Oversized glass sliding doors for luxury home extension

A set of six-pane, 13 metre wide Solarlux Cero sliding doors is the striking focal point of a large home extension at a multi-million pound property in North Yorkshire.

A highlight of the project was working with the architects and homeowners who, like us, care about the detail and getting the job right. Usually glass doors are an after-thought for architects and customers, which means they are added to an existing design and made to fit the space, rather than having something designed around them. But this was one of the rare times we’ve seen the glazing regarded as an integral part of the home extension, and from the very start of the project the design reflected this.

We were involved from the early stages to ensure the glazing was specified and manufactured to the meticulous standards required. The project combined bespoke glazing from both our Solarlux and Reveal Aluminium ranges, demonstrating our capabilities in providing a full glazing package for our customers. As well as being a Solarlux partner and installer, we are a well-established manufacturer of aluminium and alu-clad timber doors and windows.

Our specialist team including structural engineers have worked in the fenestration industry for decades. For this project, we were therefore able to use our experience and expertise to help create a bespoke solution for the homeowner's and architect's requirements. We advised on all aspects of the glazing, from the size of the curtain walling to the mullions on the doors and the wind loads. We looked at everything down to the smallest detail and did all we could to ensure the project was a success. This is the way every design, manufacture and installation process should be!

Oversized sliding glass doors: The products

The architect, Mass Architecture, and their client knew they wanted to use custom made Solarlux Cero sliding doors for their scheme. Both of them appreciated that its quality and engineering results in a superb finish and offers effortless movement of even the largest doors.

Along the front of the extension is a six-pane floor-to-ceiling Solarlux Cero II sliding door spanning a width of just under 13 metres and a height of 3.15 metres, with returning two-pane Cero II sliding doors to the right and left sides. The doors are in RAL colour 7039 Quartz Grey which looks stunning but is also in a textured finish which is highly durable and scratch-resistant.

The customer chose sliding doors rather than bi-folds to allow for almost uninterrupted views of their expansive rear garden from their new kitchen diner. With sliding doors, 66% of the total aperture can be opened up and when fully closed the Cero II's sightlines are minimal.

Alongside the Solarlux glazing, the scheme also featured bespoke glazing manufactured at our Reveal Aluminium factory in Leeds. This included four-pane curtain walling spanning two storeys in the staircase area and other complementary products, all exactly colour and finish matched.

Delivery and installation

The six-bedroom north-facing property stands within an estate of 168 acres in the heart of North Yorkshire’s ‘golden triangle’ of Leeds, York and Harrogate. With magnificent grounds, stables and paddocks up to 10 acres, it was a beautiful location to work in.

However, it also had its logistical challenges due to the restricted access to the property and the size of the glazing we needed to deliver. We usually visit a site once or twice to assess its suitability for the work we are undertaking. This project required several further site visits before the work began because of the complexity of delivery.

We made easy work of the Reveal Aluminium curtain walling using the correct plant, and work progressed really well in preparation for the Solarlux delivery from Germany.

Solarlux delivered everything to site on time and with typical German efficiency. We used a two way Moffett forklift to transport the Cero's huge glass panes down the drive as the entrance wasn't big enough to get the lorry through. The driveway was almost too narrow even for the forklift but we’d taken exact measurements of the width between the gates at the entrance to the driveway, agreeing a full delivery plan with our partners Solarlux in Germany, and managed to squeeze through. Thankfully, our back-up plan of trimming the tree next to the gates and lifting the A frames over the pillars wasn’t necessary!

Sliding door installlation

Ten large panes of glass made up the six-pane Cero sliding doors at the front of the extension, as well as the two-pane Cero sliding doors to the left and right. Despite their size, and with the help of a glass robot and proper planning, we lifted them all into their frames within a single day.

These doors had been manufactured to precision in Germany so it was absolutely crucial that they were installed correctly. We do a lot of work with large panes of glass and the key to a successful installation is to have the correct equipment. This ensures that the job is fully planned beforehand and carried out in the most efficient way.

With the Cero sliding doors specified and incorporated into the design from the start, we were able to install them exactly as originally intended - fully integrated into the building with the frame completely hidden and a built-in mm-perfect level threshold, creating a true 99 per cent glass finish with just the mullions visible between each pane. This would not have been possible as a retro-fit in an existing structure. It shows how important it is, where possible, to consider the glazing as an integral part of the structure during the design stage rather than adding it in later or as an after-thought. Although it takes a lot of planning and intricate detail from the architect to ensure it looks seamless, it's worth it for the aesthetics and usability!

The full package

This project was a great example of how Solarlux by Reveal can work so well for our customers by fulfilling all their glazing requirements.

If you're looking to create a unique space within your home using a bespoke glazing solution, we have the knowledge and experience to ensure it is specified and installed to perfection. In addition, we can custom manufacture all the other glazing components needed to complement your Solarlux centrepiece including windows, curtain walling and balustrades.

We'll look at your project as a whole and create glazing solutions that fulfil your vision as well as being technically correct. We'll assess the critical items in terms of design, interfaces, U values, usability, wind loads, site access and a range of other considerations. This can be particularly useful for complex projects.

And there's no confusion about who to contact for warranty, afterservice or anything else you need!