Coach Tim shows you the easiest way to install pocket doors.
A pocket door slides into a metal and wood cage that is installed as the walls are framed. In some older homes, a sliding pocket door was used to create privacy and separate a living room from a parlor or dining room. The door disappeared into the wall when it wasn’t being used, but was convenient to pull out when needed.
The clever design of a pocket door continues to be a space-saving solution in today’s homes, especially in a small bathroom where a hinged door swing takes up too much floor place. The framing hardware within the cavity of the wall allows the door to slide in and out of the wall, a solution in a room where floor or wall space is at a premium.
Although the hardware can work on any type of door — solid or hollow core or flat or paneled — it’s a good idea to buy a pocket door hardware system that includes the door. For a bathroom, consider a door with a mirror on one or both sides, which is a convenient and useful choice.
You’ll find a pocket door frame hardware system for doors 11/8 inches to 13/4inches thick by 6 feet 8 inches high. The hardware is an improvement over the old-fashioned door in the wall because it can’t stick or come off its track.
The system is made of wheel assemblies that roll in boxed tracks that prevent the doors from derailing, floor anchors that maintain proper distance between the jamb studs, and door glides that center the door as it glides into the open position. Pocket door locks, available in several styles and finishes, are designed with a recessed handle that folds flat against the edge of the door when it is in the recess.
Before you begin, read the directions for the pocket door kit you’re installing to get an overview of the process and what’s involved. All pocket door systems are installed in basically the same way, but the manufacturer’s directions should give you the best advice for installing that particular product.