Frameless Slide and Fold Doors. Your Questions Answered

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Nick Dardalis

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Frameless Glass Curtains of Chatham manufacture their own system of frameless slide and fold doors.  These doors have a minimal aluminium frame and maximum glass area.  Frameless slide and fold doors are designed to be suitable for internal or external use and available as a single or double glazed product.

The double glazed system is widely used in external applications where a modern slide and fold glass door is required. Just like a conventional aluminium bifold, frameless slide and fold doors are secure and weather resistant.

How do frameless slide and fold doors work?

frameless slide and fold doors in new extension
Frameless slide and fold doors provide a secure, weather resistant and slimline option to bifolding doors.

Frameless slide and fold doors utilise an aluminium frame at the top and bottom. The system is designed to be slim and features no visible mullions. Within the outer frame sit the individual door panels. These independently slide and then hinge outwards, folding together just like a bifold.

Is a frameless slide and fold door only for new openings?

The outer frame depth of a frameless door ranges from 61mm to 70mm deep. With most original windows and doors designed around a 70-75mm frame, a frameless slide and fold door is suitable as a replacement for old windows and doors as well as new build applications.

Are frameless doors slimmer than other folding doors?

On a frameless door, the top frame is only 44mm deep and the bottom track 40mm deep. This is nearly half the depth and visible sight line of conventional aluminium bifolding doors.

The door rails are 55mm wide, again making them slimmer than most aluminium doors on the market.

The frameless doors feature no visible mullion when each door panel meets in the closed position.

How do frameless slide and fold doors stay secure?

On a frameless slide and fold door it is only possible to access the locking mechanism from the inside. Doors feature a secure, key operated handle that cannot be operated or accessed from the outside.

A simple unlocking of the key and a turn of the handle releases the master door ready for operation. Best of all, frameless slide and fold doors do not require the intermediate handles found on aluminium bifolds to keep the central panels secure.

When the frameless doors are locked, turning the handle pushes all the door panels together to provide security across the entire door set. At the same time, the doors have a weather proof seal.

Are frameless slide and fold doors energy efficient?

A quality glass door consists of a large amount of glass. Frameless slide and fold doors utilise a patented system with high specification glass units. Other bifolding doors are glazed with conventional glass units with warm edge plastic spacer bars. Frameless glass doors use a glass spacer bar on the vertical edges of the glass units.

All frameless glass doors with double glazed units are insulated products meeting or exceeding the requirements of current Building Regulations. The aluminium frames used in a frameless glass door are also thermally insulated.

Are frameless doors top or bottom hung?

The bottom hanging arrangement on bifolding doors has established itself as the most reliable weight-bearing method. Frameless glass doors slide on a purpose-designed wheel system with the majority of the door panel weight being at the bottom. This offers a safe operation as well as a smooth one. No additional reinforcement of the door profiles is needed.

How does each panel work on a frameless slide and fold door?

Each door panel has an aluminium section at the top and bottom. The doors are connected to the track using a flag and spacer profile that slides within the frame. The bottom track of a frameless door has a specially designed turning mechanism. This tells the user precisely where the doors stop sliding and are ready to fold open.

Can frameless doors be configured to suit each property?

Just like a bifolding door, frameless slide and fold doors can open in or out. They can slide to the left or the right. There is flexibility in having door panels stacking to one side or split to stack on both sides. The traffic door found on traditional aluminium bifolds is also possible.

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Andrew DOBSONAndrew DOBSON
16:42 30 Oct 23
Nick responded incredibly quickly to my enquiry (on a Saturday too!), and was able to offer invaluable advice on both aluminum systems and manufacturer / suppliers. Thanks Nick!
chris steerchris steer
16:18 09 Oct 23
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Extremely helpful with pointing us in the right direction to find the products we required and suggesting firms that could reliably fit them.Nick was quick to reply and very detailed in his advice.Highly recommend reaching out to them.
Cathy GreenwoodCathy Greenwood
07:03 11 Sep 23
Update - A second email to nick for help on bifolds resulted in a detailed informative reply even on a Sunday ! This guy is so knowledgable and helpful .I approached Nick for an independent view on sliding doors v bifold and the different brand options . His reply was extremely detailed and prompt and allowed me to navigate this often confusing world in a much more informed way . Thanks so much Nick
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20:24 26 Jul 23
I contacted Nick @ ATS for guidance on what aluminium sliding door systems would be suitable for an opening in an extension that is going to be both wide and tall. He came back really quickly with very detailed and incredibly helpful advice. He is clearly extremely knowledgeable about the systems on the market and their respective features and capabilities. If you’re feeling a bit lost by the overwhelming range of choices out there, I’d definitely recommend contacting him.
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Fantastic website full of valuable and pragmatic advice about product selection and comparison: no other website gives information like this. Truly written for public interest. Don't hesistate to reach out to Nick via the mailing system. He responds very quickly, is friendly, and has very sound and high knowledgable advice. I have already shared this with my friend planning her own grand design.
guard Charlieguard Charlie
12:28 14 May 23
I emailed this company just on the off chance they could help me with new magnetic sliders for my patio door. They were not able to supply those but were so very helpful providing me with the name of a company who could. I am so very grateful at the great service. Dare say customers must be very happy. thank you so much.
Benjamin LewisBenjamin Lewis
10:06 04 May 23
Nick is very helpful indeed. Extremely knowledgeable on bifolds which was in relation to my query. Great website as well, some very useful articles. Particularly appreciated the article that lists all the major bifold options in order of their sightlines! Thank you!
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After a lot of research to find doors that would meet our unusual size requirements and feeling increasingly uncertain about the best way to spend our small budget, I stumbled on the ATS website, and I'm so glad I did! I contacted ATS to request advice and Nick promptly replied with a wealth of information, providing us with options and relevant contact details. I only wish I'd found them sooner!
Carol NortonCarol Norton
10:01 17 Mar 23
I've been so confused about how to achieve the look I'm after, and going round in circles with various window/door companies, trying to get away from the huge chunks of plastic currently around my windows. I didn't expect an email to a company found through a Google search to really help - but I was desperate, so I tried. I'm SO glad I did. Finally I have clear explanations from ATS of where I've been going wrong, exactly what I'm looking for, and a list of local companies that might be able to provide it! The response has excelled my expectations and I feel as if I'm finally inching closer to a home with which I'll be happy and comfortable: thank you.
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Chantal AuerbachChantal Auerbach
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Nick from Aluminium Trade Supply was incredibly helpful informative and pleasant to deal with. He responded quickly to emails and was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend being in touch with Nick if you are considering new aluminium windows or doors.
Lee JonesLee Jones
20:21 22 Feb 23
I dropped Nick at Aluminium Trade Supply an email re high security slim sightline bi-folds and their alternatives and he responded that quickly (and so comprehensively) that I felt bad I’d not paid him for his time!Nick Sir your product knowledge is outstanding and you are providing a level of service that goes wayyyy above and beyond expectations. I’ll definitely make sure I mention Aluminium Trade Supply to anyone I encounter looking for a fenestration solution 🙏🏼
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15:13 13 Feb 23
We are looking to replace some old UPVC patios doors with aluminium ones. The ATS website is a great source of advice in an area where clear information is sorely lacking. Having used the website, I then followed this up with a number of specific questions relating to our search, and Nick came back very quickly with clear, detailed and very useful advice.I have been very impressed with both the website and with Nick's advice. My only regret is that I didn't come across ATS before replacing various windows in 2021 - I'm sure it would have saved me a lot of grief and money! Thanks again Nick.
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So impressed with this company.Responded to my query quickly andgave valuable advice. Nick was extremely helpful and we were able to move forward with our project.
Adri LoloçiAdri Loloçi
11:21 08 Jan 23
Nick was super fast to respond and provided some great recommendations. I would recommend this website to anyone looking to find bifold or sliding aluminium doors.
Stephen HoustonStephen Houston
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Looking for aluminium crittall style internal door and external patio French doors. Noted good reviews and thought would ask for advice. Comprehensive reply with excellent independent advice and lists of fitters who could provide products and installation. Great service.
Inga GeachInga Geach
08:25 21 Dec 22
Nick from Aluminium Trade Supply has been extremely helpful with navigating the jungle that is aluminium glazing for our upcoming extension project. His advice was prompt, detailed and always impartial. Very grateful for your input, thanks Nick!
Amanda BurtonAmanda Burton
10:54 16 Dec 22
Brilliant website and an excellent service. Nick provided not only detailed advice and supplier contacts, but highlighted the considerations of various products so I could make an informed choice. Our Sunvista minimal sliders were fitted this week and I couldn't be happier, stunning. Thanks once again for your advice and recommendations, invaluable!
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Nick has been very helpful on signposting me to a number of partner organisations for steel/aluminium doors.
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