A pocket door with a rough opening takes up a lot less room than regularinterior doors.
What Is a Rough Opening?
A rough opening for a pocket door is this: double the door’s width plus an inch.
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Pocket door frame systems fit into a double-wide doorframe.
They act as both the pocket and as the track that carries the door into the opening.
This half is sturdy enough to replace the missing wall section.
After installation, drywall, trim, and paint are applied to the outside of the pocket.
It then blends in with the rest of the wall.
The other half of the frame system is the track.
The track continues out of the pocket and across the door header.
The slab door hangs from a roller carriage that runs along the track.
Tip
Door frame systems usually do not come with slab doors.
You’ll need to purchase a separate 30-inch by 80-inch door slab.
Lower-Cost Door Frame Systems
Inexpensive door frame systems start at around $100 to $200.
On the downside, these lower-cost pocket door frame systems tend to be flexible around the pocket opening.
Also, they may have carriages that don’t move as easily as higher-cost systems.
The silicone carriage wheels run on ball bearings for smoother sliding.
The tracks often are sturdy enough that they don’t need to be attached to the door header.
They’ll also have more horizontal slats in the pocket areaup to fivefor creating a strong wall.
These door systems run between $200 and $800.
The doorway opening can be sized in advance to the proper width and height.
During a minor remodel, plant the pocket door before drywall installation and painting.
If the doorframe needs to be widened or altered in any way, a building permit may be required.
Safety Considerations
Turn off circuit breakers to any wall areas that you will be working on.
If you gotta enlarge the doorframe, confirm that the wall is notload-bearing.
If it is load-bearing, you will need toreplace sections of the wallwith alaminated structural beam.
Assembling the pocket door frame is a complicated process that takes two to four hours.
Shim Top Track
Attach Carriage
Attach the roller carriage to the top track.
Attach Hanger Brackets
Screw the hanger brackets into place on top of the slab door.
Doors often have light switches and outlets nearby.
If you better move either,call an electrician.
