If the dimensions are right, then any door can be fitted into a pocket door frame kit. However, there are certain issues to consider. A door that has previously been hung in a traditional, swinging manner might have cut outs for handles and hinges.
You can use almost any standard door as a pocket door, or even use an old door like a salvaged vintage number. If you do use an old door, make sure you find some pocket door hardware that will fit the old doorknob holes that might be there, because obviously you can't use a regular doorknob on a sliding door.
Pocket doors can be used in any internal doorway, from one space to another such as a hallway to a bathroom, or from one room into a closet or storage space. As bath and shower rooms tend to be the smaller rooms of a house, installing a pocket door would be a welcome space saving solution.
Pro Tip: Another quick option is to use 1 3/8” solid core doors for the pocket faces. This saves you the framing work and makes for an excellent flat attachment surface. Works great for standard size pockets but not as well for large or custom openings.
Yes, you can definitely do it! Turning an existing door into a barn door is a great way to reuse materials. It is a simple task that even casual DIYers can handle.
In theory, any door can be a pocket door. A pocket door is more of a means of hanging and moving a door than it is a specific type of door. If the dimensions are right, then any door can be fitted into a pocket door frame kit.
Pocket doors slide into a compartment inside the wall cavity, making them more unobtrusive efficient in utilizing space. Barn doors slide close to, but outside of, the wall, offering a rustic and stylish appearance. The installation complexity and cost of pocket doors are higher compared to barn doors.
You may use a solid wood door with barn door hardware, but you could better spend the time and energy it takes to retrofit it elsewhere. Save yourself time and headaches by using an actual barn door.
You can install pocket doors anywhere you like but it is best to think about the areas that would benefit from pocket doors. They can be great for your home or even a business property.
Pocket doors were initially popular in Victorian homes as a means of closing off spaces such as sitting rooms. But gradually architectural tastes changed and they became impractical, outdated and effectively obsolete.
As mentioned before, pocket doors need a sleeve to retract into when they open. For most standard, 32-inch doors, you'll need at least 66 linear inches of wall space to house it properly. You'll also want at least double the width of a standard pocket door (two inches) for a total of four inches of space.
The cost of installing a pocket door can vary significantly, but on average, you can expect to pay between $500 and $2,500. This cost includes materials, labor, and any necessary permits.
The most common question we receive is regarding installation, and quite simply, is the pocket door hard to install? And this receives an equally simple answer, which is an emphatic no!
Pocket Doors Are Not Flipper Doors
Flipper doors lift open and retract out of the way, similar to a garage door. Flipper doors are often used with cabinets for overhead storage, but can also be used for concealing appliances. Pocket doors, however, open outward and then retract into the cabinet space.
Yes! With the right tools and some elbow grease, you can build any door into a barn one. All you need is a slab, kit, drill, and you are on your way to creating something beautiful.
The makeup of hollow-cored slab doors typically consist of a middle being cardboard honeycomb compressed by two outer layers of vinyl, plywood, or metal material sheets called skins, this is in contrast to solid-cored doors whose entire body is of one flush material like wood, fiberglass, or steel.
It is usually possible to change most internal doors into a sliding door, however you will need to ensure you have the space available to the side of the door opening to allow for the sliding door to fully open. You will also need to ensure you have the space available to install the track of your choice.
Common Problems With Pocket Doors
A common problem that people often find with their pocket doors is hardware malfunction. If your pocket door is not sliding easily, it is probably an issue with the track system and/or rollers. Pocket doors commonly get stuck, making them difficult to close.
As long as the measurement is correct for the pocket opening, the door is the right thickness, and the door hasn't been pre-drilled for a standard door lockset or hinges, you can use any kind of door for a pocket door.
Pocket doors are notorious for problems with functionality. They often fall off their tracks, move with difficulty, are problematic to lock, and screech when rolled.
They were often used to create privacy barriers for areas like sitting rooms, offices, and dens. As the architecture and design of homes became more streamlined, pocket doors fell out of favor, along with many other Victorian-style design elements, because they were challenging to build and install.
So the answer is YES, you can use an old door in a pocket door system, as long as it is the correct door size for the pocket door kit you intend to buy or have already bought. By this we mean that if you have an old 726mm x 1981mm door and you wish to re-use it, you would simply purchase a 726mm pocket door kit.