- Postcode district
- CT6
- 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
- Whitstable, Canterbury, Faversham
- Building rules
- England
Is an external pocket sliding door a good fit for your home in Herne Bay?
Most homeowners choosing external pocket sliding doors want the same things: more light, a clear view and a door that is easy to live with.
However sheltered or exposed your Herne Bay 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.
Want the whole width of your Herne Bay kitchen open to the garden but prefer the look of sliders to bifolds? A pocket gives you both, at the cost of more building work.
- 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.
- A removable access panel on the inside of the pocket wall lets the rollers be reached and adjusted without opening up the plaster.
- 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.
Sunlight, glass and orientation in Herne Bay
The midday sun over Herne Bay 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 Herne Bay?
These figures are for the door supplied and fitted, with the engineer's structural calculations, including VAT. They include forming the opening and the pocket in the wall; Building Control fees are set by your council and are extra. Your price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6 m | 2 panels | £9,295–£11,395 |
| 4.8 m | 3 panels | £11,095–£13,595 |
| 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.
What happens when you order external pocket sliding doors in Herne Bay?
Surveys in the CT6 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.
Do you need approval in Herne Bay?
A new or wider opening in England needs Building Control approval for the structural work as well as compliance for the door itself under Approved Documents L and K. Expect structural calculations, a steel beam and, where a party wall is involved, notices under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Choosing the specification
- Glass. Double or triple glazed safety glass, with laminated or solar-control units as needed.
- Pocket side. A single pocket to one side, or pockets on both sides so a wide door parts in the middle.
- Colours. Single or dual colour powder coating, so the exposed edge of the panel matches the frame inside and out.
Questions about external pocket sliding doors in Herne Bay
Do you fit external pocket sliding doors in Herne Bay?
Yes. We survey and fit external pocket sliding doors in Herne Bay and across Kent, including nearby Whitstable and Canterbury. Start with a guide price online or call us, and we will arrange a free survey for a new or replacement door.
How wide can an external pocket sliding door be?
An external pocket sliding door in our range typically gives a clear opening of about 1.8 m to 6 m, using one panel at the narrow end and two or three panels on wider doors. Wider openings usually use pockets on both sides, or a multi-track pocket so the panels stack inside the wall. Sizes are confirmed after survey and the engineer's design.
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.
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.