Sliding Doors FAQs

Within a bonded sliding door, the glass is ‘bonded’ to the frame using adhesives. This process creates a single structure, where the glass and frame become one piece.

Whilst a bonded sliding door is made around the glass, a beaded door is made without the glass. The frames are fabricated without the glass and arrive as an unglazed door. The glass is then secured using glazing beads on the inside to prevent the removal of the glass from the outside.

Bonded sliding doors offer the slimmest sightlines and a seamless all-glass finish with no visible framing, creating a clean, modern aesthetic. They are structurally strong, allowing for very wide and tall panels, and are often regarded as a premium, high-end design choice for contemporary spaces.

While bonded sliding doors offer a sleek and modern appearance, they come with a few drawbacks. The glass cannot be replaced separately, meaning the entire sash must be replaced as one piece. The panels are also heavier, often requiring specialist handling. They can also be more expensive when compared to beaded sliding doors.

Beaded sliding doors offer several practical advantages, including the ability to replace the glass without changing the entire sash, making future servicing or glass changes more affordable.

They are easier to maintain, and the design is a proven, reliable method that offers flexibility if needs change over time. However, they do have slightly thicker frames and are not as minimal in appearance as bonded systems.

The frames may not sit completely flush at the edges, and professional installation is still recommended to ensure optimal performance and finish.

Depending on your style, budget, and product preferences, there are advantages to choosing either a bonded or beaded sliding door.

Within each sliding door category, Aspect Windows offers premium sliding door options that will achieve the high-quality finish you desire.

However, your stylist preferences may dictate which route you choose. If you’re searching for the slimmest possible sightlines to achieve the cleanest, most modern aesthetic, you might want to consider a bonded sliding door, like the Ultraline Slim Sliding Door, for example.

If you are searching for a more traditional design with a thicker frame, or if you’re working within a defined budget as part of a larger project, a beaded sliding door could be more preferable.

The Aluna Slider is available in five standard colours: White (RAL 9016), Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016), and Black (RAL 9005), as well as two dual colour options: Grey out/White in or Black out/White in. For bespoke colours, any RAL colour can be available upon request.

The Aluna Slider can achieve market-leading sash sizes of 2.5m x 2.7m, with a maximum sash weight of 250kg per door leaf.

Yes, the Aluna Slider can be configured with both double and triple track options.

The Aluna Slider can have up to six sliding panes, but must have at least three on each side on a triple track.

Yes, the same Aluna Slider can be used for both configurations (Inline Slider or Lift and Slide System) by utilising different gearing in the system, but the same profile. The biggest difference between the two is the opening mechanism.

You may have also heard an Inline Slider referred to as a ‘straight slide’ or a ‘glide door’. The inline slider will be the most traditional opening method, pulling the door open by the handle. The lift and slide equivalent is opened by turning a handle 180 degrees to lift the door, allowing it to glide across the track effortlessly.

The Aluna Slider can be either double-glazed or triple-glazed, depending on your requirements.

For Aluna Slider, either 190mm or 230mm universal cills are available.

A Mini Lever Handle and thumb turn will be positioned at the midway point of the door to operate the locking mechanism. The positioning of this cannot be altered.

A popular addition to the Aluna Slider is a Cup Handle to assist with the sliding of the door. This can be set at any height. The Mini Lever Handle is not designed to be a means of sliding the door, as a result of the sideways pressure that would be required. If you have specific requirements for your handles and hardware, please discuss this with our sales team for more information on the options available to you.

You can colour-match a cup handle on your Aluna Slider. However, the Mini Lever handle is only available in Stainless Steel.

Yes, Aspect Windows have two Aluna Slider sliding doors on display in our Exeter showroom. We have an in-line sliding door and a lift and slide door side by side, allowing you to test and compare the two to understand which you prefer and which could work best for your space.

Book an appointment to visit today.