Choosing the Right Sliding Patio Doors for Your Home

Sliding doors are a popular option when choosing patio doors for your home. They’re a space-saving alternative to traditional swing doors, and provide an easy transition from kitchen to patio or garden. The most popular styles of sliding patio doors include inline sliding doors and lift and slide patio doors, each of which has its unique benefits, perfect for adding a modern touch to any home.

Our guide below will explore the different sliding doors available at Vufold, including the best sizing options, security features and customisation options to choose from.

How Do I Choose a Sliding Patio Door?

Choosing the right sliding patio doors depends on various factors that balance style, functionality, security and your budget. At Vufold we have two styles of external sliding doors to choose from: Supreme inline sliding doors and Status lift and slide patio doors.

Inline Sliding Doors

Our inline aluminium sliding doors range in sizes from 1.8m x 2.1m to 6m x 2.1m, and can also be suitably customised to fit your needs. They operate using a simple push-and-pull mechanism that rolls along a track, providing easy access. Crafted from premium aluminium, they feature ultra-slim 47 mm sightlines that maximise glass area for uninterrupted views. Backed by a 15-year guarantee and delivered within 3–4 weeks, these doors offer a stylish, durable, and energy-efficient solution for modern living.

Lift and Slide Patio Doors

Similar to our Inline sliding door range, our lift and slide collection of doors prioritises panoramic views, thermal efficiency and security performance. Each door panel gently lowers into the track when closed, enhancing both thermal and weather resistance and delivering a U-value of just 1.4 W/m²K. These doors lift off their tracks when opening and closing, reducing wear and providing a smooth and reliable operation over time. These doors are available in a range of stylish finishes and come configurable in left-or-right-opening layouts, with choices of handle styles and optional laminated security glazing.

Our Supreme inline 1.8m x 2.1m sliding patio doors. Shop the full range here.

What Are the Main Security Features of a Sliding Door?

The main security features of a sliding door focus on preventing forced entry, protecting the glass, and ensuring the locking mechanism is strong and tamper-proof. These benefits include:

• Multi-point locking systems: rather than a single lock, these doors lock in several places across the frame, making them much harder to force open.
• PAS24-accredited locks: these UK standards mean the door has passed rigorous testing against forced entry, impact and the manipulation of locks.
• Laminated safety glass: an optional extra in our sliding patio door ranges, laminated glass has an interlayer that holds it together if broken.
• Anti-lift tracks: these prevent the sliding door from being lifted out of its tracks from the outside.
• Key-operated or thumb-turned locks: high-quality locks (often with anti-drill features) increase resistance to tampering.

You can find out more about the overall benefits of sliding doors in our advice hub here.

How Do I Determine the Best Size and Fit for a Sliding Door?

Determining the best size and fit for a sliding door starts with accurate measurements of your opening. Measure the width across the top, middle, and bottom, and the height on both sides, always using the smallest figure to ensure the door fits without force. It’s also important to check for squareness by measuring diagonally from corner to corner. If the measurements aren’t equal, the opening may need adjusting, or you may need a slightly smaller frame.

Our sliding doors at Vufold are available in standard widths such as 1.8m to 6m, with heights of 2.1m. If your space doesn’t match these, a custom-made door can avoid awkward gaps or excessive use of frame fillers. You’ll also need to decide on the panel configuration; more panels allow for wider openings, and you can choose which ones slide and in which direction to suit your space.

Ensure the design complies with building regulations for safety glazing, energy performance, and clearance space for the panels to slide fully open. Your lifestyle is also a factor, as large panels provide expansive views but can be heavier to operate unless they use advanced mechanisms like lift-and-slide.

Finally, even if you measure the space yourself, it’s wise to have another pair of eyes verify the dimensions before ordering. Sliding doors are precision products, and even a few millimetres’ error can lead to fitting issues.

Are There Any Design or Customisation Options Available for Sliding Doors?

At Vufold, you can customise your sliding doors to suit you, whether you design your own or add extra details to a set size door. Our customisation options include:

• Left, right or double opening (only in our inline sliding door range)
• Frame colour (jet black, anthracite grey or white)
• Laminated security glass (double glazing comes as standard)
• Handle finish (only available with our lift-and-slide patio doors)
• Bottom track with cill, designed to drain water away from the brickwork (available with our inline sliding doors)
• Cill nose (available with our lift and slide patio doors)
• Sliding door trickle vent

Our Status lift-and-slide collection is available in various sizes and finishes to suit your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Common Problem with Sliding Doors?

The most common issues with sliding doors are stiff or jerky movement, difficulty locking, or draughts. These problems are usually caused by debris or dirt in the track, worn rollers, or poor installation. With high-quality systems like our aluminium sliding and lift-and-slide doors, these problems are less likely thanks to precision engineering, durable hardware, and smooth-glide running gear. Regular cleaning of the track and checking the rollers will help maintain effortless operation.

How Do I Ensure My Sliding Doors are Energy Efficient?

Energy efficiency depends on the quality of the glazing, frame materials, and sealing. Choosing a well-insulated door such as our Supreme or Status ranges, which have low-E double glazing, thermal breaks, and U-values as low as 1.4 W/m²K, can make a big difference to heat retention. Proper installation is also key, as gaps around the frame can cause heat loss.

What is the Average Cost of a Sliding Door?

In the UK, sliding patio doors typically range from around £1,200 for basic uPVC models to £4,000 or more for premium aluminium, but this can all depend on size, materials, glazing, and features. Our aluminium sliding doors, for example, offer a mid-to-premium price point, combining high performance, excellent thermal ratings, and long warranties, which makes them a cost-effective investment compared to lower-spec alternatives.

What Sliding Door Maintenance Do I Need to Carry Out?

Sliding doors require relatively little maintenance if they are high-quality, but a few simple steps will keep them working smoothly. Clean the track regularly to remove dirt, grit, and debris that can affect movement. Wipe down the frames and glass with mild soapy water, and inspect seals to ensure they remain intact and weather-tight.

Related Content

• What are Inline Sliding Doors?