
How to Install a Pocket Door in 4 Steps
- Frame the rough opening. If your door is 80″ high—standard size—construct a rough opening of a header and two studs at a minimum height of 84 1/2″. ...
- Attach the split jambs. Now you’re ready to attach the split jambs. The split jambs are positioned in two places. ...
- Enclose the frame. At this point, the frame needs to be enclosed. ...
- Mount the pocket door.
What is the average cost to install a pocket door?
Written by HomeAdvisor. During a new construction, pocket doors will cost between $500 and $1,000. As part of a remodeling project, their cost will be in the $1,000 to $3,500 range. These prices reflect both parts and labor. These doors hide inside a wall cavity instead of swinging out from a hinge.
How difficult is it to install a pocket door?
How difficult is it to install a pocket door? 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 to install, adjust or remove a pocket door?
How to Replace a Pocket Door
- Removing the Door. As the first step of pocket door replacement, you will need to cut a hole in the wall for access to the rollers and the track system, ...
- Removing the Track. ...
- Shimming the Track. ...
- Replace Roller Hardware. ...
- Installing the Door and Frame. ...
How to install a pocket door in an existing wall?
Remove the Old Door
- Once you've determined the wall is a partition, you can start removing the old door and frame.
- To begin building a pocket door in an existing wall, take the old door off the door frame and remove the moulding.
- Cut away the shims and nails using your reciprocating saw.

How do you frame a pocket door opening?
The open doorframe should be twice the width of the intended door slab, plus 1 inch. So, the rough opening for a 30-inch door slab should be 61 inches. Height should be the vertical length of the door slab, plus the thickness of the door track and desired clearance (about 1 inch, though product dimensions vary).
How do you fix a pocket door frame?
1:053:51How to fix a pocket door - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can replace these rollers if you need to. Now you can see that when you adjust the length ofMoreYou can replace these rollers if you need to. Now you can see that when you adjust the length of these bolts up here. That changes the way the door hangs.
How do you put a pocket door back on track?
4:178:08How To Repair Your Pocket Door - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo first I need to find this top part which is somewhere. And there's our little culprit stuck upMoreSo first I need to find this top part which is somewhere. And there's our little culprit stuck up there and the ceiling. Not attached to its bolt let's see if we can fix it. So the problem is that
What's the rough framing for a pocket door?
The width of the rough opening is two times the door's width plus one inch—for example, if your door is 34″ wide, the opening should be 69″ wide.
How do you install pocket door hardware?
0:195:36How to Install Privacy Pocket Door Hardware - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBit bit to pre-drill the holes one thing that i have found that i have to do is to drill with aMoreBit bit to pre-drill the holes one thing that i have found that i have to do is to drill with a spade. Bit drill a hole a little bit further back you can see this round hole in the back.
How do you install a pocket door guide?
1:292:43Pocket door guides [keep your door aligned & on track] (amazon link)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo drill yourself a little pilot hole mine veered off a little bit but it's not the end of the worldMoreSo drill yourself a little pilot hole mine veered off a little bit but it's not the end of the world and then we'll do the same on the other. Side so now that you've got your holes drilled.
Can you replace a pocket door without removing drywall?
If you simply want to replace a pocket door or remove it in order to repair it, you don't have to tear into the drywall! That's great news. All you have to do is lift the door off the sliding track. In order to do that, you have to remove the trim around the door.
Can a pocket door fit in a 2x4 wall?
1:094:12Pocket Door Installation in 2x4 Wall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere i'm not crazy about this design because these are just like one by fours. It's not a strongMoreHere i'm not crazy about this design because these are just like one by fours. It's not a strong wall of course after all the drywall gets mounted. It it does make it a bit stronger.
What size of header do I need for a pocket door?
Pocket doors that are 4 feet wide would require a header that spans the opening of 8 feet, plus another 4 feet on each side where the doors tuck away. It's 16 feet long, heavy, unwieldy and often constructed of two 2-by-10s or more depending on the load above.
How wide is a pocket door jamb?
DimensionsAssembled Depth (in.)1.08 in83.5 inAssembled Width (in.)4.52 in80Maximum Door Thickness (in.)1.7536Minimum Door Thickness (in.)1.375
How do I replace a pocket door with a pocket door?
Start with removing the molding and, with a reciprocating saw blade, cut the shims. When the nails are cut, you can remove the door frame.
What is pocket door?
A pocket door is the perfect solution for closing off an open section of your home or office or adding a quick way to move from room to room where a wall currently exists. These doors disappear into the wall when opened, rather than taking up space in one room or the other. With the right tools and know-how, you can install pocket doors yourself, ...
How thick should a pocket door be?
Regardless of where you go, you should easily find kits for doors that are 1 1/8 inches to 1 3/4 inches thick by 6 feet (1.8 m) 8 inches high. If your door is not a standard size, talk to a professional about getting the job done.
Do I need a header for a door?
Make a new header, if necessary. It's possible that your door will require a header of a different height. The height of your header is determined by whether or not you need a new soleplate. If the floor covering above the subfloor is minimal, the split-stud brackets can be secured directly to the floor.
Can you replace drywall you removed at the beginning of the project?
Replace the drywall you removed at the beginning of the project with new drywall. For this part, you'll need panel adhesive and screws . However, don't move onto taping and mudding just yet – there's still a bit more work to be done.
Do pocket doors have tracks?
Community Answer. There are only tracks on the top of pocket doors, just like sliding closet doors. Sliding closet doors usually come with a small guide for the bottom that you screw to the floor where the two doors overlap. This keeps them from swinging in and out.
Can you install pre split studs after installing sliders?
If you are also installing pre-split studs, you can install them after you install the slider track. If you need to cut the track to length, use the mark on it that corresponds to your door size. Most, if not all, kits come with these markers. Use a hacksaw on the channel and a handsaw on the nailers.
What is pocket door?
Pocket doors are a fantastic space saver which use a wall cavity to hide the door as it slides open. Pocket doors offer a reduced footprint by eliminating swing that you would expect to find on a standard hinged door.
Is it necessary to have a pocket door?
Many times it’s not practical to have the finish door slabs on site, so it’s not a necessity. Pocket doors are a quality alternative to conventional hinged doors, because they save valuable floor and wall space while offering a finished look.
Do pocket doors need to be swept?
They also don't need to sweep into (or alongside) a wall, which creates precious wall and floor space for everything from cabinets to furniture. Pocket doors require much more planning and layout than standard doors do, though. For instance, the wall cavity can’t be used to house utilities such as plumbing or wiring.
Can you use pocket door studs for plumbing?
For instance, the wall cavity can’t be used to house utilities such as plumbing or wiring. Another thing worth considering: Pocket door studs are a lot more flexible than standard framing, so there are limitations if you're planning other uses for the adjacent wall (such as hanging cabinets or installing wall tile).
How to adjust pocket door header?
At the length for your door, cut the wood header only. Turn the header over and cut the metal track 1 3/8″ shorter than the wood header. Put the end brackets back on the cut end of the header.
Where are split jambs positioned?
Now you’re ready to attach the split jambs. The split jambs are positioned in two places. The first split jamb is flush with the nailer header; the other is set halfway in the “pocket” of the wall.
How do I finish a wall?
Finish the wall by attaching the drywall to the wall using screws and adhesive. Once the drywall is fixed onto the wall, skim the wall using some plaster and finish the wall using whatever wall covering that you intend to use.
Why is it important to install a lintel over a hole in a wall?
This is important, because you're cutting a slot in the wall. If it is load bearing, you will need to install a lintel over the two gaps in the wall. Check the position where the slots are located to ensure that there is no plumbing or wiring behind them. If there is plumbing or wiring, it will instantly make the project much more complicated.
Do you repeat the second door?
The second door now needs to be repeated in the same way so that they are both mounted and able to shut flush with one another. Minor adjustments should be possible if the doors don't quite meet level.
Can a wheeled door be mounted inside the tracks?
If there are any problems with the level, it will stop the door from running smoothly. The floor brackets then need to be fixed into the metal plate and the door can be mounted in the tracks. The wheeled part of the door can be mounted inside the tracks.
Do pocket doors close themselves?
If you are fitting a set of pocket doors which can close themselves, you will need to fit the weights into the channel and also link the doors together so that they both open together at the same time.
