Aluminium sliding doors across Dorset
A few practical points decide whether aluminium sliding doors suit a particular room and opening:
Where a Dorset property already has aluminium windows, matching the door colour and frame profile keeps the back of the house looking consistent.
If your Dorset home has a rear extension or kitchen-diner, aluminium sliding doors let you place a table close to the glass, because no panel swings into the room.
- A polyamide thermal break inside every profile separates the cold outer metal from the warm inner face, cutting heat loss and reducing the risk of condensation forming on the frame.
- Panels run on adjustable tandem rollers along a hard-wearing track, so even a heavy double or triple glazed panel can be opened smoothly with one hand.
- Because the panels slide rather than swing, nothing opens into the room or across the patio, leaving space for a dining table, sofa or planters right up to the glass.
Guide prices for aluminium sliding doors in Dorset
The table shows guide prices for common sizes, supplied and fitted, including VAT. Your exact price is fixed in a written quote once the opening in your home has been measured.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £3,995–£4,895 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £4,295–£5,295 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £5,595–£6,895 |
| 4.8 m | 4 panels | £6,995–£8,495 |
Every size is on the aluminium sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Dorset
In Dorset the shortest day has roughly 7 h 57 min of daylight and the longest about 16 h 30 min. The noon sun sits near 16° above the horizon in winter and 63° in summer — so glass that faces south collects useful warmth from October to March, while a west-facing door may need solar control to stop it overheating in July.
Towns we cover in Dorset
We survey and fit aluminium sliding doors in 12 towns across Dorset, including the BH15, BH19, BH2, BH20, BH21, BH22 postcode districts.
Approvals in England
In England, a replacement sliding door is a controlled fitting under the Building Regulations. In an existing home, a door with more than 60% glazing must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or a Doorset Energy Rating of band C) under Approved Document L, and glass in doors must be safety glazing under Approved Document K. We arrange compliance through a competent person scheme installer or by notifying Building Control, and you receive the certificate.
Questions about aluminium sliding doors in Dorset
Can you match other doors and windows in my Dorset home?
Usually, yes. Most aluminium and uPVC systems come in standard RAL colours and finishes, and we can quote dual colour where the inside and outside need to differ. Bring photos of existing frames to the survey.
How much do aluminium sliding doors cost?
Aluminium sliding doors start from a guide price of £3,295 for a 1.5 m two-panel door, fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height. A 2.4 m door is a guide £4,295–£5,295, and a 4.8 m four-panel door is around £6,995. Glass, colour and threshold choices move the price within the range, and the final figure is fixed in a written quote after survey.
Are aluminium sliding doors secure?
Aluminium sliding doors can be very secure when they combine multi-point hook locks, anti-lift blocks and laminated glass. Systems are available tested to PAS 24, the UK enhanced security standard for doorsets, and an enhanced security locking pack can be added to your quote. Most systems are glazed from the inside, so the glass cannot be unclipped from outside.
Do aluminium sliding doors need Building Regulations approval?
In England, replacement sliding doors are controlled fittings, so the work is either carried out by an installer registered with a competent person scheme, who self-certifies and notifies, or notified to Building Control. The glass must be safety glazing to BS EN 12600. Forming or widening an opening is structural work needing its own application and calculations. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.