- Postcode district
- DA12
- Survey
- Free for new and replacement doors
- Typical lead time
- Typically 8–10 weeks from survey sign-off
- Guide price
- From £5,095 inc VAT
- Nearby
- Strood, Stanford-le-Hope, Rochester
- Building rules
- England
Are timber and alu-clad sliding doors right for your Gravesend home?
The right door depends on the opening, the room and the way you use the garden. Here is how timber and alu-clad sliding doors tend to work out in practice:
Oak floors, exposed beams or a timber kitchen in your Gravesend home? Matching the inside finish of the door ties the new glazing into the room.
For a listed building or a house in a conservation area in Gravesend, check with the local planning authority before choosing any new door; timber frames are often closer in character to the original joinery.
- A timber sliding door sits comfortably beside brick, stone, render or weatherboarding, which helps where a modern metal frame would look out of character.
- Wood is a natural insulator, so timber frames feel warm to the touch in winter and help keep condensation off the inside face of the frame.
- The inside face can be finished to match existing oak floors, stair parts or window boards, so the new door feels part of the room rather than an addition.
How much sun will a door in Gravesend get?
In Gravesend the shortest day has roughly 7 h 50 min of daylight and the longest about 16 h 38 min. The noon sun sits near 15° above the horizon in winter and 62° in summer — so glass that faces south collects useful warmth from October to March, while a west-facing door may need solar control to stop it overheating in July.
Guide prices for timber and alu-clad sliding doors in Gravesend
Use these guide prices to budget. They include VAT, fitting and taking away an old door of a similar size. Taller doors, triple glazing and dual colour add to the figure — the online tool shows how much.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £5,095–£6,195 |
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £5,595–£6,795 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £6,495–£7,995 |
See every size on the timber and alu-clad sliding doors page or try the guide price tool.
How fitting works in Gravesend
A surveyor visits your Gravesend home to measure the structural opening, check levels and the lintel, and talk through glass and finish. Once you confirm the written specification, the door is made to measure — typically 8–10 weeks from survey sign-off — and fitting usually takes 1 day for a two-panel swap; 1–2 days for larger doors. We also cover Strood (9 km south-east) and Stanford-le-Hope (10 km north-east).
Rules for timber and alu-clad sliding doors 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.
Finishes and extras for timber and alu-clad sliding doors
- Sliding hardware. Inline rollers on smaller doors, or lift and slide gear for larger and heavier panels.
- Timber species. Oak or another hardwood for a visible grain, or engineered softwood where a painted finish is planned.
- Handles. Traditional or contemporary handles in bronze, black, satin chrome or brass-effect finishes.
Questions about timber and alu-clad sliding doors in Gravesend
Can you match other doors and windows in my Gravesend 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.
How often do timber sliding doors need treating?
Timber sliding doors need the outside re-coated every few years, depending on how exposed the elevation is and which finish system is used; doors facing full sun or coastal weather need attention soonest. Alu-clad doors avoid this, needing only an occasional wash outside. Inside, timber only needs wiping and an occasional refresh of the lacquer or oil, and a clean track protects the rollers.
How long do timber sliding doors take to make?
Timber and alu-clad sliding doors typically take 8–10 weeks to make after survey sign-off, longer than metal or uPVC, because each door is joinery-made, factory finished and allowed to cure before delivery. Fitting typically takes 1 day for a two-panel swap and 1–2 days for larger doors. These are typical timescales, confirmed once your order is placed.
Are timber sliding doors energy efficient?
Timber sliding doors are energy efficient because wood insulates naturally, and engineered timber systems typically achieve whole-door U-values comparable with good thermally broken aluminium, depending on the glass. In England, a new or replacement door in an existing home with more than 60% glazing must reach 1.4 W/m²K or better, and the glazing is specified to meet that. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own energy rules.