Wardrobe Sliding Doors

Review The Best Uses Of Wardrobe Sliding Doors Over Bifold.

Since its oldest days in the form of a chest and later as an assembly of cupboards, the wardrobe, also known as the armoire, has come a long way. One noticeable change is that it has gotten increasingly bigger, giving way to today’s freestanding walk-in closets and oversized closet rooms. Wardrobe sliding doors are a means to economize on floor expanse. These interior portals are built to glide sideways rather than swing forward or back just like normal flush doors do, thus providing more closet space. Another type of opening known as bi fold, which are single-unit doors made up of several hinged panels that fold in pairs a la accordion garage doors, also leave more storage space and are just as common in closets.

Bypass doors are a type of wardrobe sliding doors in which one panel slides over or behind the other; thus, the two panels are made to bypass one another. Running along a pair of parallel guiding tracks, these panels typically glide in either direction sideways so that they appear to overlap with each other from the front vantage point. Another sliding type are pocket doors, wherein two panels glide sideways until they look like they have disappeared into the wall. In actuality, these panels also guided by a track slide into a compartment or pocket created by two panels of walling. One panel may be fixed and only the other is sliding, called a single door. When both panels are movable, they are called a double door.

Sliding door tracks are either top load or bottom load, both choices available on sale at equally cheap prices in home depots and builders’ warehouses. The advantage of top load tracks is that they support the whole weight of both panels in a sliding type so there is no more need to add bottom guiding tracks to match. However, there is a maximum weight top load tracks can support whereas bottom load tracks can sustain panels of any weight since they are at ground level. As gravity pulls both panels down, their disadvantage is that there need to be additional top guiding tracks to match. A wheel roller system is used to connect panels to ball bearings and glide operably along the support track system.

PVC, aluminum and stainless steel, all self-lubricating and rust-resistant, are common make of top or bottom load guiding tracks and trolleys as well as hardware like hinges, trolley hangers, fixings and wheel ball bearings used in wardrobe sliding doors. Panels may be made from wood, wood veneer, faux wood grain, vinyl, metal, steel, fiberglass, composite, or glass – not unlike in glass sliding entries known as Arcadia doors, which are used popularly in office buildings, commercial and industrial structures. Glass panels may be mirrored, colored or decorative whereas wood panels may be raised or flat. The sliding type is also used commonly in toilets and shower rooms, utility and laundry rooms, balconies and verandas, sitting rooms and dens, patios and lanais, swimming pool areas.