- Postcode district
- CF10
- Survey
- Free for new and replacement doors
- Typical lead time
- Typically 4–6 weeks for the door after the opening is measured; building work scheduled around approvals
- Guide price
- From £6,595 inc VAT
- Nearby
- Penarth, Dinas Powys, Caerphilly
- Building rules
- Wales
Is a sliding door for a new opening a good fit for your home in Cardiff?
Most homeowners choosing sliding doors for new openings want the same things: more light, a clear view and a door that is easy to live with.
Living in a Cardiff 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.
Where a Cardiff house has a bay, chimney breast or upstairs window directly above the planned opening, the engineer will need to account for it in the steel design.
- Making good the reveals and head after the steel goes in leaves a square, plumb opening, which is what a precision-made sliding door needs to run smoothly.
- Telling the engineer that a sliding door will sit beneath the beam lets them limit its deflection, which matters because a beam that sags can stop panels sliding freely.
- Temporary propping holds up the wall above while the masonry is cut out, keeping floors, ceilings and the roof safely supported throughout the work.
Sunlight, glass and orientation in Cardiff
Because Cardiff sees long summer days (about 16 h 38 min) and short winter ones (about 7 h 50 min), the elevation your door faces makes a real difference. With the midday sun at about 15° in winter, a south-facing door brings light well into the room; a west-facing door catches hot late-afternoon sun in summer.
How much do sliding doors for new openings cost in Cardiff?
Use these guide prices to budget for the whole job in Cardiff: the door, the steelwork, making good and the engineer's calculations, including VAT. Building Control or warrant fees are charged by the council on top.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £6,595–£7,295 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £10,295–£11,595 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £13,295–£15,095 |
See every size on the sliding doors for new openings page or try the guide price tool.
Timescales for sliding doors for new openings in Cardiff
Here is the usual sequence in Cardiff: guide price, free survey, written quote, any building work, then manufacture (typically 4–6 weeks for the door after the opening is measured; building work scheduled around approvals). Fitting typically takes 3–5 days of building work, then 1–2 days to fit the door. Nearby, we also survey in Penarth, Dinas Powys and Caerphilly.
Rules for sliding doors for new openings in Wales
In Wales, structural work to form or widen an opening needs Building Regulations approval and structural calculations, and the new door must meet the Welsh energy and safety glazing requirements. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply where steelwork bears on a party wall.
Choosing the specification
- Steel beam with padstones. A beam sized by the engineer to carry the wall, floors and roof above.
- Window to door conversion. Cutting down below an existing window to form a door opening to the garden.
- Low threshold detail. Adjusting floor and outside levels during the building work to allow a lower sill.
Questions about sliding doors for new openings in Cardiff
Do you fit sliding doors for new openings in Cardiff?
Yes. We survey and fit sliding doors for new openings in Cardiff and across South Glamorgan, including nearby Penarth and Dinas Powys. Start with a guide price online or call us, and we will arrange a free survey for a new or replacement door.
Do I need planning permission for a new opening?
Planning rules for altering an elevation depend on the property and where you are, so it is worth checking with your council before you commit. Flats, listed buildings and properties covered by an Article 4 direction are the most likely to need consent. Wales and Scotland have their own planning rules. Our planning guide sets out the questions to ask.
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.
How much does it cost to widen an opening for sliding doors?
Our guide price for forming or widening an opening is £3,595 for 2.4 m and £4,495 for 4.8 m, covering steel, padstones, making good and structural calculations. The door is priced separately, and Building Control fees are set by your council. All figures are guide prices inc VAT, fixed in a written quote after we survey the wall and see what is above it.