Sliding door wardrobes

[newshound]

Am looking to build one in along a bedroom wall, probably 4 m long and 2.4 high. Any advice on good suppliers for the mechanical bits? I'm happy to make my own doors if necessary.

TIA

[Bill]

In message , newshound writes

About 35 years ago I built some with bits from Apex Enterprises in Birkenhead. The doors were still going strong when we moved out of that house 15 years ago.

I was amazed a couple of weeks ago to find myself following a vehicle with their name on it, so I presume they are still going.

I can't recommend them, but if I were looking for that sort of hardware, I'd check them out again. Google doesn't seem to find a website, but does see a phone number.

[Skipweasel]

We've Stanley ready made doors. Provided you take the trouble to level the track at floor and ceiling carefully and don't let the socks build up too much on the lower track, we've found them OK.

I know someone who's used kit from here...

reckons they were very good. Build you own doors, in this case.

[NoSpam]

I've used sliding mirror doors (B&Q or Homebase) and am very pleased with them. As someone else said, just take the time to set-up the tracks and frames correctly.

Dave

[Colin Stamp]

Yonks ago, I used a Screwfix kit. This looks very similar, if not the same:-

could probably butt two kits up together.

It's worked fine for years. The disappointing bits were the tacky looking bottom track and the *very* tacky looking handles (which need to be recessed of course). In the end, I routed out both the handles and the bottom track.

Cheers,

Colin.

[Lobster]

+1

The Homebase version, and also the one at Wickes, are definitely own-brand versions of the ones produced by Stanley (and probably the B&Q ones too, but not certain as haven't looked recently). They are identical (ie interchangeable components). I've fitted several over the years to rented properties, and all still work well and look good, so can thoroughly reccomend them. Last set went in at around Xmas.

See Wickes brochure here: (or )

The Stanley kits all include the doors - they aren't suitable for diy doors due to the way the running gear clips in to them.

I found Homebase to be cheapest, but in my case I'd have had to wait several weeks for delivery so went for Wickes (in stock and price-matched).

It's also possible to get custom-made door sizes - have got a link somewhere (not to Stanley themselves, who don't appear to have a web presence) however these are rarely needed and much more expensive.

My top tips for fitting: The instructions indicate you should screw the bottom rail direct to floor; I've found it far better to lay a length of 4"x1" first, get it level, and then attach to that. I basically build the opening as a

4"x1" frame; ie including the side walls. Also you can buy all sorts silly, very expensive plastic spacers and fittings to fill the gap between ceiling and top rail etc - all a waste of money: just buy the two rails the doors - everything else can be built easily by anyone with half a clue.

hth David

[Skipweasel]

Definitely. I don't know where Stanley get their floors from, but when we fitted ours the floor was like most wooden floors and not suitably level.

I don't know whether you packed yours up, or cut it down - I started with a bit of 4x1 and removed wood from the back until it sat level, which reduced the height above the floor.

[newshound]

Thanks to all, some very useful pointers and advice

Steve

[Lobster]

Think I always packed mine up.

I've just been curious enough to dig out the instructions: the wording is "Fix the Floor tract using double-sided tape or screws. [picture clearly shows it sitting on the floor. And double sided tape?? FFS!] IMPORTANT: Floor track should never be raised on a plinth as this could lead to doors leaving the tracks."

I don't follow that logic at all.. even if by 'plinth' they mean something else. The 4x1 thing also works very well in that it provides a flat edge to butt the carpet up to. Looking at the instructions, I have little doubt that many people will end up laying the track *on top* of existing carpet...

David

[Skipweasel]

Not in our house you wouldn't have. The existing carpet when I fitted the doors was from some time in the past when it was considered acceptable to have what looked like pictures of cabbages woven into the pile.

It went away.