Open the room right up
A folding sliding window is a row of glazed panels that run on an aluminium bottom track. Unlock them and the panels fold against each other and slide to one side, leaving most of the opening clear. Close and lock them again and the room is sealed against wind and rain. Each unit is custom made to the size of your opening.
Where they work well
- Kitchens onto a patio. Open the window over the counter and the patio becomes part of the kitchen.
- Serving hatches. A wide opening between an indoor bar or kitchen and an outdoor seating area makes passing plates and drinks easy.
- Entertainment areas. A lapa, braai room or games room can open to the garden during the day and be closed up at night.
- Walls you want to keep. Where a door would take too much wall or floor space, a window at counter height gives the open feel and keeps the wall below it.
What comes standard
Rubber weather seals come standard on every unit, so the closed window keeps out draughts, dust and driving rain. The aluminium bottom track carries the panels, and the frames are made to your measurements instead of being cut down from a standard size.
Why cheap units fail
Folding windows move more than ordinary windows, so the hardware takes the strain. On poorly made units the parts that give up first are usually the runners, which wear flat or crack and make the panels drag, and the locks, which stop lining up once the panels start to sag. Sound hinges, runners suited to the weight of the glass and a straight, level track decide how long the window lasts.
Looking after tracks and seals
- Vacuum or brush out the bottom track every few weeks. Grit in the track is the main reason panels begin to drag.
- Wipe the track with a damp cloth and let it dry. Do not oil it, because oil holds on to dirt.
- Look at the rubber seals once a year. If they are flattened, split or shrinking back from the corners, they can be replaced.
- If a panel drags or a lock will not engage, stop forcing it. Forcing bends the hardware and turns a small job into a bigger one.
If your existing unit already sticks, our page on sliding door rollers and tracks explains what usually wears out and how it is put right. For a fold-away opening at floor level, see folding sliding doors.
Measuring for a quote
Measure the width of the opening and the height from sill to lintel, and note what sits below it: a counter, a low wall or the floor. Tell us how many panels you would like and which side they should stack to, or leave the layout to us and we will suggest one when we see the opening.
Repairs and maintenance are available for all of these products. See aluminium window repairs.