How Do You Remove A Pocket Door?
Pocket doors are great additions to any home. However, they can become outdated after years of wear and tear. As soon as they start showing signs of age, you’ll want to replace them with new ones. But replacing pocket doors isn’t as easy as it seems.
There are several steps involved in removing a pocket door, including cutting off the hinges, removing the door frame, and installing new pocket door hardware.
Regardless of whether you’re a novice or experienced, you’ll find our pocket door guides helpful. After reading through them, you should be able to figure out how to remove a pocket without any problems.
What Are Pocket Doors?
Pocket doors are a unique style of sliding doors that slide right into the wall. They save you plenty of space in both the path leading to the door and the path behind the door. Because of this, you won’t need any additional space in front and back of the door to open and close it.
You’ll find pocket doors in modern homes, especially in places where there’s a lot of clutter. These include bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms.
Because there’s no need for a half-round area in the front and back of the doorway, you can maximize the available space just after the door.
This means that you can place your chair or table right next to the door without worrying about blocking the pathway.
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How Do They Work?
Pocket door installation is very easy. You just need to drill holes where the hinges will sit, and then attach the hinge brackets to the frame using screws. Then, you simply slide the door into place and fix it to the wall.
You don’t need to build anything special to support the door. All you need is a hole big enough for the door to fit through, and a track to hold the door in place.
Once installed, the door looks great and doesn’t obstruct the way through the room. There are various styles of pocket doors. But which style of pocket door will you adopt depends on your personal choice.
Hardware
Pocket doors are pretty straightforward to install. You just need to drill holes in the wall and attach the hardware. However, if you don’t already have pockets on your wall, you’ll need to build them out first.
You can either do this yourself using drywall screws or hire a handyman. Either way, you should expect to pay between $100-$200 per pocket door depending on the materials used.
Once you’ve installed the pocket door, you’ll need to fix it to the frame. There are two options here:
- Fix the door directly to the frame.
- Attach the door to the frame via hinges.
Track
A track is a channel that runs along the length of a wall. Tracks are used to hold doors and windows in place. You’ll find tracks at the base of most sliding doors.
Tracks come in two types: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal tracks are typically found on sliding glass doors, while vertical tracks are used for pocket doors.
Rollers
A roller is a device used to move heavy loads along a surface. Rollers come in various shapes and sizes, depending on the load being moved and the surface upon which it is moving. Some rollers are made out of steel, others out of plastic, and still others out of rubber.
Wrench
A pocket door wrench is great because it is super easy to install. All you do is drill holes in the wall where you want the pocket door to fit, then attach the hinges and lock. Then just slide the door into place. You don’t have to worry about drilling into the wall since the whole process takes less than 30 minutes.
Trim
A pocket door works by sliding into a recessed area in the wall. You’ll need to build a void in the wall to allow the lightweight doors and heavier doors to fit inside.
You can trim the edges of the opening using a router or jigsaw. Be careful not to cut corners where the door meets the frame. You should remove the jambs first if you still require the trim for pocket doors.
How To Remove Pocket Doors Step By Step
To remove a pocket door, you’ll need to start by removing the hinges. Once those are removed, you’ll need to pull the door away from the wall. Then, you’ll need to disconnect the wiring and plumbing. Finally, you’ll need to unscrew the screws holding the frame to the wall. By practicing it again and again you will become an expert over time.
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Step 1: Remove The Caulk From The Front Door.
You’ll need to remove the caulking from the front door if you want to install a pocket door. You can either use a razor blade or a utility knife to carefully scrape away the caulking. Once you’ve removed the caulking, you can then pull the door out of its frame.
After you’ve pulled the door out of its track, you’ll need to remove the wood that was holding the door in place. You can use a pry bar or a hammer to knock out the nails. If you plan to recycle the wood, you’ll want to cut it into small pieces. Otherwise, you’ll need to leave the wood in place.
Step 2: Take Out The Door Stop
This tutorial shows you how to remove a pocket door stop. You’ll need a pry bar and a hammer. Start by removing the screws holding the doorstop to the frame. Then, pull the doorstop away from the frame. Once you’ve removed the doorstop, you can either replace it or leave it where it is.
You may notice that there’s a nail sticking through the doorstop. Don’t worry; it won’t cause any damage. Just remove it using a pair of pliers. Now, you should be able to slide the door open easily.
Step 3: Remove The Pocket Door Completely
Once you’ve removed the door, you’ll notice that there is a small opening at the bottom of the door. Go over to the open side and lift out the door.
Then, go over to the opposite side and lift out the remaining portion of the door. As you continue to pull, you’ll notice that the rollers come out of their tracks.
Once both sides of the screen have been opened, begin to pull the door towards you. Try not to let the door become stuck in the track. Instead, gently push and pull the door until it comes free.
You might need a helper to assist you if the door is too big for one person to handle. This person should hold the door steady while you push and pull it.
Use this method to remove any pocket doors you encounter. It’s quick and simple!
Step 4: Open The Pocket Door
All you need to do is pull down on the handle, push the door outward, and slide it along the tracks until it stops. Once you’ve opened the door, you can move it away from the exit and leave it there.
You can buy pocket doors online or at most hardware stores. Just remember to measure the width of the opening you’d like to install the door in and order accordingly.