A Contractor’s Guide To Choosing The Right Aluminum Doors For Modern Buildings

Doors provide access, sure. But when customized properly, aluminum doors elevate the style, ventilation and light penetration of modern buildings. Their easy indoor-connectivity along with their robust, weather-proof performance, and dependable security make them a no-brainer for both commercial and residential projects. 

The only hiccup that most contractors face when installing aluminum doors is choosing the most appropriate door type for their project. With options ranging from traditional swing doors to sleek folding doors, sliding doors and more, it is natural to get confused. 

Today’s guide from HaloGlass, top supplier of aluminum door systems in Toronto, attempts to remove some of that confusion. We will list each door type and their intended use so contractors can make the right choice. 

Aluminum Door Types & Their Best Applications 

Below is a list of common types of aluminum doors. Each serves a specific purpose and is best suited for applications that match their design and features. Let us explain. 

•  Swing Doors 

Swing doors are one of the most popular types of exterior and interior entrance doors. Their no-fuss, easy to operate design makes them suitable for almost all types of buildings. In fact, they are a great choice for any space that offers sufficient door leaf clearance. 

Best Application: Swing doors fit well in high-traffic areas. However, their direction of opening, available circulation space, and hardware requirements must be considered in advance to ensure they match the demands of the project. 

• Pivot Doors 

Pivot doors create a strong architectural statement because of their unique opening profile. This makes them a good choice for projects that demand prominent entrances. The fact that they use pivot points around which the door operates makes them rather visually distinct and appealing in their own way. 

Best Application: Pivot doors can be used for modern residences and commercial entrances. In fact, they are good for any project that demands large entrances that contribute to the overall design of the building. 

• Sliding Doors 

Stylish and space-saving, sliding doors are a common sight in retail, commercial, and residential developments. Because the panels of these doors move along a fixed track instead of swinging open on their side, they help in the creation of a more seamless and open connection between two distinct spaces or rooms. 

Best Application: Sliding doors are commonly used to create transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. For this reason, they are commonly found in patios, terraces, and balconies. 

• Folding Doors 

Folding or bi-fold doors are characterized by their folding panels that stack onto either one or both sides of their opening. This enables the creation of wide openings between indoor and outdoor spaces. However, before they are installed, contractors must verify available stacking areas to ensure their operation is hindrance-free. 

Best Application: Folding doors are a popular fixture in contemporary residential projects, hospitality spaces, and other projects that require the maximum opening width possible. 

• Lift & Slide Doors

Perfect for creating large glazed openings, these doors offer smooth operation and expansive views. That said, the most interesting feature of lift-and-slide doors is their opening mechanism. It involves lifting panels slightly off their seals and then folding them onto their sides to access the area on the other side. 

Best Application: Lift-and-slide doors are a common sight in premium residential projects. They can be installed in any space where conventional sliding doors do not provide the kind of performance or scale the project rightfully demands. 

Key Aluminum Doors Selection Criteria

While each door type has its own place, the final selection should be dependent on the following factors:

• Available space 
• Desired opening size 
• Expected traffic 
• Indoor and outdoor connectivity 
• Architectural design of the project 
• Installation complexity and requirement 

Conclusion

There is no universal door type that completely satisfies the requirements of all modern construction projects. Swing, pivot, sliding, folding, and slide-and-lift systems bring their own strengths and styles, which makes them suitable for certain projects and not so much for others. 

HaloGlass offers the finest and widest selection of aluminum door types to cater to the various architectural and operational needs of Toronto construction projects. Contact us to select systems that offer the best blend of aesthetics and performance for your project.