External sliding doors are an excellent space-saving option for your home. Unlike traditional doors, they don't need extra room around them to open and close. There are a few sliding doors on the market, but it's essential to choose a door that will fit your needs and requirements.
This guide will discuss the specific benefits and considerations of installing sliding doors in your kitchen. This is the ideal space-saving solution and provide seamless access to and from the kitchen and patio while maximising your existing space without the need for a home extension.
In this guide:
Sliding doors save space, boost light, and seamlessly connect kitchen to garden.
Sliding doors can limit open views and may cost more than other options.
Choose from ultra-slim, secure aluminium sliders with bespoke styles and sizes.
Think layout, panel size, style, and colour to find your perfect kitchen patio door.
Sliding doors are a modern, space-saving alternative, but classic styles are still popular.
Benefits of Sliding Patio Doors for the Kitchen
1. Space-Saving
No matter what size your kitchen is, maximising useable space is always a priority, especially if you have active young children, elderly relatives or enjoy entertaining. By using sliding doors that glide to the side rather than hinged doors that open inwards or outwards (bi-fold doors or French doors), homeowners can make better use of their existing floorplan and get full use of kitchen storage spaces.
2. Natural Light
The ‘wall-of-glass’ effect of sliding doors maximises natural lighting and gives the illusion of a more spacious interior. With large panels of glass, you’re able to achieve expansive views of the outdoors, especially given that Origin’s aluminium Sliding Doors offer impressively slim sightlines.
3. Easy Outdoor Access
Sliding glass doors with large apertures create a seamless transition between the indoors and out. During good weather, it’s straightforward to open up your home to the garden and move bulky items in and out without obstruction. Tracks can also be recessed into the floor also help contribute to an even more seamless transition.
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4. Safe and Practical
Due to the kitchen being a high traffic area in the home, sliding doors are a practical and safe option that minimise the chances of someone bumping into or catching themselves on an open hinged door. Origin Sliding Doors are engineered to balance beauty, longevity and effortless operation.
5. Versatile and Customisable
Aluminium sliding doors are also a very versatile option due to the vast configuration options and customisations available. Our Sliding Doors are completely bespoke, allowing you to specify your size and configuration as well as selecting from a wide range of stylish colours and door hardware options.
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What are the Disadvantages of Sliding Doors?
When choosing the right exterior patio doors for your kitchen, it can be helpful to learn the limitations of sliding glass doors.
- When open, sliding door sashes will slide over one another which means there will always be at least one panel in view. For better views when open, you could select bifold doors or French doors, but you will require space either side for the doors to hinge/stack when open as they open inwards or outwards.
- Sliding doors are typically a larger investment compared to bifold doors or French doors, but this can depend on your specific configuration.
What are the Sliding Door Options?
With strong, yet lightweight aluminium frames, Origin Sliding Doors are built to last. They deliver market-leading thermal efficiency and overall elite performance. They have weatherproof seals and are designed to be low maintenance. The doors are also designed to be extremely safe, thanks to their high-security locking mechanisms.
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Using premium grade aluminium, the OS-29+, OS-44 and OS-77 Patio Sliders offers three sightline options - 29mm, 44mm and 77mm, respectively. The OS-29+ is one the slimmest sliding doors in the UK and due to high quality and durable materials, all our Sliding Doors can support vast expanses of glass without compromising on security or performance.
The Patio Sliding Door system can be designed with up to six panels and can fit into apertures up to 13m. It’s available in over 150 RAL colours and there is a selection of hardware designs available to give your door a personal touch.
What to Consider Before Having Sliding Doors Installed in your Kitchen
When you're choosing your sliding kitchen door, there are several factors to consider:
- Doorway width and panel requirements: This will allow your door to be fitted exactly to the size required and allow you to achieve the look you desire. Explore the sliding door configuration options.
View the OS-44 Case Study
- Door type, style and configuration: There are certain factors that can affect the price of your door set, such as the type of door (French, Bi-folding or sliding), the style (e.g., Soho-inspired or Gallery), and the number of panels (2, 3, 4, or 6).
- Colour: With over 150 RAL colours to choose from, finding the right shade for your door frames should be no snap decision. You can talk through your colour options with your chosen installation partner.
- Locks and handles: When choosing the right sliding door system for your kitchen, you should also consider which locks and handles are most appropriate for you in terms of safety, security and design.
- The entryway proximity to kitchen units or appliances and the layout of the room: This is important to ensure that the room is organised in a way that will allow for the installation of your new doors.
Will Sliding Doors Replace Hinged Doors?
There are so many advantages to sliding doors, especially in space-limited or high-traffic areas, such as kitchens. They also help you maximise natural light and views of the outdoors, making your living space enjoyable year-round. However, they should be seen as an investment.
Hinged doors are a versatile and classic option, but they require more space around them to open. Ultimately, sliding doors are a practical and modern way to let the outdoors in, but the classic appeal of French patio doors or bifold doors remains strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: vinyl or aluminium sliding doors?
Both uPVC and aluminium doors have their benefits, but the latter is typically favourable to meet your practical and security needs as well as for visual appeal. Origin's aluminium doors are powder-coated, weather-resistant, and have unbeatable thermal efficiency. Additionally, their durable, yet slim profiles make them a premium and visually striking choice, especially compared to options like composite or vinyl.
Read why to choose aluminium for sliding doors.
What are sliding door track systems?
The sliding door track system is the running gear or trolley system that allows the doors to move from side to side. Precision engineered track systems by Origin feature practical design elements, such as weighted bearings to maintain the door position. Concealed running gears help prevent items getting caught and contribute to a seamless threshold. Also, the option for a recessed track reduces trip hazards and further enhance continuity between the indoors and out.
For further information, read our essential guide to sliding door track systems.
What are the different sliding door panel sizes?
Different systems will offer different minimum and maximum panel sizes. These can be specified to suit both your practical requirements and style preferences. The doors are made completely bespoke to meet your project’s needs.
Do sliding doors add value to a home?
Sliding doors will help to maximise natural light, outdoor views and enhanced space functionality. These are instantly recognisable features that enhance interest during viewings. Origin’s market-leading energy efficiency is also very attractive to home buyers.
What are my options for impact-resistant sliding glass doors?
Sliding doors have a higher glass-to-frame ratio compared to other door types, so it’s important to consider the durability of the materials. Origin only uses premium grade aluminium which is highly robust. You can request laminated glass for added impact-resistance through your installer.
What type of patio door is most energy efficient?
If energy efficient patio doors are a top priority for you, the OS-29+ Sliding Door from Origin achieves an unbeatable U-Value as low as 0.78W/m2K. Our Bifold Doors and French Doors also provide equivalent thermal performance. Read about sliding door thermal efficiency.