Types of sliding doors

Sliding interior designs are in great demand. Pencil case profiles have become very popular now. It is customary to call a pencil case a special box in which the sliding door itself is hidden.

Before deciding which mechanism will be used when installing a sliding door, it is worth deciding on the type of the structure itself. Manufacturers offer a variety of models, among which you can choose the most suitable one, taking into account the area of ​​the room.

The most popular option is swing doors. They have been familiar to everyone for a long time and have an extremely simple principle of operation: the door is mounted on hinges and opens in a certain direction. These models appeared a very long time ago, but their main drawback is that such a design takes up a rather large space in the open position.

For this reason, it is the interior sliding systems of the "pencil case" type that have become very popular, which, when open, do not interfere with the passage and do not occupy the area of ​​the apartment. Usually, the following types of sliding doors are distinguished, based on the type of their design: single-leaf and double-leaf systems, radius and folding.

• Single leaf is the simplest model. Such systems have one sash, which, moving along the guides, usually retracts to the right side (the direction of movement of the door can be selected individually).
• Bivalve profile-cases have two flaps, which open in both directions according to the principle of an elevator. In the open position, the doors of these two models are located along the wall or cover part of it or can go into specially built-in grooves, if they are provided for by the structure. In this case, it will be a closed-type system that does not stand out in the general setting of the room.

• Doors radius type are perhaps the most creative and innovative in apartment design. The presence of such a profile will give the room a rather refined and non-standard look. Their main feature is, as a rule, a semicircular shape. In this design, there are no straight lines, and all corners are smoothed. It is recommended to install a pencil case of such a model in rooms with an original interior, which will perfectly complement it. The radius profile is also suitable for small rooms, because the absence of right angles will visually make the room much more spacious.
• And finally folding type... These doors are opened according to the "accordion" principle. Sometimes it is also called the "tram" mechanism, since the opening system resembles a structure in a tram. This profile consists of panels of the same size (10-15 cm), otherwise it will be problematic to open the door. In turn, folding systems can be presented in the form of a "book". That is, the structure consists of only two panels, and when opened, such a door folds in half. To save space, foldable structures are a very suitable option.

After the very principle of operation of the structure is selected, it is necessary to pay utmost attention to its sliding mechanism.

They can be categorized as follows.

• Suspension mechanism is the simplest, and therefore quite reliable.Such a mechanism is capable of withstanding a heavy load. It represents only one guide along which polymer rollers on bearings move. As a result, the door opens easily, smoothly and silently.
• Barn type. Usually, this mechanism is used when the interior of the room is made in the loft style (when an element of antiquity fits into a modern room) or retro. The design in this case has an old or rustic look, and the mechanisms themselves are not covered by anything. The principle of operation of this design is to move on two large metal rollers.

• Telescopic mechanism used on systems with two or more leaves. The mechanism itself is quite complex and is used much less often than the usual suspended one. The essence of its work is as follows: the doors are suspended on a parallel system of guides and are connected by a special system of synchronizers, that is, when one door leaf is opened, the second automatically opens. The same principle of operation implies a synchronous mechanism.

The locking mechanism of sliding doors should be considered separately. It is necessary to pay attention to the material from which it is made, as well as to some types of locking mechanisms.

In frequency, they can be represented by the following types.

• Harpoon mechanism. Basically, it is installed on single-leaf structures, and less often on double-leaf structures, the leaves of which move towards the wall. The mechanism itself is attached to the door, and the striker is attached to the wall. When the door is closed, the tongue of the mechanism enters the opening of the strip, thus the sash does not move.
• Push-button mechanism. This model is usually attached only to double doors. Also, the pushbutton option is well suited for mirrored or glass doors. In such a mechanism there is a special rod that rests against the second door and does not allow it to open.
• Magnetic mechanism. The main advantage of this mechanism is its small size. In this case, the doors are secured by a magnet. However, when choosing a locking mechanism, it is worth remembering that the magnet tends to quickly demagnetize, especially when the weight of the structure is not taken into account, and the magnet has too much load.

The ways to open the pencil case are listed below.

• Mechanical. The most common and simplest option. The door opens in this case when force is applied to it.
• Auto. Requires a mains connection or can sometimes run on battery power. The principle of operation of this method is to react to an object approaching the door and automatically activate the opening mechanism. This type of opening structure is often found in large supermarkets and offices.

It is worth highlighting a number of the main components included in the pencil case.

• Door leaf;
• Pencil case sliding system;
• Mechanical clamps and movement limiters;
• Fittings (includes a set of wheels and door handles);
• Cassette.

Reviews of buyers who have purchased a pencil case door are usually the most positive.

The following advantages of the sliding type system were noted.

• Significant savings in indoor space;
• Lack of a door sill;
• The door does not close itself and does not slam from drafts;
• Lack of unnecessary noise when opening.

Some disadvantages of the sliding design were also highlighted.

• More complex installation of a sliding door;
• More expensive installation;
• Low noise insulation (if you choose the system of the correct thickness, then this drawback can be avoided; you can also choose a special felt gasket);
• Retractable rollers can deteriorate over time, so you should pay extra attention to the sliding mechanism when choosing or have a set of spare rollers.

In order for the sliding door to serve for a long time and there are no inconveniences during its operation, it is necessary to take into account a number of rules for the care of the system.

• Avoid high humidity in the room, as the door material can deform from it;
• Avoid getting debris into the guides and sliding mechanism;
• Periodically clean the sliding structure with a vacuum cleaner;
• Observe the wear of the sliding mechanism.

If you follow the installation recommendations, the pencil system will work flawlessly and will last for a long time.

Tips for installing a pencil case can be summarized as follows.

• To install a sliding structure, the wall must be flat. This will ensure that the sliding door works correctly and avoids distortion.
• Each sliding system comes with an installation diagram, which must be followed exactly when installing it yourself.
• At the initial stage, it is especially important to make accurate measurements for the future structure. When calculating the length of the guide strip, it is worth remembering that it should be equal to double the width of the doorway.

• It is necessary to accurately calculate the width of the pencil case. If the cassette is narrow, then it will constantly interfere with the smooth opening of the door.
• The space between the door and the floor should not exceed 5 mm, otherwise sound insulation will decrease. Incorrect measurements are the most common mistake when installing sliding systems.
• It is necessary to take into account the lifting capacity of the sliding mechanism, since the door leaves have different weights, and the mechanism must be selected individually for each.
• The pencil case door should be installed on the finished floor and the walls made.
• If the structure is installed to a load-bearing wall, then a frame is attached to it, which is sheathed with plasterboard. On top of it, when finishing, putty, paint or wallpaper is glued.
• After installing a pencil case door, the following materials are usually used for its decoration: drywall, plywood, plaster.

The sliding interior door of the "pencil case" type is an excellent choice for owners of small apartments, because thanks to such a system, you can save a lot of useful space. An important aspect when choosing a pencil case door is the sliding mechanism. Pencil constructions look creative and give the room a certain style. The main requirement is to correctly and accurately install the sliding system and carefully monitor its careful operation.

You can see how to install a pencil case door in the next video.