Are secure sliding doors right for homes in Hertfordshire?
A few practical points decide whether secure sliding doors suit a particular room and opening:
Leaving a Hertfordshire house empty during the working day? A key-lockable handle stops anyone turning it from inside through broken glass.
Replacing an old slider in Hertfordshire that has its glass beads on the outside? That is a weakness a modern internally glazed door removes.
- Robust interlocks where the panels meet reduce the chance of the door being levered open at the overlap, which is where a sliding door is often probed first.
- Specifying a tested door when you replace an old slider gives you a clear security standard to compare against, even though Approved Document Q only applies to new homes.
- 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 Hertfordshire
Guide prices are the same across Hertfordshire: the fitted price depends on the size, system and specification, not your postcode. These figures are for a standard 2.1 m high door, fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £3,295–£4,095 |
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £3,995–£4,895 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £6,095–£7,395 |
| 4.8 m | 4 panels | £6,995–£8,495 |
Every size is on the secure sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Hertfordshire
Because Hertfordshire sees long summer days (about 16 h 42 min) and short winter ones (about 7 h 46 min), the elevation your door faces makes a real difference. With the midday sun at about 15° in winter, a south-facing door brings light well into the room; a west-facing door catches hot late-afternoon sun in summer.
Where we fit in Hertfordshire
We cover Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Cheshunt, Hatfield and the rest of Hertfordshire.
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 Hertfordshire
Can you match other doors and windows in my Hertfordshire home?
Usually, yes. Most aluminium and uPVC systems come in standard RAL colours and finishes, and we can quote dual colour where the inside and outside need to differ. Bring photos of existing frames to the survey.
What is Secured by Design?
Secured by Design is a police-backed initiative that sets security standards for homes and products, and its requirements for doors build on PAS 24. Products and developments can gain recognition under the scheme. We are not a Secured by Design member company; if a project specifies it, tell us at the start so we can check what the specification requires.
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.
What is PAS 24?
PAS 24 is the UK enhanced security test standard for doorsets, including sliding doors. A door tested to it has been subjected to timed manual attacks with hand tools, mechanical loading of the panels and locks, and tests on how the glass is held. It applies to the complete doorset as tested, not to individual handles or locks on their own.