What are tilt and slide doors?
A tilt and slide patio door, sometimes called a PSK door after the German term for parallel-sliding-tilt, is a door with one opening sash that can move in two ways. Turn the handle one way and the top of the sash tilts inward a few centimetres on bottom hinges, like a tilt and turn window, for ventilation. Turn it further and the sash comes forward out of the frame and slides parallel across the fixed panel. When closed, the sash is drawn back into the frame and seals all round, just like a window.
Because the sash compresses gaskets on all four edges rather than sliding past brush seals, tilt and slide doors are typically more airtight than an inline slider. They suit bedrooms, balconies and flats, rooms where you want night-time ventilation without a door standing open, and homes where draughts from an old patio door have been a problem. The trade-off is that only one sash moves, and panel sizes are smaller than on inline or lift and slide doors.
Tilt and slide doors are made in uPVC and aluminium systems. Price depends on width (our range runs to about 3 m), frame material, colour, glass and hardware; the mechanism is more complex than an inline slider, so it costs a little more than a basic uPVC door of the same width. We survey free and fix the price in a written quote before ordering.
Who are they for?
Best suited to
- Bedrooms needing secure night ventilation
- Balconies and flats
- Replacing a draughty patio door
- Openings up to about 3 m wide
Worth considering
- Only one sash opens, so the clear opening is roughly half the door width.
- Sash sizes are smaller than on inline or lift and slide doors, so very wide openings need a different system.
- The tilt and slide mechanism costs a little more than a basic uPVC slider of the same width.
Why choose tilt and slide doors?
- The tilt position opens a narrow gap at the top of the sash while the hardware holds it in place, so a room can be aired without leaving a door open.
- When closed, the sash is drawn back into the frame and presses onto gaskets on all four edges, giving a window-like seal against draughts and driving rain.
- The sash moves forward and slides parallel in front of the fixed pane, so nothing swings into the room and the floor beside the door stays usable.
- Locking points engage around the whole perimeter of the sash, much like a window, rather than only along the closing edge.
- Tilting the sash lets steam and cooking smells out of a kitchen-diner in seconds, without the security worry of a door left wide open.
- A tilt and slide door fits the same kind of opening as an ordinary patio door, so a draughty older slider can often be swapped without building work.
- A sliding restrictor, available on many systems, limits how far the sash can open, which is useful for upstairs balconies and homes with young children.
- Made in both uPVC and aluminium, in white, foiled or powder-coated colours, a tilt and slide door can match the windows around it.
Typical specification
| Overall width (our range) | About 1.5 m to 3 m, two panels |
|---|---|
| Opening sash | One tilting and sliding sash beside a fixed panel |
| Sash size | Set by the hardware's weight limit, lower than inline or lift and slide systems |
| Typical panel height | Standard 2.1 m; taller sashes depend on hardware limits |
| Seal | Compressed gaskets on all four edges of the sash when closed |
| Frame materials | uPVC or thermally broken aluminium |
| Ventilation | Tilt position opens a gap at the top of the sash |
| Security | Perimeter multi-point locking; systems available tested to PAS 24 |
Figures are typical and vary by system and size; your quote confirms the exact specification.
How much do tilt and slide doors cost?
As a guide price, a 1.8 m two-panel tilt and slide patio door is £2,195–£2,695 fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height; a 2.4 m door is around £2,595.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £1,995–£2,495 |
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £2,195–£2,695 |
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £2,395–£2,895 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £2,595–£3,195 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £2,995–£3,595 |
Guide prices for a standard 2.1 m high door, supplied and fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size. Your price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
Options and extras
- Material. uPVC for a lower price and shorter lead time, or aluminium for slimmer frames and powder-coated colours.
- Sash side. A left or right opening sash, chosen to suit furniture, the patio layout and the way you walk out.
- Handle. An inside lever handle with a key lock, plus an outside pull handle or cylinder if the door is used from the garden.
- Glass. Toughened or laminated double glazing, or triple glazing for extra warmth and sound reduction.
- Colours. White, woodgrain or coloured foils on uPVC; standard or RAL powder coats on aluminium.
- Restrictor. A sliding restrictor on many systems to limit the opening for upstairs rooms or homes with young children.
Lead times and fitting
Lead time: Typically 2–4 weeks for uPVC or 4–6 weeks for aluminium, from survey sign-off.
Fitting: Typically 1 day for a straight swap in an existing opening.
Nothing is ordered until you confirm the surveyed specification in writing. See how it works.
Rules and approvals
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.
Wales
In Wales, replacement doors are covered by the Building Regulations as applied in Wales, including the Welsh Part L energy requirements and safety glazing rules. Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or your council's Building Control, and the certificate is kept with your property records.
Scotland
In Scotland, replacing a door like for like in a house does not usually need a building warrant, but the new door must still meet the Scottish building standards for energy and safety. Forming or widening an opening is different: that needs a building warrant from the council before work starts.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) apply through your district council's building control service, with energy guidance in Technical Booklet F1. Work in Northern Ireland is by arrangement, and we confirm the approval route for your property at survey.
Tilt and slide doors: common questions
How much does a tilt and slide patio door cost?
Tilt and slide patio doors start from a guide price of £1,995 for a 1.5 m two-panel door, fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height. A 2.1 m door is a guide £2,395–£2,895, and a 3 m door is around £2,995. Aluminium frames, colour and triple glazing move the figure up, and the final price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
What is a tilt and slide door?
A tilt and slide door is a patio door whose opening sash can either tilt inward at the top for ventilation, or move forward and slide parallel across the fixed panel. The handle selects the mode. When closed, the sash is pulled back into the frame and sealed on all four sides, so it behaves more like a large window than a conventional slider.
How wide can a tilt and slide door be?
A tilt and slide door in our range is typically about 1.5 m to 3 m wide overall, with one opening sash and one fixed panel. The sash size is set by the hardware's weight limit, which is lower than for inline or lift and slide systems. If you need a wider opening, a standard aluminium slider or a lift and slide door is the usual alternative.
How long does a tilt and slide door take?
A tilt and slide door typically takes 2–4 weeks to make in uPVC and 4–6 weeks in aluminium, from survey sign-off. Fitting typically takes 1 day for a straight swap in an existing opening, including removing the old door and making good. These are typical times rather than fixed promises, and the date is confirmed once the order is placed.
Is a tilt and slide door safe to leave tilted?
A tilt and slide door in the tilt position opens only a narrow gap at the top, so it is far harder to get through than an open door, but it is not locked. Close and lock the sash whenever the house is empty. When closed, perimeter locking points hold the sash like a window, and systems are available tested to PAS 24.
Are tilt and slide doors draught-proof?
Tilt and slide doors are among the most draught-resistant sliding designs because the closed sash compresses gaskets on all four edges. Thermal performance depends on frame material and glass. In England, a replacement door in an existing home with more than 60% glazing must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better, so the glass is specified to meet it. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own requirements.
Do I need Building Regulations approval for a tilt and slide door?
A tilt and slide door replacing an existing door in England is a controlled fitting, so it must be fitted by an installer registered with a competent person scheme or notified to Building Control, and the glass must be safety glazing to BS EN 12600. Planning permission is not usually needed on a house when the door looks similar. Flats and listed buildings may need consent, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
How do I maintain a tilt and slide door?
Maintaining a tilt and slide door means keeping the bottom track and drainage clear, wiping the gaskets with a damp cloth and lightly oiling the moving hardware points once a year. If the sash starts to catch or the handle feels stiff, the hinges and keeps can be adjusted rather than replaced. Gaskets that have flattened after many years can be renewed on their own, restoring the seal without a new sash.