Problem: One of the doorways in your home doesn't have a door. You'd like to add one, but you don't have space for a door to open into either room. You could install a pocket door, which slides into the wall, but that would involve cutting into the wall and reframing.
Solution: Install an open pocket door, which acts like a pocket door but simply mounts onto the surface of the wall.
Materials:
open pocket door kit with track and hardware ($20 to $50)
unfinished door without the doorknob holes drilled (about $100)
handle or pull of your choice
paint or stain
level
flat-head screwdriver
drill, with drill bits and Phillips driver bit
screws
measuring tape
stud finder
pencil
1"x6" board the length of the track
1"x3" board, 4" shorter than the track
safety glasses
- Measure your doorway before buying your door to ensure the door you buy will cover it. It's a good idea to paint or stain the door before you hang it.
- Determine where to install the track that the door slides on. Locate and mark the studs above the doorway trim on the side where you plan to install the track. Be sure to adjust for the height of the door so that your door will hang approximately 1/2" above the floor.
* Some pocket door kits include a rolling device or floor track on which the door will roll. If yours does, you'll also need to consider this added height when determining where to install the track.
- Hold the track against the wall above the frame and use a level to make sure it's even. Trace the edges on the wall, and transfer the stud marks from the wall to the track.
- Using the stud marks as a reference, drill mounting holes through the upper flange of the track (figure A). Be sure to wear safety glasses when drilling.
* When you've finished drilling the mounting holes, drill three evenly spaced holes through the part of the track that's perpendicular to the wall. You'll use these holes later when you install the valance over the track.
- Place the track on the wall and secure it into the studs with screws. You might want to drill pilot holes into the studs before you secure the track.
- Install the hanger plates, which secure the door to the wheels via a pivot pin. Measure and mark the top of the door two inches from left side. Place a hanger plate on top of the door between the left edge and the line, and use the plate as a template for drilling pilot holes. Then secure the hanger plate with screws. Repeat the process for the hanger plate on the right side of the door.
- The two wheels in the kit have two rollers on one side and one roller on the other side. Hang the wheels inside the track so that one wheel has two rollers facing out and the other wheel has one roller facing out (figure B); this helps balance the door.
- Slip the pivot pin from the left wheel into the left hanger plate, and lock the wheel into place with the locking tab (figure C). Slide the rollers into the track, and prop up the base of the door until you get the other hanging plate and wheel attached.
- Now you need to make sure the door won't slide out either end when you open and close it by installing the doorstop included in the kit. Place the doorstop in the end of the track, and hold the door in the closed position. Push the doorstop in the track until it touches the rollers on the wheel (figure D). Then slide the door out of your way, hold the stop in place, and tighten the screws in it. Repeat these steps on the other end of the track.
- Because the track with the kit is made of aluminum and won't coordinate well with the decor of your house, you may want to make a valance to hide the track (figure E ). First, cut a 1"x6" board approximately four inches longer than the track, and stain or paint it to match the existing door trim. Then cut a 1"x2" board to the same length as the track. Center the 1"x2" board on the back of the 1"x6" board. Turn the 1"x2" on its side so that it's about two inches below the top of the 1"x6" board, and toenail it in place with small screws to create a lip for securing the valance to the track. Center the lip on top of the track and secure it with screws through the mounting holes you drilled earlier in the project. You may want to drill pilot holes before you attach the screws.
- Finally, attach a pull or handle to open and close the door.
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