When considering sliding patio door options, one of the biggest decisions to make is which material to use. Aluminium and wood are two of the most popular sliding door materials, but which option is better?
Aluminium is an incredibly durable, lightweight metal that can be powder-coated in a huge variety of different colours to form a sleek, stylish and modern sliding door frame. The frames of wooden sliding doors are usually made from engineered timber, which is constructed by using heat and pressure to bond multiple layers of wood together to create a frame that is more resistant to temperature and moisture variations than solid wood.
Both aluminium and engineered timber have pros and cons, and you must consider all of them carefully before choosing the right material. In this comparison guide, we take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material in terms of both aesthetics and practicalities.
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Read the differences between aluminium and timber doors in terms of aesthetics.
Read about the durability and lifespan of aluminium and timber doors.
We answer common queries on aluminium sliding doors vs engineered timber.
Aesthetics
Aluminium sliding doors are incredibly popular in modern homes because they offer a sleek, minimal and very contemporary look compared to timber. If you have a modern property, then aluminium doors will be a perfect fit. Alternatively, if you're looking to modernise an older property, then aluminium sliding doors are a great way to give your home a modern facelift. Additionally, aluminium sliding doors, such as those from Origin, come different sightline options, so you can choose a sightline that will work for your property – whether it be ultra-modern or more traditional.
Wood is a traditional material for doors and window frames, and many people like the traditional and classic look of wooden sliding doors, particularly if they have a traditional or historic property. An engineered timber sliding door can therefore provide the timeless aesthetic of solid wood with greater durability.
However, it's worth noting that some aluminium door frames, such as ours here at Origin, can be powder coated with a finish that imitates natural wood in order to provide that timeless aesthetic with the modern benefits of aluminium. In fact, we have more than 150 RAL colours to choose from which makes it easy to pick a shade that perfectly suits your tastes. Bear in mind that timber sliding doors may be able to be repainted or refinished in a different colour down the line if you fancy a change, but it is not recommended to refinish aluminium.
It's important to consider the room in which the sliding doors will be installed when choosing between aluminium and engineered timber. If the overall décor of the room is very traditional, timber might be the best option. If you prefer contemporary interior design styles, then aluminium might be better.
Consider also the view which will be framed by the sliding doors. Aluminium is such a strong material that very slim frames - with sightlines as slim as 20mm in the case of our OS-20 Artisan Slider - are robust enough to support very large expanses of glass. This means that the view from the doors has minimal obstructions and can be a truly beautiful focal of the room. Engineered timber sliding door frames tend not to be as slim as aluminium, so if this factor is important to you, then aluminium will likely be your preferred option.
View our full selection of aluminium sliding doors here.
Practicalities
A major practical factor to consider when choosing between aluminium and engineered timber is the durability and lifespan of the two materials. Aluminium is incredibly strong and robust. It lasts for decades if well maintained, and there is very little maintenance required to keep it in good condition. Our aluminium sliding doors come with a guarantee of between 10 and 20 years depending on the model and application, which is testament to its long lifespan and durability.
Aluminium is resistant to not warping, buckling or rotting after long exposure to the elements. Engineered timber, while more durable than solid wood, is susceptible to these issues and when they occur on sliding door frames, they can affect the operation of the door and make it difficult to open and close.
Generally, engineered wood requires more maintenance to keep it in good condition than aluminium. Depending on the finishing used, engineered timber may require routine sanding, painting and refinishing to protect the wood from environmental damage. However, providing that a careful maintenance routine is followed, engineered timber can last for decades.
A huge benefit of aluminium is its lightweight nature. This is perfect for particularly large sliding doors which have big and heavy glass panels; the lighter the frame, the easier the doors are to operate. Wood is a much heavier material than aluminium and sliding doors made with engineered timber, therefore, tend to be more difficult to use. Consider the size of the opening carefully; very large door panels might be better suited to aluminium frames to ensure comfortable operation.
Thermal efficiency is another practical factor to consider when comparing aluminium and engineered wood. Aluminium is an effective conductor which means it is not a particularly thermally efficient material when used alone. However, good quality aluminium door frames such as ours at Origin contain a thermal break (layers of insulating polyamide inside of the frame) which inhibits the transfer of heat. Engineered timber is a reasonably thermally efficient material, but it is not necessarily any more thermally efficient than good quality, thermally broken aluminium.
When it comes to locking mechanisms, aluminium and engineered timber doors tend to be on par when it comes to the mechanisms available. The durability and security of the locking mechanism will vary between manufacturers. However, when it comes to the material of the frames themselves, there are some differences. Aluminium is a much stronger material than wood, which makes it resistant to forced entry. Engineered timber is stronger than solid wood, but it is not necessarily any stronger, or even as strong as aluminium; it all comes down to the quality of materials and manufacturing methods used.
Finally, it's important to compare the cost of aluminium versus engineered timber sliding doors. Wood tends to be more expensive than aluminium. However, the quality of materials used impacts cost a great deal. Premium quality aluminium is not cheap, nor is good quality engineered timber. It's likely that the prices of each are on par, but the best way to find out is to request a quotation for each and compare them.
Origin Sliding Doors
Available in four different sightlines across two different sliding door systems – the Origin Artisan Slider and the Origin Patio Slider – we have some of the slimmest sliding doors on the market. Origin Sliding Doors offer maximum, uninterrupted views without compromising quality or thermal performance. Completely bespoke and tailored to your requirements, you can customise your aluminium door down to every last detail.
Find out more about our sliding doors here, or contact us on 0808 168 5816.
Frequently asked questions
Are timber sliding doors cheaper than aluminium?
Costs of aluminium and timber doors vary greatly depending on the quality of materials and the manufacturing methods used. However, timber sliding doors are often more expensive than aluminium sliding doors.
Are aluminium doors better than composite?
Aluminium doors tend to be stronger than composite doors, and they're also very low maintenance with minimal risk of warping. Some low-quality aluminium doors might have poorer thermal efficiency than good composite doors, but high-quality aluminium doors such as ours at Origin contain thermal breaks which provide excellent levels of thermal efficiency.
Is aluminium stronger than wood?
Aluminium is a stronger material than solid wood. Engineered timber is stronger than solid wood, but it's impossible to say whether it is stronger than aluminium because the composition of engineered wood varies greatly between different products and manufacturing methods.
