Pocket Doors

A pocket door is a door that slides, via rollers on an overhead track, into a “pocket” in the wall on either side of it. When it’s fully open, the door completely disappears. Pocket doors are used for architectural effect, or when there is no room for the swing of a hinged door. They usually travel on rollers suspended from an overhead track, although some also feature tracks or guides along the floor. Both single- and double-door versions are used, depending on how wide an entry is desired.

Pocket doors were very popular in the Victorian era, but when they went out of fashion, many of the hardware manufacturers went out of business. Today, pocket doors are making a comeback in upscale home renovations. Showcased mainly for their ability to save crucial space in a home, pocket doors can be a simple and convenient solution. Modern residential uses include closets, bathrooms, laundry or utility rooms, mudrooms, or home offices. A wall-hung variation called an "open pocket door" may be used where in-wall installation is impractical and is recommended for homes with disabled residents due to greater ease of opening compared to traditional doors.

Saving Space with Pocket Doors

A pocket door can transform a space and make room for those more essential elements that can be limited if a swinging door is used. Installing a pocket door rather than a hinged door can add an average of ten square feet of floor space

Considering a pocket door installation? Due to the complexities involved, we recommend installing pocket doors when your home is going through a major renovation or hiring a professional door installer. For the most part, retrofitting a pocket door is fairly easy, although each application will require some unique adjustments.

For all pocket doors, you need wall space to one side of the existing door that’s slightly more than twice the width of the door. This space must be free from obstructions such as plumbing pipes, electrical lines, and HVAC ducts. It also should be a partition wall and not a load-bearing wall. In general, walls that run parallel to joists and do not support headers are partition walls, but consult an experienced carpenter to be sure. When opened, the door actually slides into the door frame, requiring a substantial amount of space inside your wall.

Materials required to install a pocket door in your home include:

• Metal wrapping studs - make sure to get ones that will not twist or warp over time

• Pocket door kit - track assembly, header, brackets, jamb stiffeners and fasteners

• The pocket door

• Door plates

• Drywall, drywall joint compound, drywall tape

• Door guides and casings

• Nails, screws

Whether you need to install a pocket door, exterior door, storm door, or just need some minor door repair, A1 Handyman can help with door installation needs. To schedule your next door installation project, call (208) 995-6457 and we'll get right to work.