The installation of sliding type partitions allows you to quickly change the interior in any room. For the construction of capital partitions, a special permission for redevelopment is required, but the device of sliding structures can be produced without contacting the appropriate authorities, except for cases of installing partitions, instead of the existing capital walls, since such work requires changes to the technical passport of the building.
The use of lightweight and practical sliding partitions allows you to streamline the interior of the apartment, dividing it into functional zones. That is why many happy owners have ideas for installing sliding partitions with their own hands. It remains only to make a choice of materials, listen to tips on manufacturing and you can get to work.
The purpose of the use of partitions
The main purpose of using sliding partitions for a room is:
- division of large rooms into several isolated parts;
- closing the openings of the room, the dimensions of which do not allow the door block to be installed;
- creating from one room a few smaller ones, but not inferior in functionality to the main one.
The large dimensions of the partitions (height more than 230 cm, width more than 180 cm) allow you to arrange the design in almost any room.
However, in spite of all these positive qualities, there are also negative aspects of making do-it-yourself sliding partitions. First of all, the inability to make such structures soundproof is considered a minus. Yes, and not all elements can be made independently, many details will have to be purchased from the distribution network.
Sliding Partition Material
Sliding partitions for zoning the space in the room have two main components - the frame and the canvas. Therefore, for the independent manufacture of partitions, it is necessary first of all to choose a material that will fully meet the aesthetic and functional requirements of the owner.
The use of wooden partitions allows you to turn the living room into two sleeping rooms, during which people will not interfere with each other. Finishing of such a construction can be done in accordance with the interior of the common room (painting, varnishing or wallpapering).
And the do-it-yourself sliding partitions for the veranda will allow you to partially block the room, creating a cozy room, protected from the influx of cold air, to relax in a pleasant cool.
Modern technologies make it possible to produce many other materials that, according to their technical characteristics, are suitable for the manufacture of do-it-yourself sliding partitions.
Material for the frame
Currently, the following materials are very popular in the manufacture of sliding frame structures:
- The plastic frame is a modern design of sliding partitions. For reliability, the plastic profile is reinforced with steel inserts. The laminated surface of the plastic profile allows you to create almost any color and shade. Sealing rubber pads installed inside the frame create good sound insulation. Recently sliding plastic partitions have gained immense popularity.
- Aluminum frame has several advantages: reliable, lightweight, durable. The manufacturing technology of such a material is carried out by extruding an aluminum alloy. The surface of the aluminum material is well painted in any color, which is an important condition for creating the design of the room. The life of an aluminum frame is much longer than wooden structures.
- The wood frame is made from a well-dried wood. This material fits perfectly into the interior of many rooms. Itβs easy to make a sliding partition with your own hands from such a material, both for an experienced carpenter and a beginner, since the tree is easy to process and just attach the main structural details to it.
Fabric material
Practically any sheet material is suitable for the manufacture of do-it-yourself canvas sheets. The main criterion for choosing is the weight of the sheet and its strength.
The most commonly used materials are:
- MDF boards are a lightweight material, so the installation of a sliding structure does not require the use of reinforced fittings. This material is great for partitioning with aluminum and wood frame. Sliding partitions from MDF will perfectly fit into the interior of any room, since they can be coated with natural veneer in any color shade. The only drawback of such structures is the ability of the plates to deform in rooms with high humidity.
- Plastic panels are lightweight. In the performance of plastic can be tinted, translucent, carved, frosted. From a wide variety of types of plastic, various color or plain panels can be assembled that are simply and reliably installed in an aluminum or plastic frame. Sliding partitions made of plastic are perfect even for rooms with high humidity.
- Glass has gained particular popularity because of the ability to carry out many design ideas.
Glass Cloths
Glass is perfect for filling the frame of a sliding structure. This type of filling is used for partitions with aluminum, wood and plastic frame. You can also use large, all-glass panels, but their installation will require the use of special fittings.
The following types of glass are inserted into sliding partitions for zoning the space in the room:
- Tempered glass has high impact resistance. The large weight of such a material requires the use of a reinforced frame.
- Polycarbonate is a lightweight type of glass. It has high strength, but the ability to cloud with time is considered to be its drawback.
- Acrylic glass is also impact resistant material, but scratches can appear on its surface.
- Triplex is a glass coated with a special protective film. Such a canvas crumbles into small fragments upon impact, while ensuring the safety of damage by sharp corners of the glass.
- Fire-resistant glass withstands high temperatures, but is very difficult, so its use for large partitions is inefficient.
It is not recommended to make sliding partitions with your own hands from ordinary glass, since such a material is too fragile.
Types of partitions by design
The design of the sliding partitions involves several door-type panels that are used in modern design to divide the room into several smaller ones or as a replacement for a conventional door.
The separation of designs into types occurs depending on the number of paintings and on the method of fastening the guide rails.
There are only three options for partitions:
- rail;
- folding;
- non-threshold.
Folding books
This type of partition has two canvases that fold like a book when closed. The web moves along a roller mounted in the guide rail. The biaxial design and the upper mount allow the movement of the wings without swinging.
Sashes are connected by flexible strips, springs or loops. The roller mechanism is mounted on the extreme wing and is installed in the guide rail. When using canvas material with a large weight, the lower guide can also be used.
Folding accordions
This type of design involves the use of several canvases that fold when closed. The panels are interconnected by means of springs, loops or flexible strips. If necessary, the design is equipped with a hinged swing leaf.
Partitions of this type are often made biaxial. Sashes can be either symmetrical or of different widths. The sash pins are adjacent to the wall of the sash, and the axis of the upper suspension is located at the other end of the canvas.
Hanging partitions
Such partitions are also called non-threshold, since their fastening is carried out in the upper guide, while the floor covering is completely preserved. The upper part of the structure is mounted in the opening, on the ceiling or on the wall under the ceiling.
Hanging type partitions can have either one leaf or several. If several canvases are used, then they may not be interconnected, with the exception of pre-bonded telescopic-type cusps.
Radius partitions
Unlike coupe partitions, which move along two guides, in a straight line, radius sashes move along a curved line.
By configuration, such systems can be concave, convex, oval, or combined. Heavy flaps are attached below and above, but lightweight canvases can only be attached from above. The number of flaps can be from one to five.
Transformable Systems
The shutters are attached only from above, and there is no floor rail, therefore, such partitions are of the non-threshold type. To adjust the opening width, the partitions can move independently of each other. Sections can be fixed in the required position, and can also be rotated 90-180 degrees.
Holes are made in the floor for fixing, which are closed with special spring plugs to prevent dirt from entering.
If the partition is not used, the sashes are installed in the parking zone.
Japanese partitions
There are two main types of self-made Japanese sliding partitions:
- Fusuma is a lightweight sliding partition, which is thin slats covered with transparent, durable material. Such partitions are an integral part of the Japanese-style interior. Over time, the fashion for such designs swept the countries of Europe and Russia.
- Shoji is a sliding structure that is used as a door. Structurally, it is a slats covered with high-strength paper. The paper was made from bark of bamboo or other paper tree. In European countries, mica or bull bubbles were used instead of paper.
Of course, such sliding systems could not fulfill the function of a major wall and rid the room of kitchen odors, but they perfectly divided the room into several functional rooms.
Installing a sliding partition
Do-it-yourself installation of a sliding interior partition is carried out in two stages. First, they carry out preparatory work, which consists in accurately measuring the dimensions of the opening and determining the free space for the sliding panels.
It is imperative to evaluate the weight of the device, as well as the strength and condition of the mounting base. The construction level needs to determine the parallelism of the ceiling and floor.
For concrete or brick walls, reinforcing the base is not required. But if the walls are made of wood or drywall, you will have to mount an amplifying metal frame with a wall thickness of more than three millimeters. All work on installing the sliding system must be carried out after a complete repair of the room.
After mounting the frame, you need to install all the accessories on the panel (handles, locking devices). On the sides, in extreme places, you need to mount stops that protect the walls from damage. Then you need to attach the rollers to the wings using special grips in the fittings.
The next step will be hanging the paintings on the frame of the sliding partition. After carrying out all the technological operations to install the system, it is necessary to adjust all moving mechanisms. It is necessary that the sashes adjoin each other tightly and without a gap. The movement of the panels is also controlled, it is necessary that the panels move freely, without interference and jerking.
Installing a sliding partition with your own hands is not difficult. In this case, it is absolutely necessary to strictly comply with the technological process of the work. A properly installed partition can not only create several functional zones, but also decorate the interior of the entire room.