What are sliding doors with integral blinds?
Integral blinds are blinds sealed inside the cavity between the panes of a double glazed unit, so they sit within the glass itself rather than hanging in front of it. On a sliding door that matters, because blinds fitted to the frame in the usual way often clash with the overlapping panels, the handle or the interlock. With the blind inside the glass, each panel can slide past the next with the blind open, closed or tilted.
Most integral blinds are venetian, with slats that tilt to control light and privacy and raise fully to clear the view; pleated versions that simply lower and raise are also available. They are controlled either by a magnetic slider on the edge of the glass, which moves a matching magnet inside the unit, or by a small motor powered by a battery, often recharged by a solar cell, operated from a switch or remote.
Because the blind is in a sealed space, it never gathers dust, cannot be bent by pets or children, and has no loose cords. The trade-offs are a slightly thicker unit with a wider cavity, a small effect on the glass's thermal performance, and the fact that a failed blind usually means replacing the whole sealed unit rather than the blind alone.
Who are they for?
Best suited to
- Sliding doors where fitted blinds would clash
- Homes with young children or pets
- Kitchens where blinds would get greasy
- Bedrooms and street-facing rooms needing privacy
Worth considering
- If the blind mechanism fails, the usual fix is a replacement sealed unit for that panel, which takes time to make.
- The wider cavity needed for the blind can slightly reduce the glass's insulating performance compared with a standard unit.
- The blind is fixed for the life of the unit, so changing colour or style later means changing the glass.
Why choose sliding doors with integral blinds?
- The blind sits inside the sealed glass unit, so it stays clear of dust, cooking grease and pet hair and does not need washing or wiping down.
- Because there are no cords or chains, integral blinds remove the looped-cord hazard that conventional blinds can pose to young children.
- Each sliding panel carries its own blind inside the glass, so the panels can pass each other freely without blinds catching on handles or the interlock.
- Venetian slats tilt to angle daylight up to the ceiling or block a low sun, letting you control glare on a screen or television without closing the view completely.
- A magnetic slider on the edge of the unit raises, lowers and tilts the blind with a light touch, with no motor or wiring involved.
- Motorised versions run on a rechargeable battery, often topped up by a small solar cell, and can be operated by a switch or remote for tall or hard-to-reach panels.
- Pets and children cannot bend slats or pull a blind off its fixings, because the whole mechanism is protected between two panes of glass.
- Closing the blinds at night gives a street-facing or overlooked room privacy without curtains bunching in front of the door when it is open.
Typical specification
| Blind types | Venetian (tilt and raise) or pleated (raise and lower) |
|---|---|
| Control | Magnetic slider on the unit edge, or motorised with switch or remote |
| Motor power | Rechargeable battery, often with a solar charging cell |
| Glass unit | Double glazed with a wider cavity to house the blind |
| Thermal effect | Slight reduction in glass performance compared with a standard unit, depending on the specification |
| Colours | A range of standard slat colours, chosen at order |
| Panels | Fitted to the sliding and fixed panels you choose |
Figures are typical and vary by system and size; your quote confirms the exact specification.
How much do sliding doors with integral blinds cost?
Integral blinds are priced per glazed panel on top of the door; as a reference, a 2.4 m two-panel aluminium door without blinds has a guide price of £4,295–£5,295, fitted, inc VAT at standard 2.1 m height, and your quote itemises the blinds.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £4,195–£4,895 |
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £4,495–£5,295 |
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £4,795–£5,695 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £5,195–£6,095 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £5,795–£6,895 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £6,895–£8,195 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £7,395–£8,695 |
| 4.8 m | 4 panels | £8,695–£10,195 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £9,995–£11,795 |
Guide prices for a standard 2.1 m high door, supplied and fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size. Your price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
Options and extras
- Venetian blinds. Tilting slats for precise control of light, glare and privacy.
- Pleated blinds. A soft fabric pleat that raises and lowers, diffusing light when closed.
- Magnetic control. A simple manual slider on the frame edge with no batteries or wiring.
- Motorised control. Battery-powered blinds with a switch or remote, often with solar recharging.
- Blinds on selected panels. Blinds only in the panels that need them, such as the fixed panel facing the street.
- Slat colour choice. Slats in white, grey, silver or a darker shade to suit the frame and room.
Lead times and fitting
Lead time: Typically 4–6 weeks after survey sign-off, sometimes a little longer for the blind units.
Fitting: Typically 1–2 days, much like the same door without blinds.
Nothing is ordered until you confirm the surveyed specification in writing. See how it works.
Rules and approvals
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.
Wales
In Wales, replacement doors are covered by the Building Regulations as applied in Wales, including the Welsh Part L energy requirements and safety glazing rules. Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or your council's Building Control, and the certificate is kept with your property records.
Scotland
In Scotland, replacing a door like for like in a house does not usually need a building warrant, but the new door must still meet the Scottish building standards for energy and safety. Forming or widening an opening is different: that needs a building warrant from the council before work starts.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) apply through your district council's building control service, with energy guidance in Technical Booklet F1. Work in Northern Ireland is by arrangement, and we confirm the approval route for your property at survey.
Sliding doors with integral blinds: common questions
What are integral blinds?
Integral blinds are blinds built inside a sealed double glazed unit, between the two panes of glass. They are adjusted from outside the glass using a magnetic slider or a small motor. Because they are sealed in, they stay clean, have no loose cords and cannot be damaged by everyday knocks, which suits sliding doors particularly well.
How do magnetic integral blinds work?
Magnetic integral blinds use a slider fixed to the room-side edge of the glass unit that is magnetically linked to the blind mechanism inside. Moving the slider up or down raises or lowers the blind, and on venetian blinds a further movement tilts the slats. There are no batteries or wiring, which keeps them simple and reliable.
Do motorised integral blinds need wiring?
Most motorised integral blinds do not need mains wiring. They run on a rechargeable battery built into the control unit, which is often topped up by a small solar cell that faces the glass. They are operated by a switch on the frame or a remote. Wired versions exist but are less common on sliding doors because the panels move.
What happens if an integral blind breaks?
If an integral blind fails inside the unit, the usual repair is to replace the sealed glass unit for that panel, because the blind cannot be reached without breaking the seal. Magnetic controls and motor batteries on the outside of the unit can sometimes be replaced separately. Manufacturer guarantees on sealed units and blinds are passed on to you.
Do integral blinds affect energy efficiency?
Integral blinds need a slightly wider cavity than a standard double glazed unit, which can reduce the glass's insulating performance slightly. With good coatings and gas fill the door can still meet the 1.4 W/m²K requirement in England for a door in an existing home with more than 60% glazing, depending on the system. Closed blinds can also reduce summer heat gain.
Can integral blinds be fitted to my existing sliding door?
Integral blinds can only be added to an existing sliding door by replacing its glass units, and only if the frame can accept the slightly thicker blind unit. Many older frames cannot. Where they can, it is a glazing job rather than a full door replacement. We check the frame and glazing depth before advising.
Are integral blinds safe for children?
Integral blinds are a safer option around young children than corded blinds, because there are no loose cords or chains to become entangled in. The whole mechanism is enclosed between the panes of glass, and the slider or switch is a fixed part of the frame. The glass itself is safety glass, as required in doors.
How much do integral blinds add to the price?
Integral blinds are priced per glazed panel, so the cost depends on how many panels have them and whether they are magnetic or motorised. As a reference, a 2.4 m two-panel aluminium sliding door has a guide price of £4,295–£5,295, fitted, inc VAT at standard 2.1 m height, before blinds. Your quote shows the blind cost separately.