Sliding Shoji Screen Doors

Tools and Materials:

jig saw
Brad nailer and nails
table saw or circular saw
ruler and T-square
4’x8’ sheet of 3/4” birch plywood
4" x 1/4" x 8' oak trim
rice paper
extra-strong double-sided tape
stain or polyurethane and paintbrushes
sliding door track and hardware

Steps:

1. Cut the plywood to the size of your door.

2. Using a pencil and ruler or T-square, mark all out the size and shape of the openings for each pane of rice paper (traditionally called lights in shoji screens).

3. We put 16 rectangle panes in our door (four rectangles with four panes within). To get the16-pane pattern, start by measuring out four big rectangles of equal size. Then split each rectangle into four smaller rectangles. We put a four-inch border on the top and bottom of the door and a two-inch border vertically around the four bigger rectangles.

4. Cut out each section using a jig saw.

5. Cut down the 4" x 1/4" x 8' trim so that it mirrors the wood that you didn’t cut out of the plywood frame. We ripped down the oak trim to create one-inch mullions to separate the panes. The trim should fit perfectly over the exterior border.

6. Lay the pieces out to make sure they all fit then paint or stained all the pieces.

7. While the trim is drying, lay the rice paper over the plywood frame. Cut it down to size and secure it to the frame with double-sided tape, running a piece along every section of wood and then rolling the paper flat.

8. Nail the trim pieces onto the plywood backing. Start with the exterior four-inch border, followed by the cross sections and then the tiny mullion pieces between the panes.

9. Attach a standard sliding door track to the area where you’d like to place the doors. Then mount the corresponding hardware to the top of the doors and hang.