Do-it-yourself coupe doors: how to assemble and install doors
The layout of almost any public, residential buildings implies the presence of entrance and interior door blocks. They perform a number of useful functions, for example, security, soundproof, help create comfortable areas. By the method of opening, oar, folding and sliding structures are distinguished. The latest from the list for a long time are popular. They save space, have an original design. To purchase the most suitable model, or to make, install the door of the coupe with your own hands, you need to understand the existing types, specifics, installation methods.
Such a design is not an invention of recent years, or even centuries. Primitive analogues were used during the existence of Ancient Rome, as evidenced by archaeological finds in the city of Pompeii. Also, the design is associated with Japan. Unlike the ancient Roman prototypes, whose wings were made of wood, in the Land of the Rising Sun during the Heian era, the canvas was a wooden frame covered with silk. Later, they began to paste paper on both sides of it.
A variety of modern design solutions can amaze anyone. There are many models that differ in form, design, size, materials used. But, despite a large number of different options, there are only two functional types of these systems that differ in the way the shutters move:
Parallel sliding. They consist of a roller mechanism, guides, one or two wings, which, when opened, move parallel to a vertical surface.
Sliding and folding. Their doors consist of several sections moving according to the accordion principle.
Sliding doors have a simple design. The basic package includes: door leaf, drywall box, casement movement mechanism. The canvas moves along the wall along the profile on the rollers. Additional elements include motion restrictors, accessories (door handle, lock). The latches do not allow the doors to exit the grooves, move further than the guides. According to the installation method, classic (design provides for the presence of an upper, lower bar) and suspended models (the canvas is mounted only on the upper rail or rod without a lower guide) are distinguished.
Advantages and disadvantages
Unlike classic swing doors, sliding models can be installed in almost any room. This is a great option for small apartments and spacious private houses. They can close not only the doorway, but also be used as partitions for dividing, zoning the room. The main feature is the presence of a movement mechanism. Among the main advantages of the design can be identified:
Attractive appearance;
Easy to use, the doors open effortlessly;
The lack of thresholds in the openings, which is important for young children, people of advanced age, with disabilities;
Useful area saving;
Safe operation, the door does not get wet in the draft;
No damage, scratches on the stretch ceiling, floor and partitions;
Long term of operation;
Simple design, easy repair;
The ability to perform zoning of space, to divide one room into several functional zones;
Visual increase in wall size;
Due to the large assortment, you can choose a suitable model that will complement the existing interior, will bring personality to the layout of a typical apartment.
The disadvantages of sliding models include:
The cost of such products is significantly higher than swing options;
More complicated installation;
Weak sound and thermal insulation, due to loose fit of the canvas to the wall;
Poor odor retention indoors;
The movement of the sash along the rails is accompanied by a characteristic sound, which can interfere with resting people with sensitive hearing;
There is no way to install furniture close to the wall;
It is necessary to periodically remove debris from the rails;
The door requires careful and careful handling.
Types of sliding doors
It is impossible to choose ready-made sliding doors, and even more so to make the product yourself, without understanding the existing types. The classification depends on various parameters.By the number of wings, they are distinguished: single-leaf, bicuspid, tricuspid, structures with a large number of cusps. By location: entrance, interior, living rooms, corridor, staircase, balcony. By the control method: manual, automatic.
The compartment door can be used in almost any room. It is installed even in the doorway in the kitchen, in the toilet, in the bathroom. She can close the closet, niche, dressing room, pantry. Depending on the chosen installation location, shape, design, method of opening doors, all existing models can be divided into four main groups: coupe, radius, cascade, accordion.
Coupe
Sliding doors are the most common among ordinary people. This is a classic version, close to curtains by the principle of action. Doors can consist of one or two wings, but they work according to a single scheme: they move parallel to a vertical surface. The difference lies in the fact that in bivalve models the canvases diverge in different directions. There are suspended structures, as well as options with an upper and lower guide.
Hanging products are the easiest to assemble. For their installation there is no need to dismantle part of the wall. Sashes are fixed on a special bar or rail, mounted on the ceiling or on the wall above the doorway. A box can be used to mask fasteners and guides. In this design, the canvas is in limbo, the distance to the floor is only a couple of centimeters.
Doors with two guides have a more reliable, but complex design. Installation work is complicated by the fact that you need to perfectly fine-tune the upper and lower fasteners, as well as make a long, narrow groove in the floor to install the profile. For these models, the web moves along the rails with the help of rollers, which can be mounted both from above and from below.
Deepening in the floor is a weak point for models with upper and lower guides. Garbage is constantly clogged into it, which interferes with the free movement of the wings.
Radius
By design features, radius doors practically do not differ from standard coupes. The main difference is only in the shape of the valves, which can be convex and concave, round and oval. There are also combined models. This type is characterized by aesthetic beauty, but in most cases it does not save space, therefore, such products are installed mainly in large rooms.
Radius doors are a development of recent years. They do not have straight lines, and, according to experts, visually make any room more spacious. Products are in demand by many designers, they allow you to create a unique, original interior. Doors have a wide scope, they are installed in residential buildings, office buildings, business centers, hotels, shopping and entertainment complexes.
Cascade
The main difference from the classic sliding doors is that each sheet moves on a separate rail. All flaps are connected using a special mechanism and a flexible cable. When exposed to one door, the second starts to move automatically thanks to the cable drive. The slip line can be located both along the wall and inside the doorway. Cascading models do not have a threshold.
The design consists of two or more paintings. When opened, all doors slide in one direction, bumping into each other. When closed, they form a single plane. High smoothness is ensured by a special closer. These systems can be used as full-fledged doors, serve to separate one room, completely close the room, partially cover it to the width of one wing.
Harmonic
Folding products have a fairly simple design, their structure is similar to blinds. The main feature is that the sashes consist of several sections connected by hinges. When folded, the door takes up a minimum of space. One side they are attached to the wall. Top or bottom guides are installed along which the web is delivered during opening and closing.
Popular models with one, two wings. The first type is ideal for rooms with a narrow aperture, when there is no way to install standard swinging, sliding doors. The second option will fit into a room with a wide opening, for example, in the living room. Also, the screen door can act as a partition, dividing the room into functional zones.
Door material
For the manufacture of sliding doors can be used in different materials. The choice of a particular raw material depends on many factors: personal preferences, existing room design, available material resources.
Mainly used for production:
Tree and its derivatives. Products made from natural wood are characterized by attractive appearance, long service life, but are among the most expensive. Wood can act as the main material, combined with other raw materials. Cheaper models are made from MDF, particleboard and chipboard.
Glass. For work, tempered high-impact glass with a protective film or plexiglass is used. Not only the facade is made from it, but also the wings themselves. Glass doors can be completely transparent, have a matte, colored coating.
Plastic. The cheapest option. Such a door is notable for its low weight, wide color gamut, and presentable appearance. Recently, for the production of paintings is rarely used. From it make rollers for the movement mechanism.
Metal.Steel, aluminum are used for the manufacture of guide rails, as well as for the design of the facade. Various alloys are used for the manufacture of accessories, decorative inserts. Due to the large weight in its pure form, metal canvases practically do not occur, they are complemented by lighter inserts.
Types of systems
The main component of the compartment door is a sliding system. It is she who determines the nature of the opening of the valves. And although there are a large number of different models on the market produced by different manufacturers, but they all have an identical structure, which can be either a supporting or suspended one. The difference between the two species is significant. Each of the systems has its own characteristics. In order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each of them, we consider all types separately.
Support systems
By a sliding system is meant a special mechanism for the sashes, which helps to open them by shifting in the same plane. The supporting view includes upper and lower rollers and guide rails, a profile for installing a prefabricated stiffness frame. Steel or aluminum is used for the production of profiles and guides. Steel components are much cheaper, but they are less reliable.
Particular attention is paid to the lower support, it bears the main load on the weight of the door leaf mounted on the rollers. Located below the rail is available in two versions: consignment note, mortise. The first type is easier to install, but the second has a more attractive appearance, but requires the arrangement of a long, narrow groove in the floor. Mounted on top of the rail serves to maintain the movable sections in an upright position.
An important element of the whole structure are roller carriages. The lifetime of the entire system, the ease, smoothness, and silent movement of the leaves depends on their quality. The highest quality carriages are equipped with sealed bearings and have rubber or silicone parts.The main disadvantage of the support mechanism with a lower sliding structure is the accumulation of debris and dust in the guide profile.
Suspension systems
Suspension systems have a fairly simple design, are much cheaper than previous analogues, less reliable. They consist of upper guides moving along the rail of roller mechanisms, locking elements. The door leaf in the upper part is connected to the rollers by means of a special fastening. The guides are rigidly fixed to the wall above the doorway, or to the ceiling.
There are no guides below, no rollers either. There are models with small auxiliary wheels. To increase the reliability of the design, four roller carriages can be used instead of the standard two. This allows the system to hold relatively heavy door leafs. To install these structures, the degree of flatness of the floor is practically irrelevant, since the door "hover" above it.
Install the product on reliable walls that can withstand the load.
Making and installing do-it-yourself coupe doors
Once you have selected the material and design of the door, you can begin to manufacture it. Profile frames, handles and other accessories are purchased strictly according to the size of the door leaf. If the basis of the door in the bathroom is plastic, glass or a mirror, then it is better to buy the doors that are already ready in IKEA, in order to reduce the time for processing complex material. For self-production of a sliding door, a natural wood or MDF plate is suitable.
Necessary materials and tools
The complete door kit includes all the necessary fittings, sliding devices, fasteners. Self-production involves the purchase of materials separately. You will also need to find a block of 50 x 50 mm. With its help, the rail will be mounted on the wall. If the doorway is not provided, the guide is mounted on the ceiling above the door.The timber is fixed to the surfaces with anchor bolts. To work, you will need the following tools:
Hammer drill;
Screwdriver;
Manual frezer;
Small hacksaw for wood;
Set of open-end wrenches;
Bubble level;
Hammer;
Pencil, tape measure.
How to calculate the size
To install the door yourself, you must thoroughly prepare. First of all, it is necessary to make a competent measurement of the opening and draw up a drawing. The door design, the number of paintings, and the method of installation will depend on these numbers. Correct measurements are done in several stages:
Measure the height of the opening at several points with a distance from each other of at least 70 cm. First, measure the height in the center, then on the sides. A height difference of 15 mm is allowed. The minimum value is taken as a basis.
Determine the width. Also measured at different points. The maximum value is taken as a basis. Discrepancy is allowed no more than 20 mm.
Depth measurement. This value will be necessary to install the opening box.
The distance from the opening to the corners. The measurement will show if there will be enough space to freely slide the door leaf.
Hardware for sliding doors
The selection of furniture components for doors is simply huge. Before buying the necessary elements, you need to determine the weight of the structure, the thickness of the wings. For the system to work well, profiles, rollers, stoppers, handles, loops will be required. The installation procedure for any type of hardware will not cause difficulties.
Sliding doors generally go on two guides. For some models, it is enough to set one bar. Only on the top rail moves the cloth for the dressing room. Reliability of the structure in this case is ensured due to the small distance between the walls.
Preparatory work for installation
Before installing the compartment doors, it is imperative to make sure the shape of the opening is correct. The walls should go parallel to each other.At the stage of rough finishing, sliding systems are installed if the door is planned to be opened in a special niche. In other cases, the installation of the system is carried out at the final stage of work.
Preparatory work includes the arrangement of the door space. It will be necessary to make cosmetic decoration of the slopes, install a plasterboard box, hang fasteners. If necessary, it is necessary to align the floor and the door contour, so that the compartment does not interfere with the movement.
Installation, installation and adjustment of doors
The entire installation process consists of installing rails. The top rail can be attached in several ways. More often use a wooden bar or metal corners. The rail is fixed to the ceiling with the help of butterfly dowels.
The installation of the bottom rail may also be different. The guide can be placed at the bottom of the door. In this case, the roller will slide on the floor surface. To completely remove the gap in the lower part, the rails are assembled in a special hidden recess at the end of the sash. Also, the rail can be attached directly to the floor. But in this case, you can not do without drilling flooring.
If a design skew is detected after installation or during operation, adjustments must be made. To do this, slightly tighten the screws at the bottom of the door on the side walls. If the sashes are not adjacent to each other loosely, it is necessary to move the stopper in the desired direction, to direct the stroke in the open position.
Conclusion
The variety of coupe doors is very large. They differ in shape, material of manufacture, design, color scheme. Having studied the features of sliding canvases, their types, methods of fastening, having examined the installation instructions described step by step, you can try to do the installation of the sliding door with your own hands. This will allow you to get invaluable experience, save a significant amount of money in the family budget.
The layout of almost any public, residential buildings implies the presence of entrance and interior door blocks. They perform a number of useful functions, for example, security, soundproof, help create comfortable areas. By the method of opening, oar, folding and sliding structures are distinguished. The latest from the list for a long time are popular. They save space, have an original design. To purchase the most suitable model, or to make, install the door of the coupe with your own hands, you need to understand the existing types, specifics, installation methods.
Content
Features Sliding Doors
Such a design is not an invention of recent years, or even centuries. Primitive analogues were used during the existence of Ancient Rome, as evidenced by archaeological finds in the city of Pompeii. Also, the design is associated with Japan. Unlike the ancient Roman prototypes, whose wings were made of wood, in the Land of the Rising Sun during the Heian era, the canvas was a wooden frame covered with silk. Later, they began to paste paper on both sides of it.
A variety of modern design solutions can amaze anyone. There are many models that differ in form, design, size, materials used. But, despite a large number of different options, there are only two functional types of these systems that differ in the way the shutters move:
Sliding doors have a simple design. The basic package includes: door leaf, drywall box, casement movement mechanism. The canvas moves along the wall along the profile on the rollers. Additional elements include motion restrictors, accessories (door handle, lock). The latches do not allow the doors to exit the grooves, move further than the guides. According to the installation method, classic (design provides for the presence of an upper, lower bar) and suspended models (the canvas is mounted only on the upper rail or rod without a lower guide) are distinguished.
Advantages and disadvantages
Unlike classic swing doors, sliding models can be installed in almost any room. This is a great option for small apartments and spacious private houses. They can close not only the doorway, but also be used as partitions for dividing, zoning the room. The main feature is the presence of a movement mechanism. Among the main advantages of the design can be identified:
The disadvantages of sliding models include:
Types of sliding doors
It is impossible to choose ready-made sliding doors, and even more so to make the product yourself, without understanding the existing types. The classification depends on various parameters.By the number of wings, they are distinguished: single-leaf, bicuspid, tricuspid, structures with a large number of cusps. By location: entrance, interior, living rooms, corridor, staircase, balcony. By the control method: manual, automatic.
The compartment door can be used in almost any room. It is installed even in the doorway in the kitchen, in the toilet, in the bathroom. She can close the closet, niche, dressing room, pantry. Depending on the chosen installation location, shape, design, method of opening doors, all existing models can be divided into four main groups: coupe, radius, cascade, accordion.
Coupe
Sliding doors are the most common among ordinary people. This is a classic version, close to curtains by the principle of action. Doors can consist of one or two wings, but they work according to a single scheme: they move parallel to a vertical surface. The difference lies in the fact that in bivalve models the canvases diverge in different directions. There are suspended structures, as well as options with an upper and lower guide.
Hanging products are the easiest to assemble. For their installation there is no need to dismantle part of the wall. Sashes are fixed on a special bar or rail, mounted on the ceiling or on the wall above the doorway. A box can be used to mask fasteners and guides. In this design, the canvas is in limbo, the distance to the floor is only a couple of centimeters.
Doors with two guides have a more reliable, but complex design. Installation work is complicated by the fact that you need to perfectly fine-tune the upper and lower fasteners, as well as make a long, narrow groove in the floor to install the profile. For these models, the web moves along the rails with the help of rollers, which can be mounted both from above and from below.
Radius
By design features, radius doors practically do not differ from standard coupes. The main difference is only in the shape of the valves, which can be convex and concave, round and oval. There are also combined models. This type is characterized by aesthetic beauty, but in most cases it does not save space, therefore, such products are installed mainly in large rooms.
Radius doors are a development of recent years. They do not have straight lines, and, according to experts, visually make any room more spacious. Products are in demand by many designers, they allow you to create a unique, original interior. Doors have a wide scope, they are installed in residential buildings, office buildings, business centers, hotels, shopping and entertainment complexes.
Cascade
The main difference from the classic sliding doors is that each sheet moves on a separate rail. All flaps are connected using a special mechanism and a flexible cable. When exposed to one door, the second starts to move automatically thanks to the cable drive. The slip line can be located both along the wall and inside the doorway. Cascading models do not have a threshold.
The design consists of two or more paintings. When opened, all doors slide in one direction, bumping into each other. When closed, they form a single plane. High smoothness is ensured by a special closer. These systems can be used as full-fledged doors, serve to separate one room, completely close the room, partially cover it to the width of one wing.
Harmonic
Folding products have a fairly simple design, their structure is similar to blinds. The main feature is that the sashes consist of several sections connected by hinges. When folded, the door takes up a minimum of space. One side they are attached to the wall. Top or bottom guides are installed along which the web is delivered during opening and closing.
Popular models with one, two wings. The first type is ideal for rooms with a narrow aperture, when there is no way to install standard swinging, sliding doors. The second option will fit into a room with a wide opening, for example, in the living room. Also, the screen door can act as a partition, dividing the room into functional zones.
Door material
For the manufacture of sliding doors can be used in different materials. The choice of a particular raw material depends on many factors: personal preferences, existing room design, available material resources.
Mainly used for production:
Types of systems
The main component of the compartment door is a sliding system. It is she who determines the nature of the opening of the valves. And although there are a large number of different models on the market produced by different manufacturers, but they all have an identical structure, which can be either a supporting or suspended one. The difference between the two species is significant. Each of the systems has its own characteristics. In order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each of them, we consider all types separately.
Support systems
By a sliding system is meant a special mechanism for the sashes, which helps to open them by shifting in the same plane. The supporting view includes upper and lower rollers and guide rails, a profile for installing a prefabricated stiffness frame. Steel or aluminum is used for the production of profiles and guides. Steel components are much cheaper, but they are less reliable.
Particular attention is paid to the lower support, it bears the main load on the weight of the door leaf mounted on the rollers. Located below the rail is available in two versions: consignment note, mortise. The first type is easier to install, but the second has a more attractive appearance, but requires the arrangement of a long, narrow groove in the floor. Mounted on top of the rail serves to maintain the movable sections in an upright position.
An important element of the whole structure are roller carriages. The lifetime of the entire system, the ease, smoothness, and silent movement of the leaves depends on their quality. The highest quality carriages are equipped with sealed bearings and have rubber or silicone parts.The main disadvantage of the support mechanism with a lower sliding structure is the accumulation of debris and dust in the guide profile.
Suspension systems
Suspension systems have a fairly simple design, are much cheaper than previous analogues, less reliable. They consist of upper guides moving along the rail of roller mechanisms, locking elements. The door leaf in the upper part is connected to the rollers by means of a special fastening. The guides are rigidly fixed to the wall above the doorway, or to the ceiling.
There are no guides below, no rollers either. There are models with small auxiliary wheels. To increase the reliability of the design, four roller carriages can be used instead of the standard two. This allows the system to hold relatively heavy door leafs. To install these structures, the degree of flatness of the floor is practically irrelevant, since the door "hover" above it.
Making and installing do-it-yourself coupe doors
Once you have selected the material and design of the door, you can begin to manufacture it. Profile frames, handles and other accessories are purchased strictly according to the size of the door leaf. If the basis of the door in the bathroom is plastic, glass or a mirror, then it is better to buy the doors that are already ready in IKEA, in order to reduce the time for processing complex material. For self-production of a sliding door, a natural wood or MDF plate is suitable.
Necessary materials and tools
The complete door kit includes all the necessary fittings, sliding devices, fasteners. Self-production involves the purchase of materials separately. You will also need to find a block of 50 x 50 mm. With its help, the rail will be mounted on the wall. If the doorway is not provided, the guide is mounted on the ceiling above the door.The timber is fixed to the surfaces with anchor bolts. To work, you will need the following tools:
How to calculate the size
To install the door yourself, you must thoroughly prepare. First of all, it is necessary to make a competent measurement of the opening and draw up a drawing. The door design, the number of paintings, and the method of installation will depend on these numbers. Correct measurements are done in several stages:
Hardware for sliding doors
The selection of furniture components for doors is simply huge. Before buying the necessary elements, you need to determine the weight of the structure, the thickness of the wings. For the system to work well, profiles, rollers, stoppers, handles, loops will be required. The installation procedure for any type of hardware will not cause difficulties.
Sliding doors generally go on two guides. For some models, it is enough to set one bar. Only on the top rail moves the cloth for the dressing room. Reliability of the structure in this case is ensured due to the small distance between the walls.
Preparatory work for installation
Before installing the compartment doors, it is imperative to make sure the shape of the opening is correct. The walls should go parallel to each other.At the stage of rough finishing, sliding systems are installed if the door is planned to be opened in a special niche. In other cases, the installation of the system is carried out at the final stage of work.
Preparatory work includes the arrangement of the door space. It will be necessary to make cosmetic decoration of the slopes, install a plasterboard box, hang fasteners. If necessary, it is necessary to align the floor and the door contour, so that the compartment does not interfere with the movement.
Installation, installation and adjustment of doors
The entire installation process consists of installing rails. The top rail can be attached in several ways. More often use a wooden bar or metal corners. The rail is fixed to the ceiling with the help of butterfly dowels.
The installation of the bottom rail may also be different. The guide can be placed at the bottom of the door. In this case, the roller will slide on the floor surface. To completely remove the gap in the lower part, the rails are assembled in a special hidden recess at the end of the sash. Also, the rail can be attached directly to the floor. But in this case, you can not do without drilling flooring.
If a design skew is detected after installation or during operation, adjustments must be made. To do this, slightly tighten the screws at the bottom of the door on the side walls. If the sashes are not adjacent to each other loosely, it is necessary to move the stopper in the desired direction, to direct the stroke in the open position.
Conclusion
The variety of coupe doors is very large. They differ in shape, material of manufacture, design, color scheme. Having studied the features of sliding canvases, their types, methods of fastening, having examined the installation instructions described step by step, you can try to do the installation of the sliding door with your own hands. This will allow you to get invaluable experience, save a significant amount of money in the family budget.