Sliding wardrobe doors can be the perfect addition to any home – an improved look, extra storage, and a more organised wardrobe! However, like any change to your home, you’ll likely have some questions about how they work and what to expect during the installation.
In this article, we’ll address some of the most commonly asked questions about sliding wardrobe doors, helping you make a more informed decision.
Common Questions About Sliding Wardrobe Doors
In many cases, sliding wardrobe doors can be installed by anyone, even those with limited DIY skills. Typically, your sliding wardrobe doors will come with an installation guide specific to the product, to help along the way.
One benefit of sliding wardrobe doors is that they’re usually built with easy installation in mind. However, please bear in mind that the complexity of installation can vary.
1. Are Sliding Wardrobe Doors Easy to Install?
In many cases, sliding wardrobe doors can be installed by anyone, even those with limited DIY skills. Typically, your sliding wardrobe doors will come with an installation guide specific to the product, to help along the way.
One benefit of sliding wardrobe doors is that they’re usually built with easy installation in mind. However, please bear in mind that the complexity of installation can vary.
What Tools Do I Need?
Before you begin, ensure you have access to the following items:
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Electric drill
- Screwdriver
- Spirit level
- Tape
- Hand saw
Will my Carpet Floor Affect Installation?
If you have carpet in the room your sliding wardrobe is going into, it can make the installation slightly more difficult.If possible, consider securing the lower track to an 18mm thick spacer and then lay the carpet on both sides.
If the carpet is already in place, you have the option of using a Stanley knife to remove a section, or alternatively, use a 8mm spacer on top. If you opt to use the spacer, ensure the screws are placed closely together to prevent any track related issues.
Should I Hire a Professional?
If you’re not comfortable with installing sliding wardrobe doors yourself, then you should contact the supplier or a local installation expert.
At Forsyth Glazing, if you live in Scotland and require a professional installation, you can request for us to visit your home when purchasing one of our sliding wardrobes. Our expert team will ensure your new wardrobe doors are safely and efficiently installed.
Installation Guides
Your DIY ability, or lack of, should never be a reason not to invest in sliding wardrobe doors.
There’s a wealth of helpful information and guides on the internet to support you throughout the installation process, or you can choose to hire a specialist.
Check out our own installation guide below and see for yourself!
2. Are Sliding Wardrobes Durable?
Another of the many benefits of sliding wardrobe doors is that they are known for their durability, making them a reliable choice for long-term use. They are known to be much more durable than traditional hinged wardrobe doors.
What makes them so durable? Sliding wardrobe doors are typically constructed from high quality materials such as sturdy aluminum, graphite, or steel frames. Their solid construction ensures that sliding wardrobe doors can withstand everyday wear and tear, providing longer lasting reliability.
Proper maintenance, such as regular cleaning and lubrication of the sliding mechanisms, can further extend their lifespan.
Additionally, many manufacturers, including ourselves, often provide warranties for their sliding wardrobe doors, providing even more assurance to homeowners.
Overall, when maintained, sliding wardrobe doors can prove to be a durable and dependable addition to any bedroom.
3. Are They Safe?
Sliding wardrobe doors are considered to be an extremely safe addition to your home. They are designed and constructed with safety in mind – it’s a priority for the manufacturers.
However, there are some issues that can result in some safety concerns.
To ensure you have a full understanding of the potential risks, we’ll discuss some of the indicators of unsafe sliding wardrobe doors and how to prevent them:
Scraping Noises
If your wardrobe doors are making scraping noises when opening and closing, we recommend contacting the manufacturer.
Scraping noises are usually an indicator of worn out or blocked tracks causing the metal to rub together. If you ever hear your door scraping together, take action. It could be an easy fix if caught early!
Jammed Doors
If your sliding wardrobe doors jam when trying to open or close them, contact the manufacturer right away.
Do not attempt to force them open or shut , as this can be detrimental to the mechanism.
Keeping Them Well Maintained
Although they’re built and designed to be long lasting, it’s recommended you take the time to properly maintain your sliding wardrobe doors. The better they’re looked after, the longer they’ll look and feel their best.
Cleaning the glass with a soft cloth and specialist cleaner, made at home or bought from the store, is a great way to maintain the shine.We recommend doing this at least once a month, with the frequency varying depending on usage.
Remove dust from both the top and bottom tracks regularly to reduce the likelihood of blockages. This can be achieved by using vacuum cleaner’s crevice nozzle tool. This will remove any dust or dirt found within the tracks.
4. Do I Need a lot of Space for Sliding Wardrobe Doors?
The amount of space you’ll need for sliding wardrobe doors largely depends on the specific design and dimensions you choose.
While all our wardrobes can be fully customised and made to measure to fit various room sizes, it’s important to ensure that you have enough wall space for the doors to slide open comfortably.
The maximum height of the opening without infill is 2480mm and the maximum width is 5m.
Additionally, you should consider the depth of your wardrobe or closet, as sliding doors require some space within the enclosure for the door panels to rest when fully open. You should have around 620mm for the wardrobe depth.
How Do I Take Measurements?
Don’t worry, measuring for sliding wardrobe doors is a relatively easy job. It’s only made complicated by unlevelled and unparalleled openings.
Visit our comprehensive measuring guide by clicking here. Alternatively, watch our measurement guide video below!
5. What are the Advantages of Sliding Wardrobe Doors?
There a many advantages of choosing sliding wardrobe doors over the alternative hinged door.
Here are three advantages of sliding wardrobe doors:
Maximised Space
Sliding wardrobe doors allows for more space compared to hinged doors.
The space is saved through the sliding action of the door; without the need to pull the door open, sliding wardrobe doors therefore create more space in a room while providing the same level of storage.
More Affordable
Generally speaking, sliding wardrobe doors is a more affordable option compared to hinged doors. This is due to cost of materials used – sliding wardrobe doors tend to be made of metals and plastics, while hinged doors are constructed with more expensive wood materials.
However, affordability is a generalisation of both sets of wardrobes. You may find some hinged doors are cheaper than some sliding wardrobe doors.
Easier to Install
Sliding wardrobe doors are easier to install than their counterparts.
The installation process for both wardrobe doors have their complexities; however, if you have beginner DIY skills and are comfortable using tools, you’ll install our sliding wardrobe doors with ease.
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