Poyntell Home
Poyntell Home

Sliding Doors

A door that opens parallel to the wall
ISO 45001 ISO 14001 ISO 9001
Q-Mark Fire Door Installation
Q-Mark Fire Door Maintenance
Q-Mark Fire Stopping
ADIA – The Automatic Door Installation Association
Guild Of Architectural Ironmongers Full Member
SafeContractor Approved

What are Sliding Doors?

Sliding Doors have been a concept of door design used since Roman times.

Simply put, Sliding Doors move parallel to the wall instead of pivoting from a door frame. They can be made from many different materials including wood, plastic, metal and glass.

Their use is diverse and one of the main reasons for this is that they have minimal encroachment of floor space internally or externally thus maximising valuable floor use and leaving a nice clear area for pedestrians.

Types of Sliding Doors


Top Hung

As the name suggests, the Sliding Door is hung from the top. This is usually the method of choice.

Given that the Sliding Door is hung from the top all of the weight is taken at the top. This reduces friction at the bottom, reduces the risk of debris contaminating the system and makes for a light and smooth operation. Bottom tracks are still needed to stop the door from decoupling and moving outwards.

Bottom Hung

Big glass doors are not light, therefore top hung is sometimes not possible. Bottom hung can ensure that large or heavy doors can slide. However, the movement can feel heavier and the risk of debris interfering with the running gear is increased.

Pocket Door

Pocket doors are designed to slide into an aperture built into the wall so that they ‘disappear’ once opened. They can be built based on the Top Hung and Bottom Hung mechanisms and are great for use where space is at a premium having virtually no impact on the surrounding area.

Lift and Slide

Lift and slide works by lifting the door slightly before moving horizontally. This increases ground clearance and reduces the chances of friction slowing it down. It also decreases the chances of squeaks, rattles and any other scraping that may happen.

Automated Sliding Doors

We can provide you with automatic sliding doors by either adding automation and safety to suitable existing sliding doors or installing new doors. Doors can be configured in a variety of ways such as:

  • Secure entry and secure exit
  • Secure entry and free exit
  • Free entry and free exit
  • Time controlled free/secure entry/exit

What are the benefits of Sliding Doors?

  • Secure – Sliding doors are held by the operating system and usually complemented by a mechanical lock which is used when the building is empty.
  • Space taken – Minimal impact on the surrounding floor space allowing that space to be utilised as required.
  • Safety – We install doors to the latest BS safety standards and are certified to do so.
  • Concealed – Doors can retract into the walls therefore using up very little space.

Looking for a certified door specialist?