Frameless glass doors can divide rooms without making a home feel smaller or darker. They work particularly well in kitchens, dining rooms, home offices, hallways, ensuites and dressing rooms.
To explain what’s involved, we’ve detailed the main steps in planning and installing a frameless glass door.
1. Choose where the door will go
First, decide where you want to position the door and what you need it to achieve.
A frameless glass door can be used to:
- Separate a kitchen from a dining area
- Create a brighter home office
- Divide an open-plan living space
- Form the entrance to an ensuite or dressing room
- Bring more natural light into a hallway or landing
Think about how much privacy the room requires. Clear glass allows most of the light to pass through, while frosted or sandblasted glass provides greater privacy.
You should also check the door’s opening direction. Make sure it can open freely without hitting furniture, walls, radiators or another door.
2. Conduct or arrange a site survey
Frameless glass doors are manufactured to fit a specific opening, so accurate measurements are essential.
During the site survey, you or the installer should check:
• The height and width of the opening
• Whether the walls, ceiling and floor are level
• The position of skirting boards and thresholds
• The construction of the surrounding walls
• The space available for the door to swing
• The required positions of hinges, handles and locks
A professional survey can also identify uneven surfaces and ensure the correct clearances are included around the glass.
All measurements must be confirmed before manufacturing begins. Toughened glass cannot normally be cut or drilled after it has been treated, so every hole and cut-out needs to be planned in advance.
3. Select the right safety glass
Standard glass should not be used for a frameless internal door. Doors are handled regularly and may be exposed to knocks, movement and changes in temperature.
Toughened safety glass is a common choice because it is considerably stronger than regular glass. If it does break, it is designed to fragment into small pieces instead of large, sharp shards. At Forsyth, we use 8mm toughened safety glass that complies with EN 12150-1 as standard.
The correct thickness and specification will depend on the door’s size, position and overall design. This should always be confirmed by a glass specialist.
4. Choose the door fittings
Although a frameless door has a minimal appearance, it still requires specialist fittings to operate safely. These normally include:
- Frameless hinges
- Frameless lock body
- Frameless handle
Each component must be suitable for the thickness, size and weight of the glass. The surrounding wall, floor or frame must also be strong enough to support the fixings.
Choosing the fittings before the glass is manufactured ensures that all required holes and cut-outs are placed correctly.
5. Prepare the opening
Before installation begins, the doorway should be clean, accessible and ready for the new fittings.
This may involve removing an existing door, hinges or frame. Any loose plaster or damaged finishes should also be repaired before work starts.
You or the installer should check that:
• The fixing surfaces are sound
• The walls and floor are sufficiently level
• The opening is clear of obstructions
• Drilling will not affect cables or pipes
• Nearby floors, walls and furniture are protected
Preparing the opening properly helps prevent delays and creates a neater finished result.
6. Mark and install the fittings
The installer will use the approved measurements to mark the exact positions of the hinges, pivots or other fittings.
These fixing points must be precise. Even a small positioning error could cause the door to:
• Hang unevenly
• Catch against the floor
• Leave inconsistent gaps
• Close incorrectly
The fittings should be securely fixed to the supporting structure, but final adjustments may be left until the glass is in place. Drilling and fitting should be completed with care to protect nearby surfaces and avoid damaging the door opening.
7. Position and align the glass
Glass doors can be extremely heavy. A single door can weigh up to 50kg, while double doors can weigh up to 100kg. They should never be lifted or supported by one person.
Professional installers use suitable lifting equipment, protective materials and safe handling methods to move the panel into place.
Once the glass is secured within the hinges or pivot system, its alignment is carefully adjusted. The installer will make sure that:
• The gaps around the door are even
• The glass does not touch the floor or walls
• The door opens and closes smoothly
• The panel remains stable
• The handle and lock operate correctly
Once the door has been checked and secured, the installer can carry out the final checks.
8. Carry out the final checks
Finally, the door should be opened and closed several times to confirm that everything works correctly. The installer will check all fixings and add any required door stops, seals or finishing components.
Once the installation is complete, clean the glass using a non-abrasive cleaning product and a soft cloth. Avoid scouring pads and gritty cleaners, as these could scratch the glass or damage specialist finishes.
Considering a frameless glass door?
Frameless glass doors provide a practical way to divide rooms while maintaining a bright, open feeling throughout your home.
If you’re considering a frameless glass door and would like help choosing the right size, finish and fittings, contact the team at Forsyth.
