How does a pocket door work?

A pocket door is a sliding door that, when fully open, disappears into a compartment in the adjacent wall. Pocket doors are used for architectural effect, or when there is no room for the swing of a hinged door. They can travel on rollers suspended from an overhead track or tracks or guides along the floor.

Likewise, can you make any door a pocket door?

As long as the measurement is correct for the pocket opening, the door is the right thickness, and the door hasn't been pre-drilled for a standard door lockset or hinges, you can use any kind of door for a pocket door.

Also, how do you install a pocket door in an existing wall? To install a pocket door, start by removing the existing door and the drywall on one side of the wall. Then cut the exposed studs to make room for the new framing. Next, install the slider track using the rails that came in your pocket door kit. Be sure to screw the brackets into the studs!

People also ask, how are pocket doors installed?

attaching hanging brackets to top of door. Attach a Header.
attach split studs to floor and header. Attach the Split Studs.
DTTR-209_Brackets-on-pocket-door_s4x3. Install the Brackets.
attach door to the wheels. Attach the Door.
cut and install trim around door. Install the Door Pulls.
Hang New Drywall.
Install the Trim.

Are pocket doors good for bathrooms?

The pocket door is an ideal solution for a tight bathroom where the wall space simply isn't there to accommodate a full swinging door. In addition to bathrooms, they're good for closets or as connections between the two areas. Pocket doors can help to regulate access to the outdoors in a breathtaking manner.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Is a pocket door hard to install?

If you have simple tools, you can install the pocket door frame and hardware with little difficulty. Installing the door into the pocket is also fairly easy to do. The rough opening is the wide and tall archway created with regular framing wall studs that houses the pocket door track and thin studs.

How thick does a wall need to be for a pocket door?

(Note: It's OK if this sleeve intersects with another wall, but you might need special hardware to reinforce that juncture if a supportive stud needs to be removed.) The wall should also be thicker than four inches, as the standard door thickness is about two inches.

Do pocket doors have a bottom track?

Most pocket doors have two hangers and two sets of rollers at the top of the door. The rollers allow the door to follow a metal track when the door opens and closes. The bottom of the door is another matter. There is nothing that keeps the bottom of the door in place, other than the pocket itself.

Should pocket doors be solid or hollow?

Almost all types of doors may be hung as pocket doors, rather than installed as swinging doors. Solid doors are heavier and thus more challenging to the hardware. However, hardware tends to pull out of hollow-cored composite doors over time. Use pocket doors in 2 x 6" walls, rather than in 2 x 4" walls, if possible.

Can you install pocket door after drywall?

To install a pocket door in an existing wall, you have to remove drywall, and it's easier to uncover the entire wall instead of trying to work in a limited opening. You'll need to set new king studs and trimmers, place the header and install cripple studs between the header and the top plate of the wall.

Can you use a hollow core door for a pocket door?

Most hardware will hold 1 3/8- inch-thick hollow-core doors weighing up to about 75 pounds. You can buy a pocket door frame with heavy-duty hardware that will support 1 3/4-inch-thick solid-hardwood doors weighing up to 175 pounds. In fact, you can even buy hardware that will hold very heavy glass doors.

Can you replace pocket doors?

The solution to some of these problems is to install a new track and sliding door hardware. Step one is to take out the door and remove the existing hardware. You know, a pocket door is aptly named because the door actually does slide into a pocket in the wall. There are no studs in here, no conventional framing.

Are pocket doors expensive?

Are Pocket Doors More Expensive Than Standard Pre-Hung Interior Doors? Installing a pocket door is 2 to 5 times more expensive than installing a standard, pre-hung interior style. However, maintenance cost is virtually identical to its standard hinged counterpart.

How expensive is it to install a pocket door?

The average cost to install a pocket door in new construction is around $700, while the average cost to install a pocket door in an existing wall is around $2,250.

Can a pocket door be installed in a 2x4 wall?

The 1500HD Series Pocket Door Frame for 32 in. x 80 in. is an easily assembled, premium quality commercial/residential kit for installing a pocket door into a 2x4 stud wall. Pocket doors do not need "swing" room, saving valuable floor space while still assuring the full privacy of a standard door.

Can you put a pocket door in a wall with electrical?

The pocket door literally fits into a pocket inside the wall and typically slides on rollers on a track above the door. One downside to the pocket door is that it often leaves little room for anything else in the wall, such as plumbing or electrical (such as outlets or switches), so careful planning is required.

What is the best pocket door hardware?

Best Pocket Door Hardware Reviews 2019

Best Ball Bearing Hanger - Johnson Hardware 1125.
Best Pocket Door Track - Hartford Building Products HBP-S1.
Best Pocket Sliding Door Bolt - Ives by Schlage 42B15.
Best Pocket Door Handle And Pull - Prime-Line Products N 7238.
Best Pocket Door Edge Pull - Baldwin Estate 0465.150.
Best Flush Pull Handle - Tibres - 17.1.

How do you change a pocket door to a regular door?

How to Convert a Pocket Door to a Hinged Door

Slide the door fully into the pocket opening and remove the wood casing and door stop on both sides and top of the jamb.
Move door to the fully closed position and remove it from the upper track by pushing the bottom of the door out, then lifting up until the rollers detach from the metal track at the top.

How much space do you need for a pocket door?

Standard door widths range from 24 inches to 32 inches. Double the width of the desired door, or pair of doors, to determine the wall space that's needed to install the pocket door frame. For example, 48 inches is needed to install the frame for a 24-inch door.

What can I use instead of a pocket door?

Here are 5 modern door alternatives.

Pocket Doors. Pocket doors are a great alternative to ordinary hinge doors because when they're opened they're completely concealed by the wall.
Barn Doors. Barn style sliding doors are also an excellent alternative to hinge doors.
Hidden Doors.
Curtains.
Shoji Sliding Doors.

Can you put a pocket door in a load bearing wall?

Installing a pocket door in a load-bearing wall requires replacing the old header with a longer one. Check to see if the wall contains wiring or plumbing. A wall with pipes isn't a good candidate for a pocket door. If you have attic and basement access, it should be easy to reroute electrical cables.

Can you put a pocket door anywhere?

You can really have a pocket door installed anywhere you like but normally, such doors are placed in areas where they will be of benefit. If the space provided for a door swing is not optimal, a pocket door will free up space in the home.