Sliding door mounted into floor (no step)?

Juzzo · Oct 18, 2008 1:43 pm

Hi, just wondering if a sliding door separating inside from alfresco can be mounted into the floor so there is no step or door track above floor level. We are building and we are looking for a completely flat floor from inside to outside.

Thanks

Paula · Oct 18, 2008 1:47 pm

Hi Juzzo,

If it can be done commercially, I don't see why not residentially.

You may have a hard time convincing a volume builder to do it - I'm sure a custom builder will have no trouble.

When we were talking to a custom builder, they were going to do it for the doors going out to the alfresco for us, and had it on his own home.

Juzzo · Oct 18, 2008 2:17 pm

Thanks Paula, we asked the builder and the consultant says, it can only be done with bi-folds, but I'm sure it can be done somehow with a quality sliding door. By the way I've read lots of your posts and they have been helpful. And that is a gorgeous photo of you.

Thanks a lot

Paula · Oct 18, 2008 3:17 pm

Juzzo

By the way I've read lots of your posts and they have been helpful. And that is a gorgeous photo of you.

Thanks a lot

Thanks

Notice the photo is a bit fuzzy

ECOECO · Nov 01, 2008 11:22 pm

Juzzo

Hi, just wondering if a sliding door separating inside from alfresco can be mounted into the floor so there is no step or door track above floor level. We are building and we are looking for a completely flat floor from inside to outside.

Thanks

Hi

Sliding doors require drainage so the sill must be above ground level to let water in the track drain out - otherwise it will come into your home. There are ways around this, you could have a drain right next to the door, or not have the door exposed to the weather. In either case you must set the door sill (and the drain if you use this method) into the slab.

Hope this helps.

grandslam · Nov 02, 2008 9:51 pm

We had this done for our bi folds. When they poured the slab the section where the bi folds go was recessed down, so when they place the bi folds in, the frame is down and consequently flush with the floor. I dont know much about doors but cant see why they couldnt do this with the sliding track?

ECOECO · Nov 03, 2008 10:08 am

grandslam

...the frame is down and consequently flush with the floor. I dont know much about doors but cant see why they couldnt do this with the sliding track?

Drainage - if the door is exposed to rain then the water will come into the house. Bifold or sliding must have a method of draining the water away from the sill.

Casa2 · Nov 03, 2008 12:34 pm

EcoClassic

grandslam

...the frame is down and consequently flush with the floor. I dont know much about doors but cant see why they couldnt do this with the sliding track?

Drainage - if the door is exposed to rain then the water will come into the house. Bifold or sliding must have a method of draining the water away from the sill.

Could the sill be connected to some sub slab drainage system?

ECOECO · Nov 03, 2008 3:35 pm

Casa2

Could the sill be connected to some sub slab drainage system?

Absolutely Casa - somewhere on this forum back in the dark ages, there is a commercial solution. I have tried and I can't find it. Adequate flow is essential, that is all.

Juzzo · Nov 03, 2008 10:49 pm

thanks guys.

We have an under main roof alfresco and the sliding door will be separating the house from the alfresco area, away from weather. I have seen a long grate drain against the door on the alfresco floor at a Medallion display home, but they had Hafele bifolds. By the way, can anyone give an approx price on Hafele bifolds (HAWA variofolds).

Thanks a lot.

flimsy031 · Nov 12, 2008 6:17 am

EcoClassic

Hi

Sliding doors require drainage so the sill must be above ground level to let water in the track drain out - otherwise it will come into your home. There are ways around this, you could have a drain right next to the door, or not have the door exposed to the weather. In either case you must set the door sill (and the drain if you use this method) into the slab.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

Yes, I agree with you. And, that's why I make sure with my bifold doors have slight slope to provide drainage to my doors.

vandy · Apr 25, 2017 6:57 pm

Our build is in lock up stage. Do you think if the sliding door can be recessed now?

ECOECO · Apr 26, 2017 2:09 pm

I assume you mean into the slab...

Everything is possible, but it will be expensive. I assume bricks and plaster are in place.

If you lower the door then you will need an infill of aluminium above the door on the outside. The inside is just a plastering job and new architraves.

Ed

vandy · Apr 26, 2017 2:21 pm

ECOECO

I assume you mean into the slab...

Everything is possible, but it will be expensive. I assume bricks and plaster are in place.

If you lower the door then you will need an infill of aluminium above the door on the outside. The inside is just a plastering job and new architraves.

Ed

Yes , you are right. It should have been into the slab. Ours is a hebel build and the flooring has been laid out and the door installed.

vandy · Apr 26, 2017 3:59 pm

ECOECO

I assume you mean into the slab...

Everything is possible, but it will be expensive. I assume bricks and plaster are in place.

If you lower the door then you will need an infill of aluminium above the door on the outside. The inside is just a plastering job and new architraves.

Ed

It was a part of variation which builder missed putting in.

ECOECO · Apr 27, 2017 1:13 pm

Then it won't cost you anything... go ahead. It should really have a replacement door as the head height won't align with other windows and doors.

vandy · Apr 27, 2017 4:19 pm

You are right. I wouldn't have thought about the alignment.

vandy · Apr 27, 2017 4:20 pm

ECOECO

Then it won't cost you anything... go ahead. It should really have a replacement door as the head height won't align with other windows and doors.

Thanks ECOECO. I wouldn't have thought about the alignment but I will make sure that it is done.

AJW · Jan 04, 2019 9:40 am

Interesting. My old mum lives in a place that was designed for the elderly and disabled and she has a sliding door with no step to the outside and no special drainage. The slab on the outside comes right to the door.

She has lived there for about 7 or 8 years and not once has had any water issues with the door, and I've been there when there has been heavy rain.

BBJ · Jan 14, 2019 3:07 pm

Hi! Just wondering in this situation what is required for drainage- for example if there is a deck next to the door track can the water not drain away beneath the deck/ between the slats? Here is a picture of what I would like...
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