- Postcode district
- W8
- Survey
- Free for new and replacement doors
- Typical lead time
- Typically 6–8 weeks from survey sign-off
- Guide price
- From £6,595 inc VAT
- Nearby
- Notting Hill, Chelsea, Hammersmith
- Building rules
- England
Why choose external pocket sliding doors in Kensington?
Here is what to weigh up if you are considering external pocket sliding doors for a home in Kensington:
Solid brick, cavity block or timber frame: the way your Kensington wall is built decides how the pocket is formed, which is why the survey looks at it closely.
If the wall beside your Kensington patio opening is free of windows, radiators and sockets, it may be long enough to take a pocket so the panels disappear completely.
- A lined and drained pocket carries rainwater running along the track out of the wall, protecting the structure as well as the rollers.
- 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.
- 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.
Planning glass for the light in Kensington
The midday sun over Kensington ranges from about 15° at the winter solstice to about 62° 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.
How much do external pocket sliding doors cost in Kensington?
Pricing does not change because you are in Kensington: 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 |
| 3.6 m | 2 panels | £9,295–£11,395 |
| 6.0 m | 3 panels | £12,895–£15,795 |
See every size on the external pocket sliding doors page or try the guide price tool.
Survey, manufacture and fitting around Kensington
A surveyor visits your Kensington home to check the wall, the structure above and the floor levels, and talks through glass and finish. Any building work is planned to the engineer's design, the door is made to the finished opening sizes — typically 6–8 weeks from survey sign-off — and fitting usually takes 3–5 days of building work to form the opening and pocket, then 1–2 days to fit the door.
Rules for external pocket sliding doors in England
In England, forming or widening an opening is structural work that needs a Building Regulations application, structural calculations and usually a steel beam on padstones. The new door is also a controlled fitting (U-value 1.4 W/m²K or better if more than 60% glazed). If steelwork bears on a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Choosing the specification
- Pocket side. A single pocket to one side, or pockets on both sides so a wide door parts in the middle.
- Glass. Double or triple glazed safety glass, with laminated or solar-control units as needed.
- Internal finish. Plastered, panelled or tiled finishes on the pocket wall, with the access panel set discreetly into it.
Questions about external pocket sliding doors in Kensington
Is the price different in Kensington?
No. Guide prices for external pocket sliding doors are the same across mainland Britain, including Kensington. The fitted price depends on size, system, glass and finish, and any structural work, all fixed in your written quote after survey.
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.
Are external pocket doors secure?
External pocket doors are secure when the panels lock to the frame with multi-point hardware, the glass is laminated, and the pocket is closed off so the panels cannot be reached from outside. Once shut, the front edge of the panel locks into the frame just as on a standard slider. Systems are available tested to PAS 24, and the locking specification is set out in your quote.
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.