New and widened openings for sliding doors across Edinburgh and the Lothians
A few practical points decide whether sliding doors for new openings suit a particular room and opening:
Living in an Edinburgh and the Lothians flat? Structural changes to an external wall almost always need the agreement of the building's owner or the other owners, so speak to them first.
Turning an Edinburgh and the Lothians kitchen window into a door to the garden? Check where drains, gullies and air bricks sit outside, because they can affect the new threshold.
- Structural calculations are included in the guide price, and the Building Regulations application is handled as part of the project, so you are not left coordinating engineers and inspectors.
- A structural engineer sizes the steel beam and padstones for the actual loads above, so the opening is designed rather than guessed.
- Widening a standard patio opening to a larger span can transform how a room connects to the garden, giving a wall of glass rather than a doorway.
Guide prices for sliding doors for new openings in Edinburgh and the Lothians
These figures combine an aluminium sliding door with the building work to form or widen the opening, including structural calculations and VAT. Your price is fixed in a written quote once the wall in your home has been surveyed; council fees are extra.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £7,495–£8,295 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £9,695–£10,895 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £10,295–£11,595 |
| 4.8 m | 4 panels | £11,495–£12,995 |
Every size is on the sliding doors for new openings page.
Daylight and glass in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Because Edinburgh and the Lothians sees long summer days (about 17 h 36 min) and short winter ones (about 6 h 58 min), the elevation your door faces makes a real difference. With the midday sun at about 11° in winter, a south-facing door brings light well into the room; a west-facing door catches hot late-afternoon sun in summer.
Towns we cover in Edinburgh and the Lothians
We survey and fit sliding doors for new openings in 12 towns across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including the EH19, EH2, EH21, EH22, EH26, EH39 postcode districts.
Approvals in Scotland
A new opening in Scotland is warrant work: the council needs structural information for the beam and opening before building starts, and the finished door must meet the Scottish standards.
Questions about sliding doors for new openings in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Do I need building approval for sliding doors for new openings in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
In Scotland a like-for-like replacement door usually needs no building warrant, but must meet the building standards; new openings need a warrant. We confirm the right route for your property at survey, so the paperwork is in place before fitting.
Do I need building regulations to widen a door opening?
Yes, forming or widening an opening is structural work and needs a Building Regulations application in England, supported by structural calculations. Building Control inspects the work, typically including the steel and its bearings. In Scotland a building warrant is needed. Wales and Northern Ireland follow their own building regulations through local authority or district council building control.
Do I need a steel beam for sliding doors?
A widened or new opening usually needs a steel beam or a suitable lintel to carry the wall and anything above it, and for wider openings a steel beam is the usual answer. A structural engineer chooses the size and bearing details based on the loads. The beam is placed on padstones at each end to spread its load into the masonry.
How long does it take to form a new opening?
Forming or widening an opening typically involves 3–5 days of building work, including propping, cutting out, installing the steel and padstones, and making good. The sliding door is then made to the finished opening, which typically takes 4–6 weeks for aluminium, so a secure temporary closure is fitted in between. The door itself typically goes in within one to two days.