Instructions for self-installation of sliding sliding doors

Types of sliding door designs

Thanks to the ingenuity and ingenuity of manufacturers, the range of sliding products is so wide that even the most picky buyer will find a suitable option. The products are not similar to each other in shape, design, dimensions and the raw materials from which they are made.

When choosing a design, consumers pay special attention to the last distinguishing feature - material . For the production of products the following are used:

• wood;
• glass;
• mirror;
• MDF;
• plastic;
• metal.

Products made from natural wood are, as they say, classics of the genre. They can give a sophisticated look to even the simplest interior. From time immemorial, good wood has been a symbol of wealth and luxury. The high cost of the product is justified by durability, practicality, and beauty.

Wooden sliding doors are durable and reliable in operation

Doors made of glass and mirrors are preferable for small spaces. They visually enlarge the room, making it feel much more spacious. When choosing these types of products, you do not need to worry about their fragility. They are made of high-strength materials that are not subject to mechanical stress.

Products made from MDF are a budget alternative to wood. Over the years, they do not lose their presentable appearance and impress with their light weight and ease of installation. A significant drawback is their instability to moisture. Therefore, such products are not recommended for installation in the bathroom or toilet.

MDF door systems are an affordable analogue to wooden products

Plastic sliding structures are no less popular among consumers. They are resistant to deformation, temperature changes, moisture, and ultraviolet rays. Doors with a protective decorative coating will last for many years without requiring special care.

Sliding systems are also made of metal. Such devices can be found in pawnshops, banks, and jewelry stores. However, the imagination of designers is limitless, so they found ways to use such products in country houses and even apartments. At the request of clients, the metal can be decorated with patterns that give the product lightness and texture.

In private homes you can install metal sliding doors

Installation methods

Sliding systems are divided into two large classes: sliding-folding and parallel-sliding. In folding structures, the doors do not move along the wall, but move to the side and fold in the shape of an accordion or book.

In parallel-sliding systems, the blades move along a vertical surface. According to installation methods there are:

• compartment doors;
• cassette or built-in;
• cascading.

Sliding doors can be single-leaf or double-leaf. The canvases move along a vertical surface on rails in one or different directions. Compartment designs are perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, balconies, and closets.

You can install sliding doors yourself

Installation of this type of product is quite simple and is quite within the capabilities of a novice master. They can be installed both during repair work and after. The main requirements are a smooth opening and the ability of the wall to withstand the expected load.

Along with a huge number of advantages, this system has negative aspects. Considering that the canvases move tightly along the wall, it is impossible to place furniture near it .

In addition, compartment products do not protect the room from sounds and odors. This is due to the design features. To prevent the doors from touching the vertical surface, small gaps are provided on both sides.

Cassette products, like compartment ones, can be made of one or two doors. The peculiarity of this model is the presence of a niche in the wall where the canvases are rolled up. The cassette design provides a high degree of sound insulation due to the fact that it is possible to install seals around the perimeter of the opening.

Cassette sliding door provides high sound insulation

If we talk about the disadvantages of cassette doors, the most significant of them is the installation of the structure only during repairs. The second disadvantage of the model is the installation of a false wall under the pencil case at the expense of additional centimeters of space.

Cascade structures consist of one or more doors and are considered a type of compartment doors. The number of guides corresponds to the number of panels that, when opened, are assembled on one side of the vertical surface.

Cascade door - a type of sliding door

Installation of this model is not easy. It includes many parts that require high-precision installation. Only experienced craftsmen can handle this work, because there is practically no room for error.

Preparatory activities

Taking measurements

This is easy to do if you have a tape measure on hand. For those who are settling into a “new building,” it is much easier. If the house is being renovated, then it should be taken into account that the installation of compartment doors will be much more complicated if the measurements are made inaccurately. And this is quite possible, since the openings must be trimmed.

First you need to dismantle not only the platbands, but also the box. After cleaning this section of the wall, its condition and the need for reinforcement are determined. At this stage, solutions may vary. For example, widen the opening, install a partition made of gypsum plasterboard (multi-layer plywood) instead of the dismantled part of the old one. This will help not only to take the correct measurements, but also to understand how to install the compartment door.

Most recommendations do not take into account that several installation options are possible, so the owner has a choice:

• two small sliding doors;
• one is fixed, the other is mobile;
• how the canvases will be joined - simply close together or overlap each other;
• a wide canvas that slides into the septum cavity. For example, from the same drywall.

Perhaps this is the whole difference in the methods of self-installation of sliding compartment doors. The principle of their functioning is identical - movement along the guides in one direction or another.

Material selection

Everyone has their own preferences in terms of aesthetics, design, and so on, but a number of installation features are worth noting.

• Glass (high strength) or solid wood. What they have in common, in addition to high cost, is significant weight. This means that you will have to install a larger number of carriages and carefully develop the drawing to avoid distortions and snags. Consequently, the installation of doors will be greatly complicated.

• Board materials (MDF, OSV, chipboard). The option is cheaper and easier to install. For each sash (taking into account the low weight), two carriages are enough. In addition, if necessary, you can restore the canvas and eliminate its minor defects without the help of a professional.

• Cloths that are too cheap wear out quickly. When choosing slab materials, you need to pay attention to the density of the products. And it is desirable that they be laminated.
• The top rail is mounted on the ceiling or wall (when the height of the sash is chosen less than the opening). In the latter case, if a wooden block is being prepared, you need to take into account that its side should be approximately twice as thick as the canvas.
• All necessary components (rollers, guides, locks, fittings, fasteners) are supplied with the doors. But if you decide to purchase them at retail, for canvases made independently, you should take with you a developed installation diagram with the dimensions of the opening. The manager will tell you what exactly may be needed and in what quantity (for example, how many carriages should be installed).

Classification by mechanism type

There are two large groups of devices.

Hanging system

A suspended device is a supporting beam to which a U-shaped guide is fixed . It is along it that the door leaf or, in technical terms, a hanging door moves on rollers.

Installation of such a door assumes that the floor covering remains intact. Only on the right or left side of the opening is a roller mounted from below. It rides along a groove made in the lower end of the blade. The main function of the roller is to prevent vertical deflection of the product during movement.

Suspension system design

Installing the suspension system is not difficult. Installation is carried out in several steps:

1. fixing the top guide;
2. installation of a roller device on top at the end of the door;
3. installation of the sash in the guide;
4. fixing limiters designed to prevent the track from derailing.
5. making a groove in the lower end of the product, securing the roller.

Suspended structures perform a purely symbolic role as an interior partition. They do not protect the room from odors and do not provide adequate insulation from noise.

Rail sliding system

Rail structures are used in closets, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. This type of mechanism is represented by two rails located at the top and bottom.

The rail system is characterized by high strength

This design is characterized by durability. The door is firmly fixed in a vertical plane and does not allow smells and noises to pass through . The imperfection of the system is that cleaning is difficult, since the bottom rail periodically becomes clogged.

After weighing all the pros and cons of each system, choose the most suitable one for yourself and begin the step-by-step installation process.

Required tools and materials

When assembling sliding structures, make sure you have the required tools and materials. To work you will need a whole set:

• electric drill or screwdriver;
• hammer drill if necessary to remove the inner layer of the wall;
• Phillips screwdriver;
• overhead strips – 2 pcs. One of them is mounted at the top, and the other is mounted opposite the side in which the valves open.
• anchors;
• self-tapping screws;
• handles for blades – 2 units;
• finishing nails;
• two extras;
• a stand to which the doors are adjacent when in the closed position;
• accessories: rollers, fasteners, aluminum rails;
• canvas. To determine its dimensions, measure the height and width of the opening and add 70 mm to them on top;
• wooden beam with a section of 50x70 mm. The length of the beam is equal to 2 times the width of the sash plus 5 centimeters.

Armed with everything you need, move on to the next block of work.

Installation instructions for sliding doors

Only a true professional can install a multi-leaf structure, mirrored doors or large-weight products. A novice master, having taken on such responsibility, is capable of making many reckless actions, which will later prove costly.

Therefore, if this is your first time encountering sliding structures, start with the simplest option - assembling compartment doors. If you purchase a ready-made kit, you will save a lot of time and effort. The kit contains all the components for installing the sliding system, including fittings.

When starting work, you should be extremely careful and careful. The whole process begins with preparing the opening. The quality of installation depends on how accurately its measurements are made.

The height of the opening is determined in several places: the right, middle and left sides are measured. Its width is measured in the same way . Then check how perpendicular and straight all sides are. When installing platbands, measure the thickness of the vertical surface in several places and in the corners of the opening.

The height of the opening is measured in several places

To avoid mistakes when installing sliding doors with your own hands, carefully follow these instructions. Break the whole process into blocks and gradually move from one to another.

Removing the old door

Empty the box from cashing, remove the old door leaf and door hinges, and then dismantle the box itself. However, you can leave it alone if it holds well and does not interfere with the doors moving freely on the rails.

At the first stage, the old door frame is dismantled

Preparing the opening

If necessary, eliminate the curvature of the walls, seal the gaps and cracks with putty.

The contours of the opening should be smooth, so make sure that there are no bricks or drywall sticking out anywhere.

Check how parallel and horizontal the part of the opening is from the top to the floor covering. The maximum maximum deviation is allowed up to 5 mm. This is also mandatory for the sides of the opening. Here the tolerance is a maximum of 0.5 cm per 2 m .

After dismantling the old box, a new one is installed. It is leveled with small wedges. Adjust the angle of the structure relative to the floor covering and vertical surface by moving or pressing the wedges.

Wooden wedges are used to level the door frame

Secure the box with screws. When working with a screwdriver, you must be extremely careful so as not to damage the product.

Installation of the upper guides

After placing the box, place the door against the opening and mark its top border. Repeat this action again, placing the product in the opening. This is only necessary if the floor is not very level.

Installing the Top Rail

If the straight line turns out to be horizontal, measure 0.7 cm from it and draw another line. A wooden beam will be installed on it in the future. To fasten the beam, take enough screws so that it fits tightly to the vertical surface.

The rail is fixed to the lower end of the beam. First, it is slightly screwed on one side. To accurately determine the location of the self-tapping screw, the thickness of the leaf is divided by two and added from 0.3 to 0.5 cm, which are necessary for the smooth movement of the sashes. Follow the same principle on the other side.

Before fixing the guide, make sure it is straight.

Before the rail is finally fixed, make sure that the gap between the canvas and the wall is sufficient. Also pay attention to the straightness of the guide. No kinks or curvatures should be allowed, otherwise the structure will not work properly.

Assembling carriages and installing limiters

Moving on to installing the sliding door rollers, insert the bolts into the carriages so that they protrude slightly from the hole. Run the carriages into the rails prepared for them and make sure that they move smoothly.

The next step is to install the carriages

Stoppers should be installed at both ends of the guides to prevent the canvas from leaving the rails. In this case, make sure that the rubber shock absorbers are directed inward.

Making a groove at the bottom of the door leaf

To make a recess in the lower end of the sash, step back 1.5 cm from its edge on both sides and drill one hole with a radius of 3.5 mm and a depth of 2 cm. Between them, in the center, select a groove for the guide.

A groove for the guide is selected in the center of the sash

The depth of the recess should be 1.8 cm, and the width should be 0.3 cm greater than the width of the guide, which is a flag or a knife. Taking into account that it is not easy to make a completely even groove, it is recommended to mount two slats or a profile in the shape of the letter “P”.

Fastening to carriages

Moving two millimeters away from the side borders of the sash, fix the fasteners to the carriages exactly in the middle. An important point: the cutouts on the brackets in the shape of a semicircle must be directed towards the wall .

Hanging the door leaf

You won't be able to install the door alone, so call someone to help. Once you find an assistant, start doing the following:

1. Place the product against the rail and connect the carriage bolt on the right with the cutout on the bracket, while lifting the blade.
2. Place the end of the bolt into the hole of the adjusting nut and washer.
3. Lightly tighten the brackets onto the carriage bolts.
4. We proceed to installing the bottom rail into the recess. To do this, move the lower part from the vertical surface, install the canvas horizontally and move it to the open state.
5. Measure the maximum opening length and mark it with a simple pencil.
6. Establish a gap between the sashes and the vertical surface. To do this, move the lower part of the blade and put a mark at the location of the knife. The distance should be no more than 0.5 cm.
7. Remove the canvas and tighten the guide from below to the floor covering with two self-tapping screws.
8. Align the notch in the end of the canvas with the rail and hang the products without screwing the nuts all the way.
9. Set the gap between the floor covering and the product by tightening or loosening the adjustment bolts on the carriages.
10. Secure the nuts without allowing the bolts to turn.

Decorative design

To hide the rails at the top of the opening, platbands are used for decorative purposes. The lock and handle are installed at the end.

Operating principle of the design

When installing compartment doors with your own hands, you should know that their design can be of several types; they differ from each other not only in appearance, but also in the installation method and, as a consequence, in the opening principle. Common elements for all types of structures are wheels on the end part and a rail for moving the blade. There are travel stops on both sides. The system itself turns out to be hanging, due to which a smooth ride and the absence of thresholds are achieved.

Features of installing cassette doors

The above instructions can be used as a guide for installing guide rails. When installing this model, there is no need for decorative finishing. Instead, an additional false wall is installed.

When installing cassette doors, a false wall is installed

The distance between the false wall and the vertical surface is approximately 10 cm. It is calculated based on the thickness of the sash, the gaps on both sides and the size of the profile.

The profile frame does not require reinforcement, since most of the load falls on the wall. But if you want to add rigidity to the structure, then install wooden blocks inside and secure them with self-tapping screws.

Installing sliding doors is not a very complicated process, but it requires certain skills in construction. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to invite a master. This way you can avoid double work in case of an error or save an extra penny.

Types of sliding doors

All sliding doors can be divided into 2 types:

• sliding along the wall;

• sliding and going inward walls.

In turn, compartment doors that go into the wall are divided into:

• non-threshold structures (the door is mounted on an upper suspension);

• structures attached to the lower suspension;
• designs that combine both mounting options (more reliable and convenient in everyday life).

To install the structure, you will need:

1. Tools: screwdriver, hammer drill - if you are planning a more complex repair involving removing the inside of the wall for a doorway, screwdriver, tape measure, level, pencil.
2. Fastening elements and fittings are supplied when purchasing doors, but can also be purchased separately.
3. Door leaf, extensions, platbands, frame.
4. A wooden beam 5 X 5 cm in cross-section - in case you will install a door moving along the wall, as well as anchors for fastening it, self-tapping screws.

Those who have ever done renovations know that before installing interior doors, it is advisable to carry out all the necessary stages of wall finishing work (leveling, puttying). If you want to install doors that slide into the wall, then the sliding system should be installed before finishing. In other cases, the installation of the structure is carried out after the final finishing of the walls, when the final repairs are completed.

Before installing the door, it is important to make sure that the floor and the top side of the opening are parallel and strictly horizontal, otherwise the doors will roll out spontaneously.

It is better to take all measurements in several places. For example, the height needs to be measured on the left, right and middle. Measure the width in the same way. The more accurate the measurement, the fewer problems there will be during installation.