Do-it-yourself partition in the room: photo of plasterboard installation

Advantages of sliding polycarbonate partitions

Small mass. Compared to similar glass doors, a polycarbonate partition is much lighter. The less the building material weighs, the easier it is to work with,
Freeing up more space. For apartments with little space, it is most convenient to install polycarbonate partitions, because they open parallel to the wall without taking up extra space,
Safety. Polycarbonate is much stronger than glass, it is more difficult to break, and if it breaks, it will not produce a large number of dangerous fragments,
Lots of decor options. There is a huge range of this material, for every taste and budget. It can have a different texture or color, which is very convenient for those who are particularly picky about details,
Easy to install. Working with polycarbonate is very simple; it does not require long sawing or cutting. Even a beginner can handle it without fear that it will crack like glass,

Thermal protection. The material retains heat well because it has a dense polymer surface,
Possibility to independently choose light transmittance. Polycarbonate sheets have different degrees of light transmittance, it varies from 10 to 80 percent,
UV protection. The material is very convenient in rooms that face the sunny side. This will help avoid furniture fading,
Water resistance. Polycarbonate is not afraid of water, does not deteriorate and does not bubble due to excessive humidity,
Originality. Polycarbonate partitions look much more interesting than ordinary interior doors, but are not inferior to them in their characteristics,
Economical. Sliding doors made of polycarbonate will cost much less than any other materials,

Where can you install sliding polycarbonate partitions?

Polycarbonate doors can be installed almost anywhere. There is a use for partitions in any room.

Shower cabin. A very practical option, it not only protects the floor and walls in the bathroom from water flows, but also significantly saves space. In addition, such a shower will look very beautiful,
Wardrobe room. Polycarbonate will help you save money on buying an expensive wardrobe, add zest to the design of the room and hide shelves with personal belongings from prying eyes,
Any other rooms in the apartment. The partition can be placed in every room, it will fit perfectly into all interior styles and separate rooms from each other,
Terrace. Decorates the exterior of the house and protects it from rain, wind and snowfall,
Office. A polycarbonate partition will also look good in an office, separating workstations from corridors.

Types of sliding compartment partitions

As a rule, a sliding partition is a large canvas made of durable materials that moves to one or two sides and divides the space of the room.

Partitions are divided according to the type of sliding system:

With rail bottom mechanism (support type). As with most sliding wardrobes, the casters rest on a bottom track.
With top-mounted guides (suspended type). Its peculiarity is the absence of a threshold.
Folding or collapsible partition (folding like an accordion or wound on a horizontal or vertical shaft). Such systems save space in length, but take up space in width.

The listed types of interior partitions can be installed with your own hands. Each of them allows you to find the optimal type for a specific interior - just think carefully which solution will be better in functional terms.

Choosing a frame for polycarbonate

In order for the partition to have a holistic appearance and have something in common with the doors, it must be placed in a frame. What material to choose is decided only by the owner of the house, depending on his preferences and the interior of the rooms. But it’s better to clarify in advance what qualities each option has.

Material	Durability	Noise insulation	Price	Weight
Plastic	++	++	+	+
Aluminum	+++	+	++	++
Wood	++	+++	+++	+++
MDF	+	++	++	+

During the installation process, a dilemma may arise about how to fasten the polycarbonate sheet to the base - on both sides or with a solid part in the center. If you need to make a more rigid structure, then it is more advisable to secure it on both sides. If there is no such task, then you can only fasten it in the center.

Types of sliding partitions

Sliding partitions are of three types according to installation method:

With top guide. This system does not have a threshold or parts fixed to the floor (except for the slider on the side of the opening and the stopper).

Top rail system

With bottom guide. A guide profile installed on the floor has aesthetic and functional disadvantages: it visually divides the space, interferes with walking and becomes clogged with debris. But unlike a system with top rollers, you can safely install heavy panels on it.

Bottom guide system

With two guides fixed at the top and bottom. As a rule, such mechanisms are needed to install folding partitions.

A special feature of sliding partitions is that a ready-made factory set of guides and rollers is used for installation. The type of sliding sliding system is selected depending on what kind of canvas needs to be installed. There are two options for making panels for sliding doors:

Frame. This method involves the use of a variety of materials. Sheet material (chipboard, MDF, plastic, glass, polycarbonate) is inserted into the manufactured frame. Roller carriages are attached to the frame. To make it, you either buy a set of special profiles or assemble it from a wooden strip. The frame door came into construction from furniture production, where it was installed in sliding wardrobes. Therefore, sliding doors and partitions with framed doors are installed in systems with a bottom track.

Sliding type frame panels

Frameless. In this case, instead of interior doors, ordinary door leaves are hung into the sliding system. Typically this is a top rail design.

Frameless panels at the entrance to the room
Depending on the method of attaching the sliding mechanism to the canvas, they are either hinged or built-in (mortise). Mounted ones are screwed to the canvas (frame), and for built-in mechanisms it is necessary to prepare landing grooves and recesses.

Methods for opening sliding partitions

There are several options for opening partitions. For beginners, it is better to choose the easiest installation method - the compartment one.

Coupe. The most common method, which has several opening options. Guides are installed at the top and bottom,
Folding. It has several parts that fold into an accordion shape when opened. There are no guides on the bottom. Disadvantage - worse sound insulation due to the presence of a gap at the bottom,
Radial. This door looks very unusual, in the shape of a semicircle. Guides are present on both sides.

Installation stages

To install polycarbonate sliding doors, you will need the following tools: various screwdrivers, a screwdriver, a glue gun, a drill, a jigsaw, a stationery knife, a pencil, sealing tape, screws, bolts, and sliders.

We take measurements. The first stage is especially important; you should pay attention to it and be as precise as possible. It is necessary to measure the height and width of the opening for the door. The base should have smaller parameters,
Cutting the material and installing the frame. If the polycarbonate has a structure in the form of cells, you need to cut off the tape from its edges. The work is done with a jigsaw or grinder. The next step is to seal the edges with sealant and install the profile on top of it. The protective film on the surface is not removed until installation is complete,
Frame assembly. The parameters of the partition should be 1-2 mm less than the parameters of the doorway. The frame must be absolutely flat on all sides so that there is no distortion. The starting material is connected to the frame,
Working with guides. After the final choice of the method of opening the partitions, the guides are secured. The distance from them to the doorway should be from 5 to 10 centimeters. It is better to use a level so that the partition does not move along the guides by itself,
Installation of sliding doors. First of all, you need to install runners on the finished frame on which the door will run. The number of runners depends on the width of the door. Narrow polycarbonate partitions will work well on one pair, while wide ones are better placed on two to avoid jamming. The assembled structure is placed on the guides, first from above, and then, lifting the door, from below,
End of work. At the end, the rest of the fittings are installed on the polycarbonate and a limiter is added to the guides. You can install any handles you like, this will not affect the ease of opening, it is more important that all steps are completed correctly.