Sliding doors lead time

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We have just started an extension, planned to take 12 weeks. We had planned to source our sliding doors/bifolds ourselves rather than through the builder and have put a (refundable) deposit down on some. The builder is now concerned about the lead time on the doors which is 6-8 weeks from the survey date. I chose the doors because they are supposed to be a quality product (Schuco), look great, level threshold etc and not sure the builders supplier can match that. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and how did you handle it? I know the builder wants to crank through the work but would this really put a stopper on stuff he can do, or are there other suppliers of similar products that can work to shorter lead time? The windows is one area of the extension I don't really want to compromise on.

We’re in a similar situation in that our sliding doors are going to be ready almost a month after the rest of the build is likely to be finished. However it was an area that we weren’t prepared to compromise on, and the builder has adjusted his plan accordingly - I would say about 85% of the extension work will be done pre-doors, then flooring and the final outside and inside render etc will be done ASAP once the doors are in.

Thanks for the reply, that's a good point about the outside, we are having a patio built as well, but perhaps the fact the threshold needs to be completely level could be an issue in terms of starting that before the doors are supplied. I guess I need to discuss in more detail with the builder. I have said I am open to looking at his supplier but I don't even think they do sliding doors...

The doors supplier said that he should be able to do a lot of work around it too, and block the hole up with chipboard until the doors are ready.

That’s exactly what is currently happening with ours - they have also poured the concrete for the patio and planned the door frame for a level which accounts for stones etc for the actual patio when we get around to installing it.
For us, the doors were such a major feature of the room and so expensive that I wasn’t going to compromise with a different supplier.

Terrible photo but you can see into the dark extended part to our boarded up doors here. The rest of that portion of the build has been plastered (last part to do tomorrow), has electrics and the radiators are being fitted this week. The floor screed was poured on Friday.

Ah, I need to get used to living in a cave then for a few weeks by the sounds of it....

Is that your kitchen in view as well? I have been told my kitchen is a similar lead time anyway (Haven't broken this news to the builder yet ) so I don't think he will be able to finish it all off before then anyway.

This is the kitchen as viewed from the cave. Our velux windows are covered up at the moment because the roof isn’t finished yet so that is exacerbating the cave-ness! The doors don’t arrive for another month, but they will be worth the wait.

Oh I meant to say - because the doors are going in the space that was being newly built, we didn’t have a survey as such, the window supplier worked from the architect plans and discussed with the builder to get the agreed sizes. That has helped slightly with the lead time - the bespoke RAL colour we’ve gone for has not 😂

Oh that is going to look great! We have been quoted from architect plans but they need a final survey once we know the floor levels and the final opening. I'm sticking with the anthracite grey, don't want to rock the boat any more

Hah yes I felt in for a penny etc plus I really like the pale grey we’ve gone for 😂