August 31, 2016

What to Consider When Installing Architectural Glass Doors | Part I

Written by Rebecca Clayton

AMAT-0098-0031
Open corner glass sliding doors on IQ's Malbrook Road Project. Open corner glass sliding doors on IQ's Malbrook Road Project.

The main issues we come across as the world’s largest installer of slim framed sliding glass doors is how to ensure that these specialist sliding glass doors are able to be installed on site to your building program.

At IQ Glass we are always transparent in regards to our lead times to ensure that architects and contractors understand how long it takes for these specialist architectural glazing products to be manufactured and delivered to site.

The lead time for our minimal windows sliding glass doors is 8-10 weeks. This time frame is from the date that we order the materials. That means that the delivery of these items to site will be 8-10 weeks from when the designs are finalised, approved and any site survey is completed.

Glass sliding doors on IQ's Russell Garden Mews Project. Glass sliding doors on IQ's Russell Garden Mews Project.

In some instances waiting 8-10 weeks for the sliding glass doors to be delivered after our surveyor has visited site is not possible in order to keep to your building program, which is often tight.

This issue can normally be combated by ensuring that your building program has taken these lead times into account. In addition, incorporating an element of building tolerance into your architectural design will allow us the flexibility to design and order these specialists architectural glazing elements to theory (ie predetermined sizes).

These tolerance methods could include, (typically on home extensions) allowing the ceiling and soffit to be designed as stepped, this will allow an element of tolerance in the head for us to build the slim aluminium framing into this structure for the most minimal design finish.

Modern architectural designs favour clean, straight lines. However when building in the real world these ideals for continuous ceiling lines from within the existing home through to the extension are often not possible when all construction factors are taken into consideration. For instance on most modern extension projects a continuous ceiling line from the existing property to the new space is not possible due to the structural support required to the upper floors where the new opening has been formed. An additional steel support and bulkhead is normally required, disrupting this clean line. Therefore there is no detraction from design by having a slightly dropped soffit to provide building tolerance.

If you have any worries or concerns about designing to theory sizes, or you want to know how you can design building tolerance into your project, please contact us on 01494 722 880 and we will be happy to assist.

Glass sliding doors on IQ's Ashley Road Project. Glass sliding doors on IQ's Ashley Road Project.