Creating a flush threshold on sliding doors as well as effective drainage and weather protection has many benefits when planning a new extension. Not only does a flush threshold provide a very attractive detail with the doors open or closed, but it also provides step-free access as you move in and out of your home. We explain everything you need to know to plan and execute the sought-after flush threshold for your new doors.
Understanding how a flush threshold on sliding doors works.
When planning a new extension, working with your chosen door supplier as well as your architect or builder guarantees the right result. Early planning also means everyone involved with your new extension works together. As a result, costly mistakes and delays are avoided.
First of all, is choosing the right door. You need to know which products come with the option of a flush threshold. Generally speaking timber and PVCu patio doors do not come usually come with this functionality. Our range of aluminium sliding patio doors all come with options for a standard, a low as well as a flush threshold arrangement.
The doors having a low or flush threshold option connects your inside and outside spaces. Your internal flooring meets the threshold on the inside face and your decking and slabs outside. The biggest advantage is not only a better-looking threshold but also improved access. If you use pushchairs or have a wheelchair user in the family, a flush threshold on sliding doors makes sense.
However, equally important is the patio door and its design. Your doors must offer all the weather protection as well as effective drainage of water to the outside. Large sliding doors must perform faultlessly in the summer, opening up your home. Likewise, you expect them to protect your home from the weather in the winter and remain water-tight.
Drainage is essential for any flush threshold on sliding doors.
The best advice we can give is to talk to your door installer as early as possible as well as involving your builder. One useful tip is for your builder to physically see a sample of the sliding door track and see the doors installed. Only by seeing the physical track can your builder ensure the structural opening and ground level works when the doors arrive.
Our showroom has the latest minimalist Origin inline sliding door offering a flush threshold when designed as part of the build. Also available is a range of dry-glazed inline and lift and slide doors. These too offer a low or flush threshold.
In order to get the best result, drainage consideration is part of your planning. Also important is knowing what inside and outside floor levels are. The inner and outer floor levels are flat and must prevent rainwater outside finding its way inside or crossing the flush threshold. Therefore when you and your builder understand the specific detail of the sliding door track, your new doors will work as intended. They will also give you excellent weather performance, sealing the door at the critical flush threshold and all around the doors too.
The drainage provisions on getting a flush threshold on sliding doors need not be complicated when planned early and correctly. Get in touch with us to ask any questions. We work with you as early as needed helping you understand what’s needed and helping you or your builder take care of all the details.
Flush threshold aluminium sliding patio doors.
Similarly, the doors themselves need to provide suitable drainage. All our doors come with factory drainage machined into the bottom track or cill section. Our doors come made to the specific requirements laid down by the designers of the product. This design is also what enables doors to come with independent testing with certification on air, wind and water penetration.
A well-designed door comes with suitable tracks, drainage blocks and machined drainage slots. Many door profiles also come with rebates, seals and other features. All of these work to seal the doors and push any water on the track effectively to the outside and away from the doors.
Finally, the drainage channel by your builder moves the water away into the ground beneath.
Top Tips for achieving a desirable flush threshold.
- Ensure your doors form part of your early planning, not when your opening is ready.
- Your builder benefits from seeing the door track, it’s sizes and detail. This will achieve the best result.
- Deeper thresholds on three or four panel doors also mean a different floor design to ensure they sit flush.
- See the doors installed in a showroom understanding the finished sizes on both sides of the patio door.
- Make sure everyone is aware of the inner and outer floor finished sizes.
- Remember, the bigger the opening, the greater the likelihood of this not being 100% level.
Contact your local sliding patio door specialists.
Take a look at our portfolio of projects showing us working with builders at the critical build stage. We supply and fit a flush threshold on sliding doors as well as our bifolding doors. Talk to us today to discuss your next project. Or why not visit our showroom and see our flush thresholds in a real world setting?
