Aluminium Folding Sliding Doors Installation Guide
Below is our 6 step guide to installing your aluminium folding doors. If we are
fitting your aluminium folding sliding doors then you do not need to worry about this information.
However if you are purchasing our aluminium bifolding doors to fit yourself,
then obviously this information is for you.
The 6 steps are:
- 1 - Check door before installation
- 2 - Protect property against possible damage
- 3 - Fit doors square and plumb
- 4 - Glazing Instructions
- 5 - Hinge and Roller Adjustment
- 6 - Final Checklist
1 - Check door before installation
Check and double check the size, type and condition of the folding sliding door against the survey size
and against the actual aperature size prior to removing any existing door or starting
installation.
2 - Protect property against possible damage
The installer is responsible for both the internal and external
protection of the property during installation work.
Therefore ensure clean dustsheets are used on the inside to protect any flooring or decorations,
and avoid excessive damage to garden areas by using boards or dustsheets where appropriate.
3 - Fit doors square and plumb
It is essential that the folding doors are fitted square and
plumb in all three axis (horizontal, vertical front to back, and vertical side to side). Failure to fit
the folding doors square and plumb will result in the doors not operating correctly, and no amount of post installation
adjustment will be able to overcome the problems caused by the poor initial installation.
We recommend that a through frame fixing method is used on folding sliding doors as opposed to fixing with a fixing cleat. Fisher bolts or a self tapping masonry fixing (tapcon)
provide a more rigid fixing, which is essential on all doorset.
Polyurethane expanding foam can be used in conjunction with through frame fixing, however expanding foam should never be used solely by itself as a method of fixing.
Corner fixings should be between 150mm and 250mm from the external corner.
Each jamb and cill should have a minimum of two fixings with intermediate fixings being positioned
at no greater than 600mm centres.
4 - Glazing Instructions
Effective glass packing is essential to minimise 'drop' of the doors over time. Treat each folding door as
a conventional hinged door and pack accordingly. Fit location blocks (or glass spacers) between the glass and the stiles of each door
so that the glass cannot move in service. Be careful not to block drainage channels by using bridge packers in conjunction with glazing packers where appropriate.
Once the folding sliding doors have been glazed correctly the wedge gasket can be fitted. Without the wedge gasket the doors will not be weatherproof, and can result in poor mechanical operation.
5 - Hinge and Roller Adjustment
The hinges and the rollers are factory fitted in the correct position. These should not be adjusted from the factory settings.
If the doors need adjusting up or down then the problem usually stems from incorrect glass packing (see previous section).
6 - Final Checklist
After installation please check the following:
- Ensure drainage paths are clear of any debris and have not been sealed over.
- Remove any protective tape immediately after installation.
- Perimeter joints should be sealed on both the inside and outside.
- To attain optimal performance hinges and the locking mechanisms (excluding the cylinder) should be kept free
from dirt and will require lubricating with oil at least twice a year (use 3 in 1 or equivalent oil).
