Doorstuff's Guide to Pocket Doors
Choosing a Pocket Door Kit
Pocket doors are a great solution for grand feature doors and the smallest rooms alike, but the key to getting it right is all about planning the studwork ahead of time.
Pocket doors have been used extensively in Europe and the USA for many years and can often be seen in smart homes forming opulent double doorways into the drawing room or dining room. The most popular use in the UK is for kitchen, ensuite and utility room doors, where space is a premium - having a pocket door makes it possible to innovatively use the finite space, saving about 10 sq ft per door.
What kind of pocket door?
With a pocket door kit, there are several options to consider. Kits which slide the door directly into the wall cavity, such as the Coburn Hideaway, with individual steel-wrapped timber uprights to attach the wallboards are more than adequate in the home, for single doors, smaller doors etc. Full cassette systems, such as the iMpero, come with specially designed "Z" section profiles which slide within each other to provide not only a flexible width strong reinforced cassette but one which is also height adjustable. Fully certificated fire-rated pocket door systems are available, as well as kits for frameless glass doors - both options require a cassette system.
Installing a pocket door
Installing a pocket door in an existing home can be more complex than in a new build. You need to think about where wiring, pipes, switches and sockets will be placed. Establishing whether an existing wall is load bearing or not is essential, load bearing walls will need propping up during work, with the possible introduction of a lintel. Pocket door kits are designed to be incorporated into a stud wall i.e. fit the plasterboard directly onto the kit, don't build the wall first (a common misconception).
Already have the doorway?
For existing masonry walls it may be more appropriate just to use wall mounted sliding tracks and runners, then have the carpenter construct and finish a single stud skin of their own design on the one side. The finished wall thickness will be kept to a minimum this way. Standard timber doors can be used; 35mm to 44mm thick, with height and width according to your requirements and the kit's weight range.
Fitting Steps
Prepare the structural opening
As a rough guide you'll need to allow (2 x door width + 1") and (door height + 4") for preparing the studwork. Some kits are designed for 3" stud, others 4" stud. Check fitting instructions carefully, as each model has it's own specific measurements. Start measuring at the finished floor level and make sure it's square and plumb.
Fit track & structural supports
Fit the track header within the studwork remembering that half of the opening will be covered with plasterboard later to create the wall.
(Model shown: COBURN Hideaway)
Plasterboard onto cassette or split studs
Once the stops and any extras like self closing devices or duosyncs have been fitted, attach plasterboard directly to the cassette or split studs on both sides, and adjacent studwork. This gives a smooth wall ready to skim and decorate. Fit optional soft brakes, door locks and handles before hanging the door.
(Model shown: iMpero Slide)
Fit jambs and architrave to finish the doorway
After the door is hanging and sliding smoothly, finish the doorway with timber jambs and architrave. Some kits come with jamb finishing kits, others don't and you will need to create your own.
(Model shown: iMpero original)
Accessories for pocket doors
A range of accessories and door furniture is available including: soft close dampers, self closers (both with and without electromagnetic hold-open), telescopic systems, duo- synchronised opening (for double doors), flush pulls and bathroom handles that are lockable from the inside, end finger pulls, touch latches, brush strips etc.
We stock a range of sliding pocket door kits for timber doors, frameless glass doors and fire-rated pocket doors. The kits include track, runners, brackets and stops so you can fit your pocket door fairly easily. Our individual product pages also have links to relevant technical documents to help you.
