Ultra wide sliding glass doors to single storey glazed extension

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Charnwood is a new single storey glazed rear extension and kitchen renovation to a turn-of-the-century Victorian country house in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Ultra wide sliding glass doors in Loughborough were selected to create a calm, cohesive connection between old and new, while maximising light and maintaining uninterrupted views to the mature gardens. The sliding doors wrap three sides of the extension and incorporate an open corner configuration with flush threshold detailing to make the new space feel directly connected to the landscape.

Products Used

Slim Framed Sliding Glass Doors

Featured In

Finalist in the Procon Leicestershire Awards under Small Residential Scheme of the Year 2023

Project Partners

Architect: The Art of Building

Contractor: McCane Construction

Interior Design & landscaping: KB Living

Location

Loughborough

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A sympathetic glazed extension to Award Finalist property formerly Towles factory in Loughborough

Design brief for ultra wide sliding glass doors on a period home

From the outset, the owner’s intent was to avoid a traditional orangery-style addition and instead create a minimal, contemporary glazed extension that remains sympathetic to the original Victorian house. After visiting IQ’s flagship showroom and reviewing ultra wide slim sliding systems, the direction was set: clean sightlines, generous openings and a consistent visual language across the new rear elevation. Ultra wide sliding glass doors in Loughborough were central to that approach, allowing the extension to read as a calm, modern insertion rather than a competing façade.

A further requirement was that views through the glazing remain legible beyond dusk. The extension was planned to become the heart of the home, so the relationship to the garden needed to work both in daytime use and in the evening, with external lighting strategies supporting the view rather than creating internal reflections.

Open corner sliding glass doors with flush threshold detailing

Ultra wide slim framed sliding glass doors were selected to envelope three sides of the south-west facing glazed extension. The primary aperture uses a three-track sliding arrangement, with two further oversized sliding systems continuing the same minimal framing language to the remaining elevations. Ultra wide sliding glass doors in Loughborough were detailed with an open glass corner configuration so the corner can clear when the doors are stacked back, expanding circulation and making the terrace connection feel like a natural extension of the room. Flush threshold detailing supports barrier-free movement between inside and out.

Fascia overhang and colour matching to preserve clear views

To protect the clarity of the glazing and keep views readable in wet weather, a double fascia overhang was detailed so rainfall is directed away from the glass. The powder coating to the fascia was colour matched to RAL 7006 (Beige Grey) to sit quietly within the overall palette of the extension.

Beyond dusk, the ornamental copper beech trees were underlit to reduce internal reflections and maintain the experience of the garden view from within the glazed space, supporting the client’s request for uninterrupted sightlines into the landscape throughout the day and evening.

The double faschia design to the glass box extension prevents rain from contacting the glass

Ultra wide slim sliding glass doors wrap around three sides of the glazed extension

Ultra-wide sliding glass doors in Loughborough - Charnwood - IQ Glass

Performance considerations

The extension is designed around daily usability: large clear openings for summer ventilation, flush threshold movement for terrace use, and detailing that helps protect the quality of the view in poor weather. The fascia overhang reduces direct water contact with the glazing, while coordinated external lighting supports comfortable evening use without the garden view being lost to reflections. Together, these choices reinforce the brief for a light, minimal glazed addition that performs as a usable living space across seasons.

Technical details

Slim framed sliding glass doors:
- 21mm sightline
- max tested sliding leaf 4.0m high (8.5m²) up to 500kg
- tested Air Class 4 / Driving rain Class 7A / Wind Class C4/B5
- PAS 24 security
- Open-corner opening angles 65° to 177°
- Typical 3-track base depth 185mm

Charnwood shows how ultra wide sliding glass doors in Loughborough can be used to form a restrained, highly glazed rear extension to a period home, keeping the original house visually dominant while creating a bright, cohesive new living space. This approach is particularly well suited to contemporary rear extensions where the priority is minimal sightlines, open-corner connectivity and clear views to landscaped gardens from daytime through to evening use.

To discuss a similar glazing-led extension to a period, heritage or listed property, contact our technical team for advice on design detailing, specification and installation.