Will you replace a revolving interior door with a sliding door? If you want to replace an existing revolving interior door with a sliding door, there are several options. The most important thing to pay attention to when installing a sliding door is the distance between the wall and the sliding door. Because how far does a sliding door actually hang from the wall? The specialists at BestFix Sliding Door Systems are happy to provide clarity.
How do you install a sliding door?
The easiest way to install a sliding door is to lift the hinged door out of the door frame and then attach a rail, sliding the sliding door in front of the wall. This is also the least drastic way from a construction point of view, but there are a number of things that you have to take into account.
Wooden door frame
If you have a wooden door frame, it can simply remain in place. You just have to cover the holes with wood filler and paint the frame again.
Metal frame
Do you have a metal window frame, perhaps with a skylight (a window above the door)? Then it is better to remove the entire window frame and to finish the wall nice and smooth.
Sliding door rail on the wall
If you want to mount a sliding door rail on the wall, make sure that the wall has sufficient 'body'. The weight of the sliding door will be suspended from it and it would be a shame if the sliding door system came loose from the wall.
Sliding door rail on the ceiling
If you want to fix a rail to the ceiling or integrate it into a suspended ceiling, that is of course also possible. You then get a high sliding door, which optically looks very spacious.
The right distance between sliding door and wall
It is important when installing a sliding door to get the correct distance between the sliding door and the wall. Of course you don't want a gap that is too big, because then you will suffer unnecessarily from drafts. Too close to the wall is also not possible, because then your sliding door will rub against your wall or the existing frame.
What should you pay attention to?
How far does a sliding door hang from the wall? In general, a distance of 6 mm is maintained between the sliding door and the wall. The thickness of the door leaf is the starting point. So not the rail! Your sliding door can be wider than your rail. If we take our rail type Lite+ as an example, this slim rail is only 3 cm wide. If you buy a standard blunt door, it is about 3.9 cm thick. This means that the door leaf protrudes approximately 4.5 mm on each side.
If the old door frame with finish has been left in place, you must maintain a greater distance. Otherwise your sliding door would slide against the head lath. In general, a distance of 17 mm is maintained between the sliding door and the wall in this situation.
Wall brackets
For a sliding door system that is mounted on the wall, there are wall brackets that move the sliding door closer or, conversely, run a little further away from the wall. Loose wall brackets are generally used if the whole is finished with a self-made cove. The suspension set is then usually mounted on the sliding door and the cove then nicely covers the gap between the rail and the door.
Wall profiles
There are also wall profiles in one piece, which are made to the same size as the rails. The profile, like the rail, is available in two colours: silver or black. The rail is firmly attached to the wall profile. Special cover plates that are attached to the end of the rail can also be ordered in color, making the wall system appear to be a whole.
Hanging kit
People who opt for such an entire wall profile do not want to finish the system with a cove. The whole already looks very nice and tight. This also means that in this situation a suspension set is chosen that is made in the door leaf. In this way you only keep a very small gap between the rail and the sliding door at the top.
Suspension bracket
If you opt for a suspension bracket that goes into the door leaf, it is important that your sliding door is no thinner than 3 cm. Otherwise you will not have enough material left on the side of the suspension brackets.
Ready-made sliding door
It is also possible to buy a ready-made sliding door with your rail system. Then you know for sure that all the millings are already in the right place. So easy!
Contact us for more information
Do you want to know for sure whether you have the correct distance between sliding door and wall, or do you want more information about the possibilities for a sliding door for the wall? Then please contact us. We are happy to help you.
