- Consider your walls when trying to decide if a pocket door is right for you. If you are doing new construction or extensive remodeling, and can build to fit around the pocket door, this could be an option. As a space saver it can be very useful in tight areas around bathrooms or kitchen areas, freeing up a part of the room either for fixtures or traffic flow. As a design element, a pocket door can add an elegant touch as well. If you are not designing from scratch or are not planning on a big remodeling job, you may be better off solving your space or design problems another way, as the work it takes to open up the wall, remove studs and other impediments, and then install the pocket door is significant.
- If you are having trouble with an existing pocket door, it is worth considering replacing it with a new model. With older pocket doors, the doors slid back and forth on wheels that ran in tracks. As the wheels were not fixed in the tracks, they would come out occasionally, and they are very difficult to get back on track. In addition, the older doors could be noisy, and the operation less than smooth. The newer doors are designed with the wheels set in the tracks so they cannot come out, and the doors are attached directly to the wheel mechanism. In addition, the operation is smoother and almost silent.
- To replace an existing door, you will have to cut a hole in the wall to access the track and remove it, then replace it with the new track and attached wheel fixtures. The doors come in kits with all the hardware you need, and are competitively priced with regard to regular interior door units. Regarding tools, you will need a utility knife, joint compound and a screw gun, drill or screwdriver. The process takes a bit of skill, but if you have done a little work repairing sheet rock you shouldn't have a problem, and can likely complete the entire process in an afternoon.
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