SLIDING WARDROBE DOORS JARGON BUSTER

We always try to be as clear possible when using industry terminology on the Wardrobe Doors Direct website. However, just in case we have overlooked something our handy jargon buster glossary explains all the main terms we use when describing sliding wardrobe doors. If you think we have missed any, please let us know.

ABEC-5 rating: The ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineering Committee) scale is an industry accepted standard for the tolerances of a ball bearing. There are five classes - 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 - with 1 being the lowest level of required tolerance and 9 the highest level of precision required, e.g. for use in aircraft instrumentation and surgical equipment. Wardrobe Doors Direct's running gear incorporates bearings with an ABEC rating of 5 which allow optimal performance and smooth operation of the sliding door mechanism.

Aperture opening: When we ask for the aperture width and aperture height measurements we mean the horizontal distance from wall to wall (excluding any skirting boards or coving) and the vertical distance from floor to ceiling. Please read the measuring guide for more details about how to accurately measure for sliding wardrobe doors.

Bottom running gear: This refers to the wheels on the bottom of the doors. Our wheels are load bearing i.e. the weight of the doors is transferred through the wheels and on to the floor. Ball bearings ensure the doors open and close with a smooth gliding motion. Our bottom running gear also incorporates an anti-jump mechanism.

Bottom track: The sliding doors run along a length of track. The bottom track fixes to the floor. Our standard bottom track is a 2 runner system which allows the doors to slide one behind the other. One door slides within the front runner, another door slides within the back runner. We also offer single runner bottom track for sliding room dividers and sliding room partitions.

Brush strips: Brush strips are grey coloured strips of material containing a fine pile that attach to each edge of the sliding door and run from top to bottom. They are used to prevent the door edges touching metal to metal and therefore ensure a smooth and quiet operation.

Coloured glass panel: The glass panels for our sliding wardrobe doors are 4mm safety backed and manufactured to BS6206. They are available in a wide range of colours.

End panels: With an end panel you don't have to install your sliding wardrobe across an entire room or alcove. Instead use an end panel to create a 'wall' just where you want it. You can even use two end panels to create a freestanding sliding wardrobe. End panels are 18mm thick x 2620mm long x 610mm deep.

Frame profile / stile: These are the vertical metal sections on each side of the sliding door that form the construction of the door and are also used as the handles to open and close the doors. They are available in a number of colours and wood effects.

Full length panel door: This is a wardrobe door that is made up of one full length panel i.e. with no sub-dividing H-bars.

H-bar: These are the slim metal bars used to create different door designs. On all our door ranges the H-bars are used horizontally, but they can also be used vertically if required to create a unique bespoke design.

Liners: These are used on the floor and ceiling and are required when either the floor or ceiling isn't level. Also use liners when you are installing directly over a carpet or when you want to lay a carpet after installation. If the carpet is fitted after the the doors are installed, place the carpet gripper rods in front of the liners and push the carpet down into the liner.

Made-to-measure: This means exactly what it says - our sliding wardrobe doors are custom-made to fit perfectly within your opening’s width and height.

Measurements: The two main measurements we require to construct your sliding wardrobe doors are:

• the width of the aperture;
• the height of the aperture

Please refer to our measuring guide for more detailed information on how to take these measurements accurately.

Mirror panel: Our mirror sliding door panels are available in clear mirror, bronze mirror and grey mirror options and offer a perfect reflection without any distortion.

Panel: Each sliding wardrobe door consists of an outer frame and a panel contained within that frame. The panel material can be either mirror, glass or wood effect.

Soft-close: Soft closers for sliding wardrobe doors work on the same principle as the soft closers which can be found on many modern kitchen cupboards and drawers. The sliding doors can be opened and closed freely but when the door is nearing the fully closed position a dampener slows the door’s movement and automatically closes it softly and completely.

Soft-close mechanisms can only be used where the doors close against a wall or an end panel but they can be fixed to both sides of the door e.g. on a 2 door wardrobes soft-closers can be fitted on both the top left and top right of each of the doors this is because on a 2 door wardrobe the doors can be soft closed on the open and close movement (4 soft closers in all). On a 3 door wardrobe the middle door can have soft closers fitted on both edges top left and top right, but the rear left door can only have one soft closer on the top left side and the rear right door a soft closer on the top right side. N.B. Soft-closers are only available on the aluminium doors systems.

Split panel doors: Split panel doors refer to a door design that is made up of two or more panels. The separate panels are held together using the H-bars. For example our Modena sliding wardrobe door design features a top and bottom panel either side of a narrow band panel

Strike plates: These are used on the walls at each end of the opening aperture. Use strike plates even when the walls are plumb and straight, to protect plaster and paint finishes. If the walls are not plumb then packers can be used behind the strike plates to make the opening aperture true and square.

Top running gear / top guide wheels: These are the wheels that attach to the top of the sliding doors. When the doors are in place they prevent any lateral movement.

Top track: This is the M-shaped track that fixes to the ceiling, the doors fit inside it. Our top track is a 2 runner system which allows one door to slide within the front runner and another to slide behind within the back runner. The doors are held in position in the top track by the top running gear.

Wood effect panels: Our wood effect panels are sourced from Kronospan and Egger and are 8mm thick.They can be matched to Kronospan and Egger furniture. Just supply the code number and we will do the rest.

If you require any more information about specific terminology or details about our sliding wardrobe doors then please get in touch with our technical team on Freephone 0800 035 1730.