Advice needed - trying to find patio doors with a flat threshold for a wheelchair user

[Stoufer]

Does anyone have any knowledge of any companies that might do patio doors (sliding or just opening doors) that have a completely flat threshold, based in the midlands? Has anyone got one fitted, and how is it going?

We have had a quote from a local doors / windows company, but the lowest threshold they could do was 2.5 cm, which my parent (a wheelchair user) can’t wheel over, even with mini rubber ramps either side. It needs to be an exterior-type patio door, but leads from a dining room into a conservatory, not to the outside. Also looking for opening French doors with a flat threshold, from the kitchen to the garden. Any advice / tips would be very very much appreciated; thanks in advance!

I have bi-folds from a room into a conservatory and the threshold is pretty flat. Would something like that work?

Thanks - we had sort of discounted bi-folds due to possible difficulties with my mum perhaps not being able to open or close the doors by herself (when in the wheelchair), as she has very weak hands; are your bi-folds very smooth to operate?

They are. Also, you can just open a single door - which then opens as a door. So you don't need to open the whole thing every time.

@BlackCatsAreBrilliant we will add those to the list to look at (see also message above, I forgot to respond to you directly). Might be worth going to a showroom and testing them out, to see if she can open them.

Our sliding doors are pretty close to flat (see image). I’m afraid I don’t know the company but perfect Crystal windows might have similar.

almost all window and door suppliers get their frames from 2 or 3 big factories so if you find a frame that works but the company isn’t in your area, ask a local one if they can get it.

Flat or near flat entrances are not ideal for flooding reasons. But regardless - I have a threshold ramp for my mobility scooter into the conservatory. They come in various types and sizes and are easily installed - a workman can do it if you can't manage it yourselves.

This is one supplier https://www.therampfactory.co.uk/threshold-ramps?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16231490769&gbraid=0AAAAAoahrOwCRJeumWtQhKYhODK7qyzUv&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqbBBhCAARIsAJSfZkZcpwQ-XwE1A2Rq8eepYRIBh9o063F9zmvSwWnQbHS8yN2d_XNXnR0aAgYJEALw_wcB to give you an idea of what I mean, but there are others if you google. They are very robust and safe.

@parietal thanks for this, those would be ideal - I will try finding that company.

@PhilippaGeorgiou thanks for this. We have ramps (not fixed ones though), but they take up a lot of space in the dining room and conservatory when in place, and mum can’t wheel herself over them in her manual wheelchair (she could only just manage ramps over 2.5 cm height, and may not be able to do that much longer). It is an ‘internal’ situation (from the dining room to the conservatory), so no risk of flooding / rain inside.

For the kitchen doors we were thinking of building a decked patio to bring it up to the level of the floor in the kitchen, and that wouldn’t cause problems re: flooding either.

My mum has a very sophisticated electric wheelchair but is very nervous about using it at all, and prefers wheeling herself indoors with the manual one, unfortunately, so not likely to be able to drive herself up a ramp.

Cortina cor vision doors can allow a completely flat threshold. Shop around as we got very different quotes for the same doors. You can get a linear drain on the flush patio or decking to help prevent any water ingress - speak to building regs, you can call them for advice

A dd has bifolds with a flat threshold. Had to be flat at the time, toddlers in and out.

@january1244 @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER
thanks so much for the replies - I will definitely look into these. We don’t need a flush drain for the internal one (into the conservatory), and we will have to build the decking up outside the kitchen door, and there are flush drains already on the patio underneath this, so should be okay. Thanks :)

We've just had this done. We had a 6" step from sitting room via doors to conservatory. Old doors had a chill as they used to the external doors.
I use a walker and lifting the walker up step and over threshold was getting challenging. We had 3 quote varying from £9000 to £3000 including raising floor level in conservatory to match that of sitting room. But 2 of the companies were not helpful in suggestions.....the people we went with (Windmill windows in Oakley) were fantastic. They listened to my issue and came up with ideal solution...just what I needed. And they charged the least, were polite, efficient and solved the issue.
We are in Bucks if you want to see.......Maybe out of range for you?

@Theoldwrinkley thanks for this. I will look into the company you suggested (my mum is near Coventry, so may be too far). If you don’t mind me asking, what was the solution for you in the end? Did you manage to get a door type that has a flat threshold? Thanks :)

Yes. It's as good as a flat threshold. A bump, but only enough to spill a little from an over-full cup of tea. I did attach a picture but maybe forgot to add it somehow (I am a bit of a numpty). To say it is life changing is possibly a bit of an exaggeration, but had I realised how awkward our previous arrangement was (and just coped with it) the difference in being able to enjoy the outside, and the conservatory is brilliant.