External pocket sliding doors across Edinburgh and the Lothians
A few practical points decide whether external pocket sliding doors suit a particular room and opening:
If the wall beside your Edinburgh and the Lothians patio opening is free of windows, radiators and sockets, it may be long enough to take a pocket so the panels disappear completely.
For an Edinburgh and the Lothians extension still at the drawing stage, planning the pocket wall now is far simpler than rebuilding a finished wall later.
- Pockets can be formed on one side or both, so a wide opening can part in the middle with panels sliding away in each direction.
- A lined and drained pocket carries rainwater running along the track out of the wall, protecting the structure as well as the rollers.
- Parked inside the wall, open panels are protected from weather and knocks, and garden furniture can sit right up to the edge of the opening.
Guide prices for external pocket sliding doors in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Pricing does not change because you are in Edinburgh and the Lothians: 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 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £8,395–£10,295 |
| 4.8 m | 3 panels | £11,095–£13,595 |
| 6.0 m | 3 panels | £12,895–£15,795 |
Every size is on the external pocket sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Edinburgh and the Lothians
The midday sun over Edinburgh and the Lothians ranges from about 11° at the winter solstice to about 58° at midsummer. Low-angle winter light reaches further into a room through a tall door, which is one reason taller panels are worth considering; on south or west walls, pair them with solar-control glass.
Towns we cover in Edinburgh and the Lothians
We survey and fit external pocket sliding doors in 12 towns across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including the EH19, EH2, EH21, EH22, EH26, EH39 postcode districts.
Approvals in Scotland
In Scotland, forming or widening an opening needs a building warrant before work starts, with structural details for the new beam. The door must meet the Scottish building standards for energy and safety glazing.
Questions about external pocket sliding doors in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Do I need building approval for external pocket sliding doors 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.
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.
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 wall do I need for an external pocket door?
An external pocket door needs a clear length of wall beside the opening at least as long as the panels that slide into it, plus a little for the frame. For a single 2 m panel that means just over 2 m of wall with no windows, radiators, sockets or pipes in it. A two-sided pocket splits the panels between both sides, so each side needs less length.