Fixing a Stubborn Pocket Door

wallcovering tips

Pocket doors – threshold that slide back into a hidden cavity in the wall – are a handy solution to door installations in a variety of areas. They can free up space in a tight bathroom, block off noise from the utility room without interfering with the washer, or even be used in pairs to create an impressive entry to a den or dining room.

But when they quit working right, pocket doors can be a perplexing item to repair – it’s difficult to see how to obtain any access to them. So it’s helpful to understand how a pocket door is installed in the first place, because repairing one involves reversing some of those installation steps.

During the time when the wall is being framed, the pocket doorway is installed. The frame consists of a slender box that resembles a tall, narrow crate. There is a front consisting of two vertical boards and back that’s a single vertical board, with horizontal slats on both sides that connect to the front and back. On top, a long horizontal board is installed that holds a metal track, and a finished jamb leg is installed at the end of that track.

When the installation of the frame and track is complete, it takes up a space in the wall that is twice the width of the door itself. Drywall is then installed over the pocket door frame, leaving an opening in the wall that’s slightly wider that the width of the door.

Next, rollers are installed on the top of the door, and the door is installed by placing it in the opening, holding it at a slight angle, and then lifting it up and hooking the rollers into the overhead track. The roller mechanisms are then adjusted to raise the door and get it plumb to the opening, ensuring smooth operation and a proper height clearance over the floor.

At this point, the door is hanging on its track but it will actually swing back and forth, like a flap over an opening. So the final step is to install a pair of trim boards vertically on each side of the opening in the frame where the door disappears into the wall. This finishes off the installation, and prevents the door from moving back and forth in the opening. With some installations, a pair of horizontal trim pieces are also installed on the top board, on either side of the track, to help conceal the track and further stabilize the door.