Sliding doors move along rails, but can the rails be installed anywhere, and do I want to see them or should they be concealed? Find answers to these questions and more in this article.

Today, sliding doors are much more than a simple room divider: they also serve as design elements that can be used to add individuality to an interior and make optimal use of the available space. Sliding doors are unique in that they can be fitted in many different rooms.

Top rails need a reliable suspension frame

The top rails of sliding doors are generally mounted to the ceiling using screws, which requires a strong and reliable suspension frame. Today, however, many residences are built using lightweight materials. Thus, it may be necessary to install, for example, a wooden beam behind Gyproc board to support your sliding doors.

Bottom rails need a smooth floor

The bottom rails of sliding doors can only be installed in straight and level apertures in parquet or concrete floors. They are installed using double-sided tape, silicone adhesive, or small screws. Before installation, the floor must be cleaned thoroughly. If the floor is waxed, the wax must be removed using a special wax remover.

Rails may be visible

If the sliding door is composed of two or more leaves that must be moveable parallel to the wall by more than the width of the leaf, then the floor needs to be fitted with a guide groove or some sort of skirting. The lower end of the door needs to be equipped with small wheels that move along the guide grooves.

Top rails can also be installed in a specially made aperture.

Rails may be concealed

Top-hung sliding door mechanisms can be concealed by installing them in an aperture, or made with a system of glass partition walls. The only limitation is the need for free space equal to the width of the door leaf next to the doorway.

Consider rail maintenance requirements

Sliding doors that move on nylon plastic rollers do not require any special maintenance. If they get dirty, you can just wipe them down with a cloth. If, however, your sliding doors require a floor-mounted guide rail, the groove of the rail will inevitably fill with dirt and debris over time. This means that in order to keep the door moving freely, you will need to clean the guide groove from time to time.

In-wall rails

If your home is still in the design stage, you might wish to consider a pocket (in-wall) sliding door. In addition to saving valuable floor space, a pocket sliding door will also leave your walls completely free. Pocket sliding doors can also be equipped with locks. This greatly extends their applications. Pocket sliding doors can be used as bedroom or bathroom doors or even as double sliding doors.

Hence, if you so wish, the particularities of installing sliding door rails can be an opportunity instead of an obstacle. Ask for expert advice from Klaasmerk to find the perfect, tailor-made solution with the help of our friendly and professional specialists.

Large wardrobes often take up a whole wall, or half of it, which is why they have an important role to play in interior design.

The first question to ask yourself is whether you want your wardrobe doors to be purely practical. If so, you might prefer a more modest design that blends in with the rest of the interior.

If, however, you wish your wardrobe doors to also serve as a separate, distinctive design element, then there are many options to consider, starting with the surface of the doors. For example, sliding wardrobe doors can be decorated with a wood tone finish and a mirror. Sliding doors with a wood tone finish are a great match for a separate wooden wardrobe frame. Klaasmerk offers both lighter and darker wood tones, including Aragona oak, beech, white pine, walnut, etc. Using a mirror in your sliding doors has many advantages. A full-size mirror makes it easier to pick out clothes, style your hair, and carry out any other daily activities that require a mirror. In addition, mirror surfaces fill the room with extra light and make it feel more spacious. Klaasmerk offers a variety of mirrors and glass in both frosted and clear designs.

Frosted glass is one of the trendiest choices of the past few decades. Frosted glass is translucent, which means that you get an idea of how things are laid out on the shelves without even opening the doors. This makes it easier to find what you need in today’s fast-paced world. In modern interiors, tinted or patterned glass can also offer a striking solution. These two types of glass can really make the room shine, filling it with freshness and novelty. Klaasmerk’s offers wardrobe doors in a multitude of colours and patterns, for example, decorated with squares or stripes. But these are far from your only options. With us, you can also put your creativity to work and bring your interior to life with a variety of custom shapes.

A new and exciting solution in wardrobe doors is bamboo. Bamboo-clad wardrobe doors give the room a natural and peaceful atmosphere, and bring a uniqueness of style that is suitable for both country homes and more modern interiors.

If you wish to add a bit of individuality to a room, you might also want to consider design stickers (printed on glass). Printed glass is an excellent way to liven up the interior with pictures and patterns. Klaasmerk offers design stickers in a wide range of colours and sizes. You are also free to use your own photos or patterns. See our catalogue here.

The greater the role that your wardrobe has in interior design, the more highly we recommend turning to Klaasmerk – our experienced staff can suggest options for combining different materials and assist you in finding the perfect solution. With us, your choices are unlimited and ultimately everything depends on your personal wishes and preferences.

We welcome you to Klaasmerk!

Once you have found a suitable sliding door, you will need to decide whether it should be top-hung or bottom-rolling. In this article, we go over some tips on what to base that decision on.

Sliding doors can be categorised based on the mounting system as either top-hung (suspended) or bottom-rolling (additional guide rails on the floor). Usually, sliding doors move between top and bottom rails fitted with rollers which are hidden from sight, and so the average user often has no clue how exactly the system works.

If the ceiling is strong enough to support the weight, specialists prefer to mount sliding doors solely to the ceiling. The wall or ceiling is fitted with a guide rail which houses small carriage-like mechanisms and the door is suspended from the latter. This leaves the floor below clear. To prevent lateral movement, a special stay is used at the bottom.

This is the most common sliding door system, and with single panel doors it works perfectly. The door opens and closes with the help of a guide pin at the bottom of the door, and there is no need to install separate guide rails on or cut grooves into the floor. However, in the case of doors with two or more panels that need to move parallel to the wall by more than the width of the panel, there are some complications. In this case, there needs to be a guide groove or skirting on the floor, and the lower end of the door must be fitted with small wheels that move along the guide channels. This, in itself, is not really a problem, except dirt and debris tend to collect in the grooves over time, which makes maintenance more of a hassle. Thus, the grooves need to be cleaned from time to time to keep the door moving freely.

Where ceiling-mounting is not possible an additional guide rail is installed on the floor. Sliding doors that run on the floor are easier to use, and if you are not bothered by the floor guide rail or groove, this type of system is an excellent choice. The doors are fixed to both the floor and the ceiling, in the top and bottom rails, and glide easily and effortlessly.

The bottom rails of sliding doors can only be installed in straight and level apertures in parquet or concrete floors.

The top-hung sliding door mechanism can be concealed or open, installed in a separate aperture or made with a system of glass partition walls. The only limitation is the need for free space equal to the width of the door leaf next to the doorway.

Wall-hung sliding doors are also easy to use in renovation projects, if you wish to swap your old hinged doors for an attractive sliding system. Klaasmerk’s selection of sliding doors can be found here.

Wall-hung sliding doors are also a beautiful design element in any bathroom.

If your home is still in the design stage, you might wish to consider a pocket (in-wall) sliding door. In addition to saving valuable floor space, a pocket sliding door will also leave your walls completely free. Pocket sliding doors can also be equipped with locks. This greatly extends their applications. Pocket sliding doors can be used as bedroom or bathroom doors or even as double sliding doors.

If you are looking for sliding doors, Klaasmerk is here to offer assistance and find the ideal solution tailored to your personal needs. Request a quote here.

Good windows last for quite a long time. This is particularly true of PVC windows, because, as we know, plastic does not rot or decay, and with proper maintenance their service life can be impressive indeed.

PVC windows are fortified before they leave the production line

The durability of windows is affected by climate, air pollution, mechanical factors, and humidity in indoor air, but PVC windows are highly resistant to all of this. Plastic neither rots nor decays, and is able to withstand even the harshest weather conditions for a very long time. The edges of windows made by Klaasmerk are fortified against potential damage due to dust, moisture, UV radiation, and frost before they leave the production line.

To ensure durability, external sills must also be installed correctly: they help direct water away from the windows and prevent it from getting into the structure. After installation, the edge of the window frame should be covered with a protective finish within a reasonable time.

Window profiles and glazing should never be cleaned using sharp objects (metal putty knives, knives, steel brushes, etc.) – these can cause permanent damage to the surface of the window.

To restore the shine, a bit of polishing is all it takes

Plastic windows do not require painting. Thus, unlike wooden windows, you never have to worry about renewing the paint of PVC window profiles. With proper care you can be assured that a quality PVC profile will never yellow or deteriorate in any other manner. Should your windows begin to fade due to external conditions, all it takes to restore the shine is to polish the sashes and frames every few years or as necessary. Heavily soiled surfaces can be cleaned using a special PVC door and window cleaner.

Maintenance is the key to a long life

If the window is installed properly, regular maintenance is easy – doubly so with plastic windows from Klaasmerk. The most important thing you can do for your windows is to clean the seals and treat them with silicone.

Regular lubrication adds at least a few years to the window and can easily be performed by anyone. Once a year, it is a good idea to open the window and apply a few drops of silicone oil to the little markers on the fittings. All moving parts require lubrication, as they are inevitably exposed to a certain amount of dust. The general rule is: if it moves, apply lube.

Seals also play a significant role in the life of your windows and should be treated with silicone oil at least once a year. Just apply a bit of the oil on a piece of cloth and give the seals a light wipe. Untreated seals wear out faster and are prone to sticking. If the airtightness of your window is compromised, the likely cause is a degraded seal.

Seals need replacing

Every ten years or so, the seals need to be replaced, but there is nothing difficult about this either. In PVC window profiles, the seals are fitted in a special groove, which makes replacement a ten-minute affair. PVC windows use two types of seals: weldable PCE seals and regular EPDM seals. Old seals are replaced with the latter. Both types of seals are durable and weatherproof, but, of course, time still takes its toll. Thus, old window seals manufactured 10–15 years ago are nearing the end of their life. The seals used in modern windows are more durable and will last at least five years longer.

When replacing the seals of your windows, be sure to choose the right thickness, as different profiles sometimes use different seals and the wrong thickness can reduce the airtightness of the window.

Replacing window seals is easy: just grab the end of the seal and tear it off, clean the window aperture and the seal groove of stuck debris with the tip of a knife, wash and dry, then install the new seal.

With regard to seal maintenance, whenever you order a window from us, we will inform you of whether the window uses replaceable seals, what the replacement procedure is, and whether you can do it yourself or need to call in a specialist.

Your PVC window will probably outlive you

Plastic window technology was developed 60 years ago, and the estimated lifespan of plastic is about 100 years. These days, many plastic windows have been installed in buildings for over 30 years, and we have yet to hear of them being replaced due to deterioration. So it is impossible to say how long plastic windows can last in practice, but one thing is certain: with proper maintenance, PVC windows are sure to live through at least one human lifetime.

Furthermore, plastic windows are suitable for everyone. PVC is chemically stable and safe for human health, which means that plastic windows are also suitable for people with allergies.

Just as important as choosing high-quality windows is proper installation. Even windows with the best thermal performance can quickly become a disappointment if installation guidelines are ignored.

Who should I trust when purchasing windows?

The most important choice you can make when looking for new windows is whether to buy from the window manufacturer or a distributor. You probably want your windows to last for several decades. To make sure they do, consider who you buy from carefully. A long warranty is useless if the warranty provider is no longer in business when you need it. Take a hard look at how long the company has been active and what their customers say about them.

Production quality

Before putting any money on the table, find out what you can about the manufacturer’s technological base and experience. Modern windows are constantly getting bigger and consequently heavier. Due to this, their production requires the appropriate technology and strict quality control. If any of your production-related questions are answered vaguely or, worse yet, completely ignored, you are probably better off choosing another manufacturer.

Window selection

The selection of windows available today is wide and there are a variety of modern solutions to choose from. As such, your window manufacturer’s employees should be adequately informed. Pay attention to how well they are able to offer you new solutions based on your exact needs. For example, the functionality and ease of use of doors and windows can be enhanced by various types of fittings, concealed hinges, sliding systems, and many other special solutions. You might also want to ask whether your doors or windows will be installed using mounting brackets or with screws through the frame and why not the other way around. With mounting brackets it is important to check that the quantity and spacing of the brackets matches the manufacturer’s instructions.

For Klaasmerk, our customers’ needs are a priority, and our team always strives to find the best solution for you.

Order your new windows from Klaasmerk.

Half of all buyers prefer plastic windows, which is perfectly understandable, because the characteristics of plastic windows are comparable to wooden windows, except plastic windows are about half as pricey. Plus, if it is often hard to tell at a glance which material the windows are made of, then why pay more?

Plastic windows look authentic

While many Estonians sometimes still prefer traditional wooden doors and windows, more and more people are beginning to compare them with high-performing PVC units before making the final decision. Modern wood imitation plastic doors and windows look so authentic that customers are often unable to tell what material they are actually made of.

Plastic windows are compatible with any architectural style

Plastic windows can be preferable both because of their price and technical features. The technology used for manufacturing plastic windows offers customers a countless number of unique profiles and finishing solutions even for the most peculiarly shaped apertures. Plastic windows can be made in round, arched, and a variety of other custom shapes. Thanks to their modern appearance and timeless design, plastic windows are compatible with all architectural styles. With plastic windows, customers have full creative freedom over shapes and colours, and this all comes at nearly half the price of wooden windows.

Excellent thermal performance and openability

Even in thermal performance plastic windows hold their own against wooden windows: both have U-values between 1.6 W/m²K and approximately 0.8 W/m²K. Both types of window support both air- and argon-gas-filled double and triple glazing as well as both aluminium and warm edge spacer bars, etc. Both are fitted with rubber seals. Therefore, both solutions are on an equal footing with regard to thermal performance.

Plastic and wooden windows also have similar openability, meaning that they use virtually identical fittings. They can both be opened from the top or the sides.

Long service life

As the price differences between the two materials are considerable, it is worth considering whether the windows are needed for a residence built to last several decades or just a temporary staging point. Plastic windows are long-lasting, rot-proof and decay-proof, and easy to maintain to ensure their durability. And – just in case you missed it the first time round – almost twice as cheap as wooden windows. So why pay more!

Estonian window buyers’ preferences as noted by Klaasmerk are as follows:

• plastic-based windows are preferred in 50–55% of cases, mostly due to their lower price;
• wooden and wood-aluminium windows are preferred in 40–45% of cases;
• the market share of aluminium windows is 5%.