Frameless Doors and Windows

Frameless doors and windows are products that are designed to provide the maximum amount of visible glass and the least amount of frame, usually aluminium.

Frameless products are available as bifolding doors, sliding doors, hinged doors, windows and fixed screens. Also available are frameless glass structures such as winter gardens or glazed extensions.

You will also find frameless balcony enclosures, balustrades and a broader range of glass products for internal or external use.

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What you should know about frameless doors and windows.

Searches online around ‘frameless’ products can often be misleading.  There is a wide variety of products on the market and what constitutes a truly frameless product can be confusing.  It is worth bearing in mind some key areas where a product is marketed as frameless but may not be.

  • Full aluminium windows and doors, with the aluminium frames recessed into the building structure to create a frameless appearance.
  • Doors and windows that are called ‘frameless’ yet have a very thin full aluminium frame.
  • Frameless doors and windows that have no visible frame on the outside only but fully framed inside.
  • Beware of frameless doors and windows designed for internal use or only available with single glass.

Every door and window needs a perimeter frame of some description therefore very few products on the market are completely made of glass. Most residential frameless windows and doors will rely on an aluminium or another type of frame to provide strength, integrity and reliability, especially where opening doors or windows are needed.

Performance and specifications of frameless doors and windows.

A well-designed frameless door and window will give the expected weather resistance, security and reliability associated with their fully framed counterparts.  It is very important that you check the performance of frameless glass systems.  Ask to see performance testing documentation, details of the guarantee available and exactly what is covered under the guarantee.

The glass and other components found in a frameless window or door come from several external suppliers.  It is not unusual, for example, for a glass manufacturer providing the double glazed units to only provide a 5-year guarantee which your installer will pass on.  Therefore, some frameless products may only come with a short guarantee period. Some frameless products will come with the well-known and expected 10-year guarantee, others may only come with five or less.

The aluminium materials found on frameless doors and windows should conform to industry standards for quality and type of aluminium.  Powder-coated colours and finishes should come with the correct industry British or European Standard or be painted by a Qualicoat or other approved applicator.

With the minimal amount of aluminium, found in a frameless window or door you may find a more basic locking system than the typical multi-point lock on a full aluminium frame.  Check what security accreditations or certification comes with the product.

Who are the main providers of frameless doors and windows?

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The list below illustrates some of the best-known companies in the field of frameless doors and windows.  It is worth bearing in mind that not all of these is a Systems Company but provides products based on either their own or existing systems.

Cantifix

Cantifix provides a big range of frameless and framed windows, doors and structures.   The Cantifix range includes Sky-Frame sliding glass doors. Frameless glass floors, glass extensions and glazed links.

Finline Doors

Finline doors say they are the first UK company to provide frameless retractable glass doors.  Finline provides sliding doors, room dividers, office screens and patio doors as well as balcony doors and swimming pool enclosures.

Frameless Glass Curtains Ltd

Frameless Glass Curtains Limited has designed a unique and patented frameless slide and fold door, being virtually frameless thanks to no visible aluminium at the door mullion junctions.  The frameless bifolding door from FGC features a slimline aluminium frame, aluminium on the door rails only and provides some of the best views possible through a set of folding doors.  

Also available are frameless hinged doors, windows, balustrades and enclosures. One of the best features of the FGC door is its security, weather performance, quality and very low weather resistant threshold.  It remains one of the best systems you can buy for an external frameless slide and fold door.

ID Systems Ltd

The extensive range available from ID Systems offers internal and external use slimline and frameless products such as the Vistaline External slide & turn door and the Sunflex non-thermal system.  ID Systems also provides the  Sunflex SF20 frameless glass sliding door system, well-known as an internal frameless room divider, a balcony and patio enclosure or a winter garden construction.

IQ Glass Ltd

IQ Glass has an excellent reputation in the field of architectural glazing.  structural glass and technically advanced glazed structures.  The IQ Glass frameless range is very large comprising frameless windows and doors, minimal balcony systems, slim frame near frameless windows, frameless clerestory glazing and the Minimal Range of windows and doors.

Lumi Seamless Glazing from Apeer.

The Lumi seamless glazing range brings the minimal wall-to-wall glass in a contemporary range of windows and doors. The Lumi range is glass fibre reinforced profiles with structurally bonded triple glazing.  Lumi products are frameless outside and framed inside.

Maxlight Ltd

London-based Maxlight Ltd is well known for its exceptional sliding doors.  They also provide frameless glazing solutions, box windows, pivot glass doors, roof glazing and other modern products.  The company carries out some excellent projects using its advanced aluminium systems and offers an excellent service to homeowners, architects and designers.  You will also frequently see Maxlight at well-known exhibitions such as Grand Designs and Homebuilding and Renovation.

Sunflex UK Ltd.

Sunflex is one of the premier door systems in the UK, providing sliding or slide and turn systems, folding doors, sliding walls and a broad range of frameless or minimal frame products. The SF20, SF30 and SF35 suite offers frameless sliding doors. SF45, SF55 and SF75 ranges offer bifolding doors.

Sunparadise Systems

The Full Glazed System, Sunparadise Cubo and Summer Gardens are just some of the frameless products available from Sunparadise.

Available as single glazed, double glazed and including sliding doors turning corners, hiding from sight and extensive design options, these are some of the most advanced products on the market for internal, external and stand-alone garden rooms and structures.

Sunseeker Doors

Sunseeker Doors provide double and single glazed frameless slide and turn doors as well as sliding glass walls and minimal framed products. Sunseeker also offers internal frameless room dividers, balcony and patio enclosures and winter garden buildings.

The Folding Sliding Door Company

Trading in the USA, the UK and across Europe, The Folding Sliding Door Company provides flush glazed frameless glass bifolding doors. The FD75  is a flush glazed frameless folding door with aluminium that creates a ‘glass wall’ appearance inside and out.

Vision Glass Doors

Frameless Glass Doors from Vision are suitable for internal or external use with a folding sliding mechanism and individual moving panels.  Doors are retractable and frameless with single or double glazing.

You’ll find many specialist suppliers of frameless or bespoke glass doors exhibiting at trade shows all over the UK.

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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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Chris WesthorpChris Westhorp
19:55 13 Sep 23
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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Alan FosterAlan Foster
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guard Charlieguard Charlie
12:28 14 May 23
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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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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
13:04 09 Mar 23
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 🙏🏼
G JG J
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.
Azza McCabeAzza McCabe
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Adri LoloçiAdri Loloçi
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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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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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