- Postcode district
- BT47
- Survey
- Free, area covered by arrangement
- Typical lead time
- Typically 6–8 weeks from survey sign-off
- Guide price
- From £6,595 inc VAT
- Nearby
- Strabane, Limavady, Dungiven
- Building rules
- Northern Ireland
Is an external pocket sliding door a good fit for your home in Derry/Londonderry?
Here is what to weigh up if you are considering external pocket sliding doors for a home in Derry/Londonderry:
However sheltered or exposed your Derry/Londonderry home is, external pocket sliding doors need a drained pocket and a clear external channel so rainwater running along the track never sits inside the wall.
Solid brick, cavity block or timber frame: the way your Derry/Londonderry wall is built decides how the pocket is formed, which is why the survey looks at it closely.
- Insulating the pocket wall and sealing the panel edges limits heat loss through the cavity, helping the wall beside the door perform like the rest of the house.
- Open panels are hidden inside the wall rather than stacked in view, keeping the opening clean-lined compared with a bifold stack at one side.
- With every panel slid into the wall, the full width of the opening is clear, so the room and terrace join without a fixed panel in the way.
Daylight in Derry/Londonderry and what it means for your glass
Because Derry/Londonderry sees long summer days (about 17 h 22 min) and short winter ones (about 7 h 10 min), the elevation your door faces makes a real difference. With the midday sun at about 12° in winter, a south-facing door brings light well into the room; a west-facing door catches hot late-afternoon sun in summer.
External pocket sliding doors prices in Derry/Londonderry
Pricing does not change because you are in Derry/Londonderry: the ranges below include fitting, structural calculations and VAT. They include forming the opening and the pocket in the wall; Building Control fees are set by your council and are extra.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 m | 1 panel | £7,095–£8,595 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £7,495–£9,195 |
| 4.8 m | 3 panels | £11,095–£13,595 |
See every size on the external pocket sliding doors page or try the guide price tool.
Survey, manufacture and fitting around Derry/Londonderry
Surveys in the BT47 district are booked at a time that suits you. Once the opening is ready and measured, manufacture is typically 6–8 weeks from survey sign-off; on fitting day the frame is set level and sealed, and the panels are adjusted so they glide properly. Fitting usually takes 3–5 days of building work to form the opening and pocket, then 1–2 days to fit the door. Derry/Londonderry is in an area we cover by arrangement: the survey is still free, and survey dates, delivery and any travel cost for delivery and fitting are confirmed in your quote before you order.
Do you need approval in Derry/Londonderry?
In Northern Ireland, structural alterations need approval from your district council's building control service before work starts. New openings in Northern Ireland are by arrangement.
Options to consider for your external pocket sliding door
- Internal finish. Plastered, panelled or tiled finishes on the pocket wall, with the access panel set discreetly into it.
- Colours. Single or dual colour powder coating, so the exposed edge of the panel matches the frame inside and out.
- Pocket side. A single pocket to one side, or pockets on both sides so a wide door parts in the middle.
Questions about external pocket sliding doors in Derry/Londonderry
Do you fit external pocket sliding doors in Derry/Londonderry?
Yes, by arrangement. Derry/Londonderry is in an area we cover by arrangement: the survey is still free, and survey dates, delivery and any travel cost for delivery and fitting are confirmed in your quote before you order.
How long does an external pocket door project take?
An external pocket door typically takes 6–8 weeks to make after survey sign-off, and the building work to form the opening and pocket typically takes 3–5 days before the door goes in. Fitting the door then takes 1–2 days. Engineer design and Building Regulations approval come first, so the whole project runs longer than a straight door swap.
How much do external pocket sliding doors cost?
External pocket sliding doors start from a guide price of £6,595 for a 1.8 m single-panel door, fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height, including forming the wall pocket. A 3 m two-panel door is a guide £8,395–£10,295, and a 6 m three-panel door is around £12,895. Wall construction, glass and finish affect the figure, which is fixed in a written quote after survey.
How do you maintain rollers inside a wall pocket?
You maintain pocket door rollers through the access panel built into the inside of the pocket wall, which lets the track be vacuumed and the rollers adjusted without opening up the wall. Keep the outside drainage channel clear so water cannot back up into the pocket, and run the panels fully in and out now and then. If a panel starts to rub inside the pocket, a small roller height adjustment through the access panel usually cures it.