Sliding wardrobes are popular designs used to store a large number of items, clothing and accessories. They are equipped with different mechanisms, and the most popular are models equipped with sliding doors. For their optimal and comfortable use, special roller systems are used. This requires high-quality rollers for sliding wardrobes, which can be made of different materials; in order for the entire mechanism to work, they and other components must be installed correctly.
Advantages and disadvantages
How convenient it will be to open and close the doors depends on the quality and correct installation of the sliding system, and this point directly affects the service life of all furniture. Roller systems are traditional for sliding wardrobes, therefore they are most often found in these designs, and they can be equipped with both upper and lower rollers.
If you choose high-quality rollers designed for wardrobe doors, install them correctly, and adjust them, then the doors will open and close easily, silently, and will last a long time.
The main benefits of using rollers for sliding doors include:
- space saving, since there is no need for space in front of the cabinet, and this is due to the fact that the doors move horizontally;
- attractive appearance allows you to install furniture in any room, and everywhere it will look bright and unique;
- if the adjustment is carried out correctly, then there is no chance that the doors will open or close on their own;
- no significant effort is required to use the cabinet;
- the mechanism itself is considered simple, so installation is often done by hand, and if necessary, you can carry out repair work yourself;
- even if there are drafts in the room, this will not cause spontaneous movement of the sashes;
- it is allowed to connect sliding systems for sliding wardrobes to automatic equipment that allows you to control the furniture using a remote control or buttons on the control panel;
- It is especially important to choose this mechanism for houses in which people who are forced to move in a wheelchair live, since there are no obstacles to their movement;
- modern manufacturers offer to design sliding wardrobe doors in different styles and colors, and due to the fact that they move along one plane, it is possible to apply unique design solutions or zone the room.
The choice of such a mechanism is considered justified due to its many advantages. The disadvantages include the high cost of components, as well as the complexity of adjustment and repair, so if you do not have experience in this area, then it is advisable to entrust the process to professionals.
Review of sliding systems for sliding wardrobes
The sliding system is the most important element of any wardrobe. The quality of the product as a whole depends on its quality and technical characteristics. A poor-quality system can shorten the life of a hallway wardrobe by at least half, turning a luxurious piece of furniture into a useless pile of chipboard. Therefore, the choice of such an important detail should be approached thoughtfully, having studied all the pros and cons of the options offered by the furniture manufacturer. Despite the huge number of manufacturers of sliding systems, today only two types are relevant: a support sliding system and a hinged sliding system. The supporting one involves supporting the doors on lower rollers mounted on the rails of the lower profile. These rollers take all the load on themselves, leaving the upper rollers to perform a purely supportive function.
The suspension system differs from the support system in that the load-bearing function is performed by the upper rollers, and the lower ones do not exist at all. However, high-quality suspension systems, for example Cinetto made in Italy, are very expensive and are not as popular in our country as support systems. In turn, support sliding systems can be divided into frame and frameless. Frameless systems do not use profile edging of the door leaf. This does not allow the production of large doors, since it has to be made thicker to maintain rigidity. Frame systems involve edging with a profile that imparts rigidity to the door; therefore, during production, a material of less thickness is used, and the doors themselves are made in large sizes. Of the manufacturers of support systems, the most famous in our country are the four leaders in the production of furniture fittings of this kind. These are Versal, Aristo, Raumplus and Komandor. Each of them has its pros and cons, but in general they represent the segment of the highest quality sliding door systems sold in our country. Let's consider each of them separately.
Varieties
The videos are presented in several types, each of which has its own purpose and rules of use:
- upper roller - designed to implement a supporting function throughout the entire system. Its correct installation ensures that the door leaf is secured vertically. For a sliding wardrobe, a mechanism is selected that includes not only the rollers themselves, but also rubberized wheels. Rubber is intended to reduce the noise that occurs during the movement of the doors, and also ensures that there is no knocking if the doors swing or significant force is applied to close them. The upper rollers can be spring loaded. They differ in size and structure, and the choice depends on what type of vertical profile is used in the furniture. If there is an open profile, then an asymmetrical roller is installed, and if the profile is closed, then only the symmetrical option is suitable;
- lower rollers - perform a supporting function. They are the ones that are affected by the main load coming from the cabinet door. The mechanism is equipped with a special pressed-in bearing, and its presence guarantees a long service life of the product, as well as high quality construction. An additional shock-absorbing spring is certainly used, thanks to which the sash moves softly and smoothly. The installation of this type of roller must be carried out with special care, since the correct adjustment of the position of the doors relative to the walls of the furniture depends on this. This is especially true if the floor in the room has numerous uneven surfaces.
To install cabinet doors, a different number of rollers can be used; if the weight of the leaf does not exceed 60 kg, then you can use two rollers, and if the weight is more than this indicator, then it is advisable to use 4 pairs. Types of casters further vary depending on the installation method, as certain varieties are mounted into aluminum frames installed along the door, while others are simply installed inside the cabinet.
Upper Lower
Sliding systems Versal
The main advantages of the Versal sliding door system are the perfect accuracy of matching profile dimensions, ease of assembly and the large height of the top rail, which allows you to hide uneven ceilings, and low cost. This system is almost a complete analogue of the Raumplus sliding system, but it is less durable. The profiles are covered with a protective film of various colors, the bottom roller can withstand loads of up to 60 kilograms, and the rigidity of the profile allows the production of doors with a height of up to 3500 millimeters. The design strength is up to 70,000 door openings and closings, or 17-18 years. Using the data from our comparative characteristics, you can make an informed choice in favor of one or another sliding system when ordering a sliding wardrobe. It should be remembered that profiles for systems are manufactured in two versions - aluminum and steel. Steel profiles are much cheaper, however, despite their name, they have a smaller margin of safety than aluminum ones and are more susceptible to corrosion, which entails a shorter service life of the product as a whole.
Manufacturing materials
To install a compartment door, rollers are often used, and they can be made of different materials:
- rubber - considered a soft material, but it is easy to confirm, so the service life of such rollers will not be too long;
- plastic, and a soft variety is used;
- steel, which is certainly covered with special soft linings;
- Teflon with optimal parameters;
- tarmonide, represented by a composite that hardens as it hardens.
Installation is carried out using special sealed bearings. It is the bearings that provide effective protection of elements from dirt, dust or foreign objects.
The bearings themselves can be made of aluminum or steel. Aluminum products are considered the most relevant, as they are represented by reliable and attractive systems. They guarantee smooth and silent sliding of the rollers. Their cost is considered quite high. If steel bearings are chosen, then if the doors are used correctly, they can last a long time while maintaining high strength. When using them, the rollers are located inside the cabinet doors.
Plastic
Teflon
Steel
Rubber
How to choose videos
When choosing accessories you should pay attention to the following factors:
- maximum load;
- materials and workmanship;
- tightness of the adjusting screw washer;
- presence of bearings.
Maximum load
Each roller model is designed for a specific door weight. For the Economy model it is 35 kg, Mebax – 50 kg, OPK – 70 kg. You should not install fittings on the door that are not designed to support its weight. In the future, this will lead to premature wear, constant jamming and other problems.
Manufacturing materials
Only high-quality materials will ensure a long service life for the fittings. A stainless steel case is more reliable and durable than a carbon one. In the second case, you need to pay attention to the quality of the anti-corrosion coating. It should be uniform, without chips or scratches. Rims are most often made of rubber, wear-resistant plastic. Plastic wheels are preferable - they are more durable and wear less. Rubber rims change geometry over time, which leads to doors jamming and popping out of the track. High-quality plastic wheels are resistant to mechanical stress, water, ultraviolet radiation, and household chemicals.
Adjustment screw washer tightness
The adjusting screw washer should not play. Its tight fit ensures precise adjustment for a long time. The washer's play contributes to its greater loosening, horizontal displacement of the door and, as a result, spontaneous rollback and jumping out of the track.
Availability of bearings
Bearings ensure smooth, silent door movement. They are always installed on the lower rollers; the upper ones can be with or without bearings. Sealed bearings are better. Dirt does not get into them, which ensures their durability and reliability.
All rollers and stoppers “have the right to life.” The more expensive and high-quality ones are used to complete luxury furniture, the cheaper ones are used for budget wardrobes. For a furniture manufacturer, it is important to choose a fittings supplier who objectively presents its products, without embellishment.
For Mebax specialists, customer relationships are the main priority. You can buy regular inexpensive Economy rollers from us. The “Mebax” and “OPK” models are higher quality and higher in price.
Mounting options
To install the rollers, you need to decide on the method of their fastening. To do this, it is necessary to properly fix the guides, since they guarantee simplicity, ease and high quality of opening and closing the doors of the structure.
The main elements of the system are the rails, since the sash moves directly along them in a horizontal position. The system additionally includes the following elements:
- roller bearings;
- plugs intended for the profile;
- high-quality seals;
- reliable fasteners;
- other small fittings;
- other devices, and their availability depends on the characteristics of the selected videos.
The mounting depends on the type of system chosen. If an upper sliding system is made, then the doors are suspended on a control located at the top of the opening. The rollers roll along this guide. The lower guide in such a system acts only as a latch along which the rollers move. If the installation is done correctly, there will be no vibrations in the blade. The advantages of such a system include the fact that it gives the cabinet an attractive appearance and also ensures ease of opening the doors.
The lower system has a similar device, but the lower profile acts as a support. The upper rails and rollers are only necessary to ensure that the sashes do not fall out. The combined system involves installing supports at the top and bottom. This option for fastening the sashes is considered the most reliable and high-quality, but installing and adjusting all elements is a complex process.
Thus, fastening can be performed in different ways, which are selected after studying the material of the doors, their weight and other parameters. The choice depends on ease of use and financial capabilities. If you have a cabinet of large size and weight, then it is advisable to focus on installing a combined system.
Rollers for sliding wardrobe doors are mandatory elements if sliding systems are used to open the doors. They can be made from various materials and can also be presented in different types. The safety and comfort of using all furniture depends on their proper selection and installation. At the same time, it is important that no extraneous or loud sounds arise during the operation of the structure. If you carefully understand its structure, installation and regulation can be carried out independently.
Sliding systems Raumplus
The systems of the manufacturer Raumplus are the highest quality of those presented. The mechanism for connecting the profiles completely eliminates their spontaneous connection, which is a definite plus. The maximum load carried by the lower rollers is equivalent to a weight of 60 kilograms, and the maximum door height reaches 3500 millimeters. Thanks to the special design of the lower rollers in Raumplus systems, the position of the doors can be independently adjusted within 15 millimeters. The rigidity of the structure is ensured by a fairly large profile thickness of 1.2 millimeters, which ensures its high strength. All types of profiles are anodized. The thickness of the coating reaches 20-30 microns, which completely protects structures from the influence of oxidative processes. The guaranteed operation of the system is determined for a period of 25 years, or 100,000 openings and closings of each door.
