Aluminium sliding doors - minefield!

ChilliBob

Guys, 

Who had recently looked into or had installed some Aluminium sliding doors?

Seems nearly impossibly to get any idea of prices, I found this site detailing the different manufacturers. We were considering Origin for bifolds before we changed to sliders, seems they are mid range, eek! 

https://www.aluminiumtradesupply.co.uk/22803/best-aluminium-sliding-patio-doors/

We actually need two lots, one for the kitchen, sight lines being the biggest concern, and one for the garden room, again, sight lines probably the biggest concern, but the quality can be a notch down since it won't be used as much. 

Any thoughts or experiences much appreciated!

I think the kitchen is about 240 opening and the garden room us tbc ad we need to open it up. 

theonlywayisup

We have Ali sliders and bifolds (I would rather have sliders all round but the bifolds were the first purchase).  Rehau sliders are superb and have lasted (holiday lets) years of abuse. 

Do your research, due-diligence and find good fitters locally. 

Where are you in the country?

ChilliBob

Thank you, yep, we're doing research. It seems really difficult to find places locally to see them, and to find good fitters - just lots of bad reviews.

We're in the South East/London/Essex area.

From what I have found so far I get the impression it's sort of Solarlux Cero, then sunflex, then Origin doors. I haven't come across the Rehau ones you mention, I'll take a look.

My wife got a quote from someone for the Solarlux, we just dug it out (old quote!) for our 2.4m opening they wanted just shy of 12k!

Interestingly my wife's just pointed out my folks have alu sliders... Which are older than me (I'm 40now!) and seem to work fine still!.. 

I think we need to see these Solarlux ones to see what the benchmark is, and see if the others are inferior by much! 

Doozergirl

We use Express Bifolds for all our aluminium windows and doors.  Our whole house and dozens of clients now; efficient service, helpful staff in office and on site, manufactured in Leeds, everything feels of a real quality and so far, after at least five years, there have been no call backs to speak of on any job.  

https://www.expressbifolds.co.uk/

ChilliBob

Thanks for that, I just looked and conveniently there's one just down the road. The reviews are somewhat polarising, a fair few worrying 1 star reviews to go with the 5 star ones. Perhaps your one is better, certainly seems so! 

FYI thats the Romford branch 

NatNat77

We had 6m black aluminium sliding doors installed by express in November, we're really happy with them. We're just down the road from the Romford branch as well, they have them on display so you can see how they look and operate

ChilliBob

Nice, I'll show my wife their site and we will go from there. Yes, I recognise the name now, we exchanged PMs once or twice regarding houses - thankfully we did find somewhere where we said, moved in in December 21 in the nick of time!