Are secure sliding doors right for homes in Bristol?
Before you settle on a door type, it helps to know what secure sliding doors do well and what to check before you order.
If your Bristol home has a rear garden reached by a side gate or shared alley, the back door is the one to specify with PAS 24 testing and laminated glass.
For a new-build or conversion in Bristol with a security condition attached, send us the specification before we quote so the right system is chosen from the start.
- A doorset tested to PAS 24 has resisted a defined set of timed attacks using hand tools, giving an objective benchmark rather than a claim based on the look of the hardware.
- Anti-lift devices in the head of the frame stop a closed sliding panel being levered up and lifted off its track, which is a classic weakness of older sliders.
- Laminated glass has a tough interlayer that holds the pane together when struck, so even a cracked panel resists an attempt to break through.
Guide prices for secure sliding doors in Bristol
The table shows guide prices for common sizes, supplied and fitted, including VAT. Your exact price is fixed in a written quote once the opening in your home has been measured.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £3,995–£4,895 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £4,295–£5,295 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £4,995–£6,095 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £5,595–£6,895 |
Every size is on the secure sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Bristol
The midday sun over Bristol 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.
Where we fit in Bristol
We cover Bristol, Bedminster, Bishopston, Clifton, Fishponds, Westbury-on-Trym and the rest of Bristol.
Approvals in England
In England, a replacement sliding door is a controlled fitting under the Building Regulations. In an existing home, a door with more than 60% glazing must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or a Doorset Energy Rating of band C) under Approved Document L, and glass in doors must be safety glazing under Approved Document K. We arrange compliance through a competent person scheme installer or by notifying Building Control, and you receive the certificate.
Questions about secure sliding doors in Bristol
How soon can you survey in Bristol?
Surveys in Bristol are booked at a time that suits you, and we offer survey dates when we reply to your enquiry. After you approve the written quote, manufacture is typically 4–6 weeks from survey sign-off, depending on the glass and hardware chosen.
What makes old sliding patio doors insecure?
Older sliding patio doors are often vulnerable because the sliding panel can be lifted off its track, the single-point lock can be forced, the glass beads are on the outside or the cylinder can be snapped. Modern secure sliding doors address each of those weaknesses with anti-lift devices, multipoint locks, internal glazing and anti-snap cylinders.
Does Approved Document Q apply to my replacement door?
No, Approved Document Q sets security requirements for doors and windows in new dwellings in England and does not apply when you replace a door in an existing home. Choosing a door tested to PAS 24 is still a sensible benchmark for a replacement, because it gives you a recognised standard rather than relying on how the hardware looks.
Can I upgrade the locks on my existing sliding door?
Sometimes, but upgrading locks alone does not turn an old door into a tested one. A new anti-snap cylinder or a secondary bolt can improve security on a sound door, and our sliding door repairs page covers lock work. If the panel can be lifted out or the glass removed from outside, replacement is usually the better answer.