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Sliding Aluminium Doors: The Modern Choice for Style and Durability

When it comes to connecting your home to your garden, the material you choose for your sliding door matters. While you’ll find patio doors made from various materials on the market, there’s a reason why premium aluminium is becoming the material of choice for homeowners who want something that will genuinely stand the test of time.

At North East Bifolds, we work exclusively with aluminium for our sliding doors. We believe that aluminium outperforms the alternative materials in virtually every measure that matters to homeowners.

Whether you’re building an extension, renovating your property, or simply replacing tired old external doors, understanding why aluminium is the superior choice can help you make a decision you’ll be happy with for decades to come.

The aesthetic appeal of sliding glass doors is undeniable: those large glass panels, the slim sightlines, the way they frame your garden view. But the material surrounding that glass determines everything from how much natural light you get to how well your home retains heat, how easy the doors are to maintain, and whether they’ll still operate smoothly for decades.

Why We Exclusively Use Aluminium

Aluminium vs UPVC

UPVC sliding doors have their place in the market due to their affordability, and that lower price point makes them tempting. However, the benefits of aluminium become clear when you look beyond the initial cost.

UPVC isn’t as strong as aluminium, which means manufacturers need to use much thicker frames to achieve the necessary structural integrity. These bulkier frames mean smaller glass areas and less natural light entering your living space. When you’re installing sliding door options specifically to brighten your home and improve your garden views, losing glass area to chunky frames is counterproductive. Aluminium’s superior strength allows for significantly slimmer frames. This means large panes of glass that give you unobstructed views and flood your rooms with light.

There’s also the issue of longevity. UPVC can become brittle and discolour over time, particularly when exposed to UV light. You might have seen older uPVC windows or doors with that yellowed, weathered appearance. UPVC can also warp when exposed to heat, which affects both the operation and the seal of the doors. This warping can lead to draughts, difficulty opening and closing, and reduced thermal efficiency.

Aluminium doesn’t suffer from these problems. It won’t discolour, won’t become brittle, and won’t warp in the heat. The colour finish we apply is designed to last, maintaining its appearance for decades. This means your sliding aluminium doors will look as good in twenty years as they do on installation day.

Aluminium vs Timber

Wooden doors have a traditional appeal, and there’s no denying that timber can look beautiful, especially in older properties. However, timber comes with maintenance requirements and practical limitations that aluminium doesn’t have.

Timber needs regular maintenance to keep it looking good and performing well. You’re looking at repainting or re-staining every few years, checking for rot, treating for insects, and dealing with the natural expansion and contraction that occurs with temperature and humidity changes.

Aluminium doors, by contrast, are very low maintenance. An occasional wipe and a light oiling of the tracks once or twice a year is essentially all that’s required. No painting, no treating, no checking for damage.

Timber can expand and contract with moisture and temperature changes, which can affect the operation of sliding doors. In the north, where we get plenty of rain and humidity varies throughout the year, this movement can lead to sticking, draughts, and eventually, a poor fit. Aluminium is dimensionally stable – it doesn’t expand or contract in the same way, meaning your doors will continue to operate smoothly year after year.

For traditional properties, we understand the desire to maintain character, and there are certainly situations where timber might be more appropriate. However, for most properties, the practical advantages of aluminium are too significant to ignore, particularly when you consider that aluminium doors can be finished in wood-effect colours that complement traditional properties beautifully.

North East Bifolds Sliding Aluminium Door Range

Our sliding aluminium doors are manufactured in our Seaham facility, where we have complete control over quality and can ensure every door is built to exacting standards. We create sliding doors for openings from 1.2 metres to 9 metres wide, with heights up to 2.5 metres. This flexibility means we can provide the perfect fit whether you’re working with a modest opening or creating a substantial glass wall.

The sleek design of aluminium lends itself to contemporary aesthetics, but our range of colours means these doors work with all sorts of properties. We can match any RAL colour, so whether you want clean white for a traditional look, anthracite grey for something modern, or a bold colour to make a statement, we can accommodate that.

Our sliding doors feature thermal break technology and high quality double glazing, delivering excellent thermal performance. This means lower energy bills and a more comfortable home.

Every sliding door we install features the EROS 3 Star Cylinder lock system, which has achieved Sold Secure Diamond 2024 certification. This advanced system protects against all known break-in methods, giving you peace of mind that your home is secure.

Making an Investment That Lasts

Choosing sliding aluminium doors is a decision that will serve you well for decades, that will improve how you live in and enjoy your property, and that won’t require constant maintenance or early replacement.

When you consider the lifespan, the performance, the appearance, and the minimal maintenance requirements, aluminium represents better value than timber and uPVC over the life of the product.

For modern homes in particular, aluminium sliding doors are the natural choice. The clean lines, the slimline frames, the seamless transition between inside and outside – it all works together to create something that looks and feels right.

For more information, you can:

• Call us on 0191 581 3987
• Email us at sales@northeastbifolds.co.uk
• Use our online contact form
• Visit us at our showroom: North Crescent, Seaham, SR7 8RD

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do aluminium sliding doors last compared to uPVC?

Aluminium sliding doors can last up to 45 years with proper maintenance, compared to 25-35 years for uPVC. Aluminium won’t warp, discolour, or become brittle over time like uPVC can.

Are aluminium doors more energy efficient than timber?

Modern aluminium doors with thermal break technology offer exceptional thermal efficiency that matches or exceeds timber. The thermal breaks prevent heat transfer through the frames, and when combined with quality double glazing, they provide excellent insulation.

What other types of doors do you manufacture and install?

Beyond sliding doors, we manufacture and install a full range of aluminium products. This includes bifolds, internal doors and partition screens, front doors and garage doors.