What is a Cavity Slider?

What is a Cavity Slider?

Cavity sliders are all about creating space. The term ‘cavity slider’ refers to the pocket frame, including the track and running gear, installed within the wall framing. The door slides out of the way into the pocket in the wall, creating a solution that leaves clear space on both sides of the wall and the opening, encouraging cohesion between spaces.

A cavity slider is comprised of three separate parts that can be ordered together or separately depending on requirements: The cavity slider (the pocket); the door; and the handle.

Cavity sliding doors are a practical solution for those areas where there is not enough space for a pre-hung door, traditionally used in smaller rooms such as bathrooms, wardrobes and pantries. Cavity sliding doors provide an alternative to a traditional swing door wherever space is of concern. Hinged doors require space for both the door itself as well as the entire path of its rotation, while cavity sliding doors require only a fraction of the space, simply sliding into the wall.

Cavity sliders can be an accessible doorway solution - easier for disabled users and those with reduced mobility to operate and navigate than swinging alternatives in domestic environments. Cavity sliding doors can be used in numerous different applications throughout the entire house, including bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry and walk in wardrobes, as well as between living spaces.

Choosing the right cavity slider for your project may be more important than you think! Most common complaints about cavity slider doors are due to inferior quality products or issues with installation. It is important to choose a high-quality product that will last - remember the frame ends up inside your wall! Whether you’re looking for a discreet door that disappears quietly into the background or are looking to make a bold statement with a feature opening, cavity sliders provide a solution for doorways throughout a project. 

Customising Your Cavity Slider Door System

You can customise the look of your doorway by selecting a door and hardware that match the aesthetic of your project. Doors can be timber, glass, aluminium or a modern contemporary design including a combination of materials. The style of door you choose for your cavity slider is limited only by your imagination. If you go for a timber door, choose one with steel inserts for more stability and less likelihood of the door bowing. Large doors can act as a design feature as well as an opening for dividing large rooms or partitioning spaces such as a living and dining area or living and kitchen spaces.

Door handles are the ‘bling’ on your door. Choose a sliding door handle that has been specifically designed for cavity sliders. The hardware will sit flush, enabling the door to slide completely inside the pocket. It will also include a built-in edge pull on the front of the door to retrieve the door from the pocket.

The advantages of cavity sliding doors are not limited to commercial and residential applications. Improved accessibility and reduced safety hazards are also valuable considerations within the healthcare sector. The ability to eliminate “dead” space is also incredibly useful within hospitality, such as in hotels, where tight spatial constraints are already standard practice, but where hinged doors are still seen as the accepted solution to the separation of rooms.

Information required to specify or order a cavity slider

• Door size or trim size: Standard internal doors in Australia are 2040mm high and either 620, 720, 770, 820, 870 and 920mm wide. Cavity sliders can be manufactured to custom sizes to match a non-standard measurement such as the trim size (hole in the wall) if required.

• Jambs: flat for fitting architraves over the top or grooved for wall linings, usually supplied pine as standard, but custom options are available

• Wall framing and lining thickness, e.g. 90/10 or 70/10.

• Extra features: e.g. soft close, automation, ply panels, H3 components

• Door type/glass type

• Handle style (e.g. CaviLock CL400 Magnetic), Handle function (e.g. Key Locking), Handle Finish (e.g. Satin Chrome or Matt Black)

We have useful information for Builders and Architects on our website. Or you can contact one of our friendly customer service team for more information.