advantage of sliding doors is that they do not require a small space and can be installed by almost everyone. This applies to the most simple mechanisms, such as a coupe or harmonica. In addition, a great advantage is the appearance of such products. They look more interesting compared to the classic swing doors. There is more room for design and selection of different types of mechanism.

But such doors have a number of drawbacks.Thus, some systems, such as coplanar ones, have limitations in the size of the door passage.

The disadvantage of almost all sliding doors and their mechanisms is that they can not provide an adequate level of noise insulation. This is due to the fact that the expansion system is not completely sealed, in which it is very inferior to swing structures. This disadvantage is due to the fact that The structure includes many components and there are gaps between them.. That is why sliding doors are very rarely used for installation in the kitchen or in the bathroom. They easily let in smells, excess noise and can distract other households.

Noisy meeting rooms it is better not to install such doors, since sounds will penetrate in any case. Due to the low tightness of the sliding door mechanism, it is not possible to ensure proper thermal insulation, since cold air flows can penetrate from one room to another, creating drafts.

Another disadvantage is the high cost of such structures compared to the classical swing. By itself, this mechanism is not very reliable and requires special care. It must be lubricated and periodically checked.

Swing doors are more durable to external influences, compared with sliding doors. With a protective function sliding models can not cope. In addition, some mechanisms may jam, especially for hidden types that are hidden inside the wall.

For light door panels, hinged synchronous mechanisms are more suitable. This is due to the complex design and in the first case, the presence of the upper guide, and in the second - the presence of several parallel guides. Plastic constructions are also perfect for them.For the doors - "accordions" often use fabric elements.

The most versatile is the door of chipboard. Such material differs in ease and a practicality, besides it costs quite cheap. Along with them are universal models of MDF, which also fit any door mechanism. Such models are often pasted over with veneer or decorated with carving by milling.

This applies to both coplanar models and accordions, synchronous models and compartment doors. Concealed telescopic structures are completely unsuitable for using glass doors.

For canisters, you can pick up even heavy models of wood. For folding mirrored doors you can use the compartment mechanism. For light door designs, you can use almost any type of mechanism. In this case, you can choose a telescopic, hidden, synchronous mechanism, as well as rotary or radial products. For models with two doors, the coupe type mechanism is most suitable.

When choosing a mechanism for sliding doors, great attention should be paid to the materials from which it is made. It is better if it is metallic, even if the door frame is wooden. When choosing, try not to save on the purchase of such doors. Otherwise, the design will serve you very short.

Much attention is paid to the roller system. This is especially true of the moment of installation, since a skewed or incomplete set of component parts and guides may cause damage to the entire structure. When choosing, rely also on permissible materials for a particular mechanism, as well as on the weight of the structure itself. If the mechanism is not very reliable, then it is better to give preference to light materials for the door. When choosing a mechanism, try also to take into account the size of the doorway, and the canvas itself.

Reviews on some mechanisms for sliding doors, see the following video.