Practical guide to installing OS-20 Sliding Doors
Alexandra works in the marketing department, and in 2014, bought her first house, which turned out to be somewhat of a ‘project’. Since then, the whole house has needed renovating, which has helped her gain a knowledge of basic DIY, decorating and making the best of a small space.
Our aluminium sliding doors are available in a range of configurations and styles to ensure your customers find the best option for them. Here, we take you through how to install Origin OS-20 Sliding Doors and factors you need to consider during the installation process.
Find out more below:
Assembling the outer frame
To begin with all sections of the outer frame will need to be carefully unwrapped and laid out in a safe area for the frame to be assembled. Stickers are applied to each section of the frame to indicate the position that they are required.
Once safely laid out, chevrons (supplied in the components box) need to be slotted into the inner and outer edge of the profile on half of each corner. There should therefore be two chevrons per corner.
The ends of the bottom track should then be completely sealed using weatherproof silicone as shown in the video. This amount of silicone filling each hole is crucial to prevent any draining water from exiting via the ends of the track once installed.
Find out more about the OS-20 Sliding Door range here.
The corners of the frame can then be connected together using the chevrons in the corners for alignment. We recommend that this process is followed one corner at a time, or you will find they keep pulling away from one another as you align the other end.
Using a 4mm alan key the cleats found in the corners of the profile can be tightened to create a night tight corner joint. It is key to make sure that the two cleats are aligned and that the screw meets the receiving end of the cleat. Excess silicone coming out of the joint is then a very good sign that the joint has been correctly sealed, the excess can then be cleaned from the faces of the profile.
Lastly the cleats in both bottom corners of the frame should be fully sealed, again to prevent any water from bypassing the prepared cleat holes.
This process can then be followed for the remaining 3 corners.
Installing the outer frame
Once assembled, the opening then needs to be prepared for the frame to be fixed in place. This is the process of packing the bottom of the opening and checking it has been levelled right across the width.
If a drip bar is being installed, this will need to be secured to the underside of the bottom track using self-tapping screws along the inner edge of the drip bar. It is vital that these fixing holes are fully sealed to prevent any water bypassing the screw holes.
The outer frame can then be lifted into the opening and sat on top of the packers. These packers are vital to sit the frame away from the opening to ensure it can be correctly sealed and prevent thermal breaching.
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The rest of the outer frame will then need to be packed into the opening to hold it in place, and then be packed accordingly to ensure it is sitting level and square. It may require the use of an acro prop/support post, depending on the width of the door set.
The frame can then be drilled through, and into the opening, to create appropriate fixing holes to secure the frame in place. We recommend at least 4 fixings per jamb due to the weight of the sliding sash units. These fixings should ideally be applied to the inner and outer sections of the frame. The top and bottom should then have fixings prepared no more than 150mm from either end of the track, and then every 900mm from there.
All prepared fixing holes in the bottom threshold then need to be fully sealed with weatherproof sealant. This is to prevent any water draining into the track from tracking their way down through the fixing screws and leaking into the opening.
Fixing screws can then be inserted into the frame to secure the outer frame in position. Throughout, and after this process, the frame should be regularly checked for level to avoid any bowing or twisting. We advise that the top track fixings are only inserted after the sashes have been installed. This is to allow for some movement in the head of the frame when lifting the sashes in place.
Read our complete guide to supplying aluminium sliding doors here.
Installing the sliding sashes
To begin with insert the track runners (provided in components box) into the relevant track channels in the bottom threshold and check that they are running smoothly.
The sliding sashes need to be lifted into the frame by pushing the top of the sash into the top track, and then swinging the bottom in. If this is slightly tight, the top track may need to be lifted slightly to get the sash into the frame. It is best to start with the sash that is in the inside track.
When sitting the sash onto the bottom track runner it is key to make sure it is lifted onto the runner and sat down on to it correctly. This can be tested by sliding the door and checking that it is operating smoothly.
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If the sash needs to be adjusted in height, this can be carried out by lifting the running gear itself. The adjustment can be found on the interlocking side of the sash, using either a long 3mm alan key, or a ratchet extension. The running gear adjustment screw can be tightened to lift the sash, and loosened to drop it, whilst checking the sash is sitting level.
The locking sashes can then be slid to the locking end, and checked against the locking keeps. If the locking pins on the sash are not locating into the keep correctly, the keep can be removed to allow for adjustments. The required keep packers (supplied in components box) can then be applied to the back of the keep, to distance the keeps correctly for smooth operation. The keeps can then be re-fixed into the frame.
Minor adjustments can also be made to the locking pins themselves using a 3mm alan key.
Once all sashes have been installed, and are locking correctly, the fixings can now be fitted into the top track of the outer frame and checked for level.
Why choose to work with Origin?
We use premium quality aluminium billets to ensure the doors are strong, durable and secure. We also offer unbeatably fast lead times to give your customers the desired design they are looking for within good time.
Origin offers customers an extensive range of sliding aluminium doors, ensuring that there's something to suit everyone's needs. Secondly, Origin has a strong focus on its green credentials - products are made using sustainable materials and production methods. Origin aluminium doors also meet the highest possible security standards, meaning that you can feel comfortable about using them in your project. Finally, at Origin, we offer a comprehensive warranty on all our products, giving you peace of mind that the doors will prove a reliable option.
At Origin, we also offer extensive training, and will provide you with support from day one. This includes assistance on specifying a product and providing you with expert product knowledge at any stage. Our friendly customer service team are always happy to help with any issues you come across.
Are you interested in working with Origin? Read more about becoming a trade partner here.