Sliding doors and bifold doors bring the outside in for a luxury self-build home

When Martin Shaw began building his dream home in the Bedfordshire countryside, he wanted the best quality for every element of the build. The picturesque spot, situated on what was a 2.5-acre paddock, is less than 100m from the River Great Ouse. To make the most of the beautiful views, Martin worked with Spectrum Architectural Glazing and Solarlux to create a highly glazed home that brought the outside indoors, while also ensuring adequate thermal performance and wind resistance
for the exposed location.

Having used Solarlux products before, Martin knew about the high level of quality, performance and service he could expect. A combination of Cero III sliding patio doors, Highline bifold doors, and a bespoke glazed panel was used to create floor-to-ceiling glazing across two storeys, providing clear views from the inside while delivering adequate thermal performance in the winter months.

“It’s pure indoor-outdoor living,” says Martin. “Even in winter, we can enjoy the landscape in complete comfort without going out onto the balconies. The Solarlux sliding doors bring the outside in, and every window feels like a picture frame.”

Martin notes that one of the biggest challenges for the project was ensuring that the finished build could withstand the area’s harsh weather conditions. Being just 100m from the river, the home is subject to strong crosswinds across the east and west.
This meant the glazing needed to be carefully planned to withstand wind loading without compromising aesthetics. “Using any other type of product wouldn’t have been suitable for the wind problems we get here,” Martin said.

Solarlux’s precision-engineered aluminium-frame systems offered the ideal combination of strength, weather resistance and elegance.

With engineered steel reinforcement in the handle profile, Cero III sliding doors can support glazing sizes and weights higher than typical system limits. Depending on the configuration and installation, these sliding doors can achieve wind-load resistance up to Class C5, as tested to EN 12210, meaning the glazing remains rigid and stable even under pressures equivalent to winds of around 180 km/h.

Justin Spires, technical manager at Solarlux, explains: “The reinforced handle profiles of the Cero III transfer both the weight of the glazing and lateral wind forces into the frame, rather than allowing the glass to deflect. This is what gives the Cero III system such high wind-load resistance even on very large panels.”

The Cero III profile incorporates a multi-chamber frame design, with internal brush seals and gaskets to manage air and water infiltration. As a result, the sliding doors can achieve watertightness up to Class 9A, as tested to EN 12208, equating to resistance against driving rain at pressures above 600 Pa, or wind speeds exceeding 100 km/h.

Justin continues: “We also use multiple gaskets and brush seals along the profiles to manage water infiltration. That’s why the system can reach Class 9A watertightness, even under driving rain combined with high wind speeds.”

The Highline bifold doors, meanwhile, achieve wind resistance ratings of up to B4 and watertightness up to 9A, providing reliable weather protection.

As a new build, the project needed to meet strict U-value targets for energy efficiency and compliance with Approved Document L (Conservation of fuel and power). The triple-glazed Cero III system can provide Uw values of around 0.8W/m²k and is capable of achieving Class 4 air tightness under EN 12207, indicating minimal air infiltration.

Highline bifold glass doors provide comparable performance, achieving Uw values of around 0.8 W/m²K, and Class 3 airtightness, contributing to year-round comfort and low energy use. Martin praises the thermal efficiency of the Solarlux systems, saying that, combined with the rest of the home’s thermal efficiency and underfloor heating, it has helped to keep energy costs low.“In the winter months, I don’t actually use that much heat,” Martin explains. “The house is so well insulated through the walls and the triple-glazed glass – for the size of the house, it’s quite reasonable to run.”

The combination of Cero III and Highline bifold patio doors on this home helped to achieve weather resistance, as well as a visually appealing, slim-framed aesthetic.

The ultra-narrow sightlines of the Cero III system and minimal vertical frame elements create large, uninterrupted areas of glazing. Each sliding element can reach up to 6m in height or 4m wide, with a maximum panel area of 15m², filling rooms with natural light and framing the outdoor view like a living artwork.

“The sightline on the Cero III sliding glass doors is just 34mm,” explains Justin. “Although even thinner sightlines can be achieved, the Cero III handle profile is reinforced to accept thicker and larger glass panels, without compromising wind resistance,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the Highline bifold doors offer fully operable panels that can be turned and stacked to one side. With no raised threshold, they create a seamless connection to the outdoors, opening the living area directly onto the formal gardens and the river beyond.

One of the most distinctive features of the project is the impressive porcelain front door, weighing nearly a tonne and standing over two metres tall. The original door manufacturer was unable to provide a fixed glass panel large enough to complement the door’s height, meaning the homeowner would have had to compromise with a smaller entrance.

Solarlux worked with Spectrum Architectural Glazing to create a bespoke fixed glass panel that allowed the original door to be used as planned. The result is a striking, perfectly proportioned entrance that showcases the home’s contemporary design while maintaining the clean architectural lines of the facade.

Jeevan Matharu, Marketing Manager at Solarlux, explains: “We worked with Spectrum to supply a bespoke glass panel that could be used next to the large front door, so the client did not have to compromise on their design intent or the impressiveness of the entrance.”

Achieving a cohesive look across all the glazing elements was also a key consideration. “The glazing
also needed to match the rest of the house, and the views that we’ve got. With Solarlux glazing systems, we’ve managed to do that on every window throughout,” Martin explains.

With large areas of glazing and highly efficient thermal insulation, solar gain and overheating can be a concern, particularly in modern homes that feature extensive glazing.

For Martin, who was closely involved in every stage of the build, managing heat build-up has been straightforward. He added blinds to the large fixed and sliding glazed panels, which he says makes a huge difference in keeping the heat out during the summer months. He also installed air conditioning to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the home, even on the hottest days.

Building regulations, such as Approved Document O, place a strong emphasis on avoiding overheating from the design stage. Jeevan explains that there are several ways to reduce solar gain, while maintaining the highly glazed aesthetic and views: “Large expanses of glass bring incredible light and connection to the outdoors, but they do need to be designed with comfort in mind. Building orientation, shading and ventilation all play an important role,” she says.

“At Solarlux, we offer integrated shading systems for our sliding and bifold ranges, giving architects and homeowners flexible ways to control heat build-up while still enjoying the benefits of floor-to-ceiling glazing.”

Cero III sliding glass doors, for example, can be provided with integrated shading systems, with options including a motor-driven sun-protection system with guide rails to fit the frame, or a built-in slatted sun shade. For projects where overheating risk is a concern, glazing with a lower solar factor (g-value) can help reduce solar gain while maintaining high levels of natural light and transparency.

Ventilation is equally important for comfort and compliance with building regulations such as Approved Document F (Ventilation). Jeevan adds: “Properly designed ventilation – whether through trickle vents, openable panels, or fully operable sliding and bifold doors – helps maintain indoor air quality, supports passive cooling and reduces reliance on mechanical systems. It’s a key consideration when designing large, glazed areas.”

Martin says he’s delighted with the finished result and the way the Solarlux products allow him to enjoy outdoor living throughout the year. He also praises the service that Solarlux provided: “Solarlux couldn’t do enough for us. I’d had Solarlux products in my previous home, and even when I had a small issue with birds damaging the seals. It wasn’t a Solarlux problem, but they came and replaced them free of charge,” he explains, adding that this level of service made him confident to choose Solarlux for this project.

As a leading manufacturer of premium aluminium glazing systems, including sliding doors and bifold patio doors, Solarlux has over 40 years’ experience and a network of trusted installation partners. We offer bespoke glazing solutions that combine exceptional design with proven technical performance.

Jeevan concludes: “This project demonstrates how our Cero III sliding patio doors and Highline bifold doors can combine elegant aesthetics with advanced engineering and performance. The result is a stunning, energy-efficient home that makes the most of its countryside setting.” If you’d like to find out more about how Solarlux sliding doors could enhance your next project, please contact our team. We’ll be happy to help.

Photographer: Gavin Percy 

Partner: Spectrum Architectural Glazing

Products: Cero III, Highline