Accordion sliding doors are loved by customers due to their complete transformation. A slight movement of the hand and the glass wall completely or partially disappears, leaving an open opening. How convenient and reliable is this opening and what should you be prepared for when buying an accordion door?
Accordion doors are extremely popular in Europe; they are the most common glazing option for cafes and restaurants - it is easy to expand their boundaries and hospitably remove the wall between the establishment and passers-by, inviting visitors. Domestic homeowners have also experienced the convenience of these doors, and the number of installed accordions is steadily growing.
Accordion doors are installed on:
- Exits to balconies, verandas, terraces;
- Entrance doors to the house;
- Glass walls of winter gardens;
- Room partitions in apartments, offices, meeting rooms.
How are accordion sliding doors different from interior folding doors?
The article will focus on warm accordion doors, which are placed between the street and the room or indoors. Between them and folding interior doors, the only thing they have in common is the type of opening - both fold. In all other respects they are completely different.
Differences between accordion sliding doors and interior doors:
- They are made from warm materials - PVC profile, aluminum, wood filled with double-glazed windows, not glass.
Photo: these are warm, sealed doors with high sound insulation that can be placed between the room and the street without fear of blowing, freezing and noise from the street
- Several threshold options - absolutely flat or high for different rooms and tasks. The presence of a threshold eliminates the possibility of blowing.
Design of folding mirror doors
There are two types of mirror folding doors depending on the number of modules: “accordion” and “book”.
Accordion doors have three or more leaves. Such designs can significantly save space and look very impressive, turning classic systems into original mirror partitions. However, the accordion is not intended for harsh operating conditions. The recommended width of one structure is no more than 6 m. Book doors are durable, reliable and wear-resistant. Such a system has only two modules, which, like a book, are folded against the wall. Rice. 1. The principle of operation of folding glass doors does not differ from the method of using mirrored ones
The movement of the valves is carried out along guides, the profile of which is usually made of aluminum, which has anti-corrosion properties. The modules move using carriages with rollers made of heavy-duty plastic or polymer-coated steel. It is these design elements that ensure smooth and silent sliding. If necessary, stoppers can be installed to allow the doors to be fixed in the required position. The door panels are connected to each other using hinges.
A mirror is a rather fragile and specific material. Any holes in it must be made in the factory using special tools so as not to damage the canvas.
If the doorway is wide, you can install folding mirror doors with two integral leaves. This solution looks very elegant in the interior and is perfect for hallways, bedrooms or living rooms. The production of mirror doors in our studio is carried out by real professionals with extensive experience and the necessary technical skills.
Using the following menu, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the variety of mirror doors depending on the design features, type of design and scope of use:
Selecting a door type
Application selection
Mirror doors
- Sliding
- Swing
- Folding
How do accordion sliding doors work?
A sliding accordion door can have from three to eight leaves. One or two doors are hinged. The rest are fixed, they can be folded, pulled apart in different directions or moved to one wall.
The hinged door can simply be pivoted and open like a regular door. Or it can be rotary/folding and it is also used for ventilation. Hinged doors can be fixed to the door frame and will not move to the side. There are options when the swing door is connected into one strip with all the others - in this case it can be moved to the side.
When closed, sliding doors look more like a reliable, warm wall. But when you need to combine a room or organize a wide passage, folding and moving the doors is not difficult even for a child.
Photo: the opening pattern depends on the size of the door and the number of people using the door
Materials for interior doors accordion
The design of the model is extremely original and variability is present only in the choice of materials.
Tree
Due to its heavy weight, solid wood is used extremely rarely; the most reinforced sliding mechanism is selected. The hinges are made only of metal, which indicates special reliability. The design lacks the special lightness inherent in this type of door, but is considered the most durable and resistant to temperature changes. However, wood is too sensitive to moisture. Experts advise pre-treating it with special products , and then varnishing it to extend its service life.
The cost of presentable models is very high. However, making doors from veneer, MDF, laminate (a collection of models is shown in the photo) reduces the price. Wooden accordions are often installed in saunas and baths, because the environmentally friendly material does not emit harmful substances and is not susceptible to rotting.
Plastic
PVC products are waterproof and can be used in bathrooms and swimming pools. With a low weight, the roller will not wear out quickly. Modern plastic has a rich color palette. There are models that imitate the texture of stone or wood, which looks very organic. Moreover, the color does not fade or wear off, and if desired, any photo can be applied to the plastic.
If we talk about disadvantages, then the models are short-lived. Scratches often appear on the surface. between the panels for sealing , which quickly burst. In this case, only low cost can justify a short service life. In the photo you can see examples of plastic accordion doors.
Solid plastic and wooden doors are called blind doors.
Glass
Glass doors have a wide variety of treatments. Matte, transparent, colored, with applied mosaics, stained glass, they can be selected for any room with a wide variety of designs. For heavy doors, be sure to select a reinforced sliding mechanism that can withstand heavy loads. The same goes for fittings.
Glass doors let in a lot of light, expanding even the smallest room. They are hygienic and are an ideal solution for the kitchen. Modern spacious houses require new design solutions and glass doors will help with this. They are often installed instead of a wall for the best view of a swimming pool or flowering garden. It is not very convenient to cut in other doors, but the accordion is easy to install. Such a panoramic design, as in this photo, is used as a window and a door at the same time.
Wooden or plastic accordions with glass inserts are called combined.
Bamboo and fabric
Exotic variants of accordions. Bamboo structures processed using special technology are durable and safe for health. The advantages of such doors are low cost, resistance to humidity and temperature differences. They will add an ethnic flavor to any room. Notice how these doors look in the photo.
To give an attractive appearance and prevent deformation, soft fabric is stretched over special frames, and inserts are made from it to replace hinges. The material can be silk, imitation tapestry. The design depends on the home interior; drawings and hieroglyphs in the popular “Japanese” or “Chinese” style are applied to the fabric.
Advantages of accordion sliding doors
- The ability to open the opening completely or partially - of all panoramic doors, only the accordion can be opened.
- Various opening patterns, you can choose the most convenient one for each room.
Photo: accordions can be made from any type of profile - plastic, aluminum, wood, in the same color as the rest of the windows in the house
- The accordions use the same handles as those on the windows; all designs will be made in the same style. The design will be decorated with designer handles.
- Easy transformation of a room from one spacious to several private ones and vice versa for optimal use of space.
- The high sound insulation of accordions allows them to be used to organize meeting rooms or rooms for guests and children - no one will disturb anyone.
- The structure is assembled on site, the sashes are delivered disassembled. The frame in aluminum accordions is also delivered disassembled, and some manufacturers also offer collapsible plastic structures. The frame of the structure is simply attached to the ceiling and walls, and the running tires are attached to the frame.
Disadvantages of accordion sliding doors
- There will be less light than with another panoramic door. The maximum width of the sash in the accordion is 1200 mm for the working one, and 900 mm for the folding one. This means that in a structure 6 m wide there will be at least 6 segments and 5 vertical lintels. They visually cut the opening and reduce light transmission.
- On one side of the structure, free space is required next to the accordion door for the doors to “pass” to the parking space - as a rule, the doors fold toward the room, but there are options for opening outward to save space in the room. The wider the doors, the more space needs to be left free.
- In multi-storey buildings, it may be difficult to transport large frames and lift them (the structure itself into which the sashes are inserted). In a standard high-rise building, problems will arise with the delivery of a structure already more than 2.5 meters wide - this point must be clarified when measuring. For wide structures there is the option of on-site assembly, even when using PVC profiles. If there is a freight elevator, there are no problems with lifting the wings, because... The ceiling height of most high-rise buildings does not exceed 2.6 meters.
- Having chosen a flat threshold, during installation it must be “recessed” into the floor by 46 mm, which can lead to an increase in the cost of finishing the room - you will have to cut a groove 120 mm wide at the base of the floor or make a high screed.
- Wooden accordions are supplied with a fully assembled frame only.
Features of accordion doors
The accordion door consists of individual vertical panels that are fastened together with small hinges. The lower edge of the door is mounted to the jamb of the opening, and the top - to the strip. Thanks to the ball bearings used in the design, the door slides easily and silently. Most often, the door consists of three or four sections, but, as a rule, the package includes additional panels in case the doorway has non-standard dimensions.
The most attractive feature of such a door is the ability to save up to 1 m² of space. Unlike a swing door, when installing an accordion, you don’t have to think about the arrangement of furniture in the room.
In addition, many doors of this type are installed without thresholds, so the floor covering in the room will not be damaged.
Accordion doors photo
Glass accordion door photo
Roto Patio Fold accordion sliding doors
Roto fittings have a reputation among professionals and customers for being innovative, reliable and technically sophisticated. Roto Patio Fold sliding doors are a proprietary product with tangible benefits.
Photo: flat threshold with a thermal insulation insert - the door fully complies with the requirements of a barrier-free environment. When passing through the door, you will not have to stumble or step over a high threshold. This advantage will be appreciated by elderly and limited mobility people, families with small children.
The thermal insulating insert in the threshold prevents freezing and condensation - the carriage will always move without problems. Special protective brush inserts and anti-slip pads will protect against debris getting into the door threshold
Photo: Stable, optimized carriage allows effortless sliding and folding
Photo: elegant flat hinges are available in three colors - white, silver, dark bronze
Photo: the hinges have a hidden fastening to prevent burglary
Photo: on doors with high burglary resistance requirements for burglary-resistant fittings, it is recommended to install Roto MVS electronic open door control sensors and a broken glass sensor
Photo: Roto Patio Fold can open both indoors and outdoors. This will allow more optimal use of the room area. The cost of Roto Patio Fold accordion doors is from 30,000 rubles per square meter (without installation).
The cost of installation depends on the size of the door and the number of leaves and starts from 2,000 rubles per square meter.
Delivery of a door more than 3.5 meters wide will cost more than a regular window - you will have to use a heavy-duty vehicle for it.
At first glance, the cost of the door may seem too high. But this is the price for the possibility of transforming the room and increasing the usable area for many years.
Sliding accordion doors Roto Patio Fold - stylish, fashionable, convenient
Modern homes are unthinkable without wide-format doors and partitions. Through them you can admire sunsets and sunrises. They can be removed to the side and expand the living room for gatherings with guests on a cozy veranda, and when closed, create a relaxation room. In winter and summer, accordion sliding doors are always ready to transform the house according to the owner’s wishes.
Stylish, comfortable Roto Patio Fold doors make rooms especially elegant, efficient in use and, at the same time, safe and secure.
