Pocket Door Installation Tips

Featured in many homes in the early 20th Century, 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 if you’re looking for a door to use as an entry to your pantry, half bath, mudroom, laundry room, or other small room.

SAVING SPACE WITH POCKET DOORS

Although not always a simple door installation process, 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. A pocket door can save up to 10 square feet of space that a swinging door requires.

If you’re thinking about installing a pocket door in your home, we recommend doing it when your home is going through a major renovation – or hiring a professional door installer. A pocket door requires a large frame – one that can accommodate space for twice the width of the door. When a pocket door is opened, it 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 you get ones that will not twist or warp over time
• Pocket door kit – which will include your track assembly, header, brackets, jamb stiffeners, and fasteners required for your door
• The pocket door
• Door plates
• Drywall – to accommodate the space you’ll need to make for the door
• Door guides and casings
• Nails

If you’re thinking about installing a pocket door, let a professional pocket door installer help you so it is framed and placed correctly.