Are sliding doors for extensions right for homes in Somerset?
The right door depends on the opening, the room and the way you use the garden. Here is how sliding doors for extensions tend to work out in practice:
Planning an extension in Somerset? Send us the drawings before the steel is ordered, so the beam above the doors can be designed with the door in mind.
Where an extension in Somerset faces south or west, ask about solar-control glass, because a wall of glass in a single-storey room can overheat in summer.
- A check survey once the opening is built means the door is made to the real dimensions, accounting for any small variation in the brickwork or blockwork.
- Slimline aluminium systems with interlocks typically around 20–25 mm maximise the glass in a new rear wall, keeping the view as open as possible.
- Telling the engineer the door type and span early lets them design the beam above it to limit deflection, protecting the smooth running of large sliding panels.
Guide prices for sliding doors for extensions in Somerset
Guide prices are the same across Somerset. They cover the door supplied and fitted into a prepared opening, including VAT, with options itemised in your quote.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £5,095–£6,195 |
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £5,495–£6,795 |
| 4.8 m | 3 panels | £9,595–£11,695 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £11,395–£13,895 |
Every size is on the sliding doors for extensions page.
Daylight and glass in Somerset
Daylight in Somerset runs from about 7 h 52 min in December to 16 h 35 min in June, with the noon sun at roughly 15° and 62° respectively. Use that to choose your glass: standard low-E double glazing for north and east elevations, and consider solar-control or triple glazing for sunny south and west walls.
Towns we cover in Somerset
We survey and fit sliding doors for extensions in 17 towns across Somerset, including the BA11, BA16, BA2, BA20, BA4, BA5 postcode districts.
Approvals in England
Doors in an English extension go through the extension's Building Regulations approval. Under Approved Document L, the total area of windows, roof windows and doors is normally capped at 25% of the extension's floor area plus any openings the extension removes, unless your designer shows compensating improvements; the glass must be safety glazing under Approved Document K.
Questions about sliding doors for extensions in Somerset
Do I need building approval for sliding doors for extensions in Somerset?
In England a replacement door is a controlled fitting, so compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or Building Control; new openings need a Building Regulations application. We confirm the right route for your property at survey, so the paperwork is in place before fitting.
What structural opening size should my builder leave for sliding doors?
Your builder should leave the structural opening size we give in writing for your chosen door, which is the frame size plus a small fitting tolerance on each side and at the head. The exact figure depends on the system and the threshold detail. We confirm it from your drawings early, then check the built opening before the door is made.
Can you work with my builder and architect?
Yes, working with your builder, architect and structural engineer is the normal way we approach extension doors. We can provide technical details, opening sizes, threshold requirements and fixing information, and attend site for the check survey. Your builder forms the opening and prepares the floor, and our installers fit the doors to the agreed programme.
Why does the steel beam matter for sliding doors?
The steel beam above an extension's sliding door matters because every beam bends a little under load, and a large sliding door needs a straight, level head to run freely. If the engineer knows a wide slider will sit under the beam, they can design for low deflection. Too much movement can make panels stiff or bind.