Are aluminium sliding doors right for homes in Somerset?
The right door depends on the opening, the room and the way you use the garden. Here is how aluminium sliding doors tend to work out in practice:
Where a Somerset property already has aluminium windows, matching the door colour and frame profile keeps the back of the house looking consistent.
If your Somerset 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.
- Brush and gasket weather seals along every meeting edge, together with drainage slots in the outer track, carry rainwater away instead of letting it collect against the panels.
- 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.
- Multi-point hook locks grip the frame at several points along the closing edge, while anti-lift blocks stop a shut panel being raised off its track from outside.
Guide prices for aluminium sliding doors in Somerset
Guide prices are the same across Somerset: the fitted price depends on the size, system and specification, not your postcode. These figures are for a standard 2.1 m high door, fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £4,295–£5,295 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £5,595–£6,895 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £6,095–£7,395 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £8,295–£10,095 |
Every size is on the aluminium sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Somerset
Daylight in Somerset runs from about 7 h 52 min in December to 16 h 35 min in June, with the noon sun at roughly 15° and 62° respectively. Use that to choose your glass: standard low-E double glazing for north and east elevations, and consider solar-control or triple glazing for sunny south and west walls.
Towns we cover in Somerset
We survey and fit aluminium sliding doors in 17 towns across Somerset, including the BA11, BA16, BA2, BA20, BA4, BA5 postcode districts.
Approvals in England
English Building Regulations treat a new or replacement external door in an existing home as a controlled fitting: it needs a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or Doorset Energy Rating band C) if more than 60% of it is glazed (Approved Document L), and safety glass in a critical location (Approved Document K). Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or a Building Control notification, so you get a certificate for your records.
Questions about aluminium sliding doors in Somerset
Can you match other doors and windows in my Somerset 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.
Should I choose aluminium sliding doors or bifolds?
Choose aluminium sliding doors if you want the most glass and fewest frames when the door is closed, and bifolds if you want almost the whole width open in summer. A slider keeps wide panels with slim meeting stiles but only opens part of the width; a bifold folds away but shows a frame every metre or so. Our sliding doors vs bifold doors guide compares them in detail.
How wide can an aluminium sliding door be?
An aluminium sliding door in our range can span from about 1.5 m to 6 m, split into two to four panels. Each panel is usually up to about 2.5–3 m wide depending on the system and the weight of the glass. Wider openings take more panels, and beyond about 6 m a multi-track or lift and slide system is usually the more practical choice.
How do you look after aluminium sliding doors?
Aluminium sliding doors need little care: wash the frames with mild soapy water a few times a year, vacuum grit out of the bottom track and keep the drainage slots clear. A light silicone spray on the locking points once a year keeps them smooth, and rollers can be adjusted if a panel starts to drag. Manufacturer guarantees on frames, hardware and sealed units are passed to you, and our workmanship guarantee is set out in writing in your quote.