POCKET SLIDING DOORS TO FIT YOUR POCKET

Although it’s possible to purchase pocket door frame kits they tend to be an expensive way of achieving a concealed or hidden door that slides into a wall.

As a cost-effective alternative we supply pocket sliding door tracks that can be installed directly into a stud partition wall, removing the need for a pocket door frame.

Just like a sliding wardrobe door, the sliding pocket door will glide along the track and neatly disappear into the wall.

Not only that but you can choose your pocket door design and colour from our extensive range of door panels, just like you would a wardrobe. Start your design here.

Whether it's contemporary coloured glass pocket doors or traditional woodgrain you're looking for, we have the solution to suit your pocket.

What is a pocket sliding door?

By definition, a pocket sliding door is a door that is fixed within a conventional door opening but the door slides into a hidden ‘pocket’ or recess within the wall.

They can be wooden or glass or modern contemporary designs. We supply an almost endless choice of pocket door designs.

Hideaway pocket sliding doors offer a great way to save space in any room and are particularly useful when dividing larger rooms eg. to create en-suite bathrooms, walk-in dressing rooms or home offices.

They can also be used to partition, large spaces to create separate room areas, eg. a living and dining area, or a living and kitchen area.

Installing our pocket door system

Perhaps the most important consideration when planning for pocket sliding doors is to check that you have adequate space to construct the partition wall(s) necessary to house the pocket(s).

Below we will show you some different pocket sliding door options - however, we will not cover in detail the construction of the stud walls necessary for housing the doors as these will vary depending upon the specific layout of your room, existing structural details etc.

Remember, instead of constructing a stud wall to house a pocket door frame, for our system you are constructing a partition stud wall to house pocket door tracks, saving you money!

Also remember, we’re here to help so once you have provided the measurements for the opening we will produce a design drawing tailored to your installation which you will be able to use when installing your pocket doors.

Deciding on the pocket door configuration

There are a number of different configurations that enable the door(s) to slide into a pocket recess:

• Single pocket / single door – one door slides into a single pocket or cavity
• Single pocket / two doors – two doors slides into a single pocket or cavity
• Double pocket / two doors - two doors slide into two separate pockets or cavities
• Double pocket / multiple doors - more than two doors slide into two separate pockets or cavities

Single pocket sliding door

We know from talking with our customers that single pocket doors are the most frequently installed option - they offer an ideal, space-saving solution when creating an en-suite within an existing bedroom, for example.

Installation

Single pocket sliding doors are simple to create as they only require a slim stud wall and can be used in a variety of situations.

A useful tip to remember is that the sliding door will be slightly wider than the final opening so install not only the top and bottom tracks but also the sliding door prior to closing up the pocket or cavity.

So, once one side of the stud wall has been completed the top and bottom tracks should be installed. In the same way as you would with a pocket door frame kit, place the door into position at this stage and then the other side of the stud wall can be finished.

Double pocket sliding doors

Double pocket doors are a popular choice for partitioning a large open-plan space (e.g a living room and a dining area) whilst still retaining a wide access and allowing the free flow of movement between the two spaces.

Depending upon the space you have available and the specific configuration required, a number of options are possible for installing two sliding doors as double pocket doors:

• A cavity equal to the width / thickness of one door can be created on each side of the opening. The two doors are installed on a single top and bottom track and will butt together where they meet in the centre of the opening.

• A cavity equal to the thickness of two doors (but only the width of one) can be created on each side of the opening. The two doors are installed on two tracks. This option offers the flexibility that the two doors can both slide into one recess or the other; or one can slide to the left and the other to the right.

For wider openings (eg. where three or more doors are required) option 2 is the most practical solution as up to four doors could be accommodated on two top and bottom tracks.

Installation Tips

Whilst individual installations will vary there are some tips to bear in mind whichever option you choose:

To enable you to grip the edge of your door (or doors) when in the closed position allow for approximately 35mm of the door to protrude from the pocket. Alternatively, if you prefer the doors to close flush with the edge of the pocket you can increase the width of the cavity by 10mm so that there is space between the door and the internal face of the pocket to allow the door edge to be gripped for opening.

Install the top and bottom door tracks so that they have a 'buffer' at each end to prevent the doors from coming off the tracks. The most professional method is to butt the tracks up to a length of planed timber which can used to face the internal end of each pocket created.

If soft-closers are to be added to the pocket door ensure these are fully tested prior to completing the pocket construction, to make sure the buffer pusher catches the soft-closer before the door is fully enclosed in the pocket.

Component specifications

You can plan the dimensions for your pocket sliding door installation using the specification details below for the main track components that we can supply:

Single top track
Width: 43mm
Maximum length: 5000mm

Double top track
Double track will be made up of two single tracks, installed side-by-side, so you will need to allow 86mm width for this.
Maximum length: 5000mm

Recessed single bottom track (suitable for installation into wood or solid floors)
Width: 12mm
Maximum length: 5000mm

Recessed double bottom track (suitable for installation into wood or solid floors)
Double track will be made up of two single tracks, installed side-by-side, at 41mm centres.
Maximum length: 5000mm

Wide recessed single bottom track (suitable for installation under carpets)
Width: 35mm
Maximum length: 5000mm

Wide recessed double bottom track (suitable for installation under carpets)
Double track will be made up of two single tracks, installed side-by-side so that the wider edges of their bases are abut.
Maximum length: 5000mm

Surface mounted single bottom track (suitable for installation over any solid, level floor surface)
Width: 33mm
Maximum length: 5000mm

Surface mounted double bottom track (suitable for installation over any solid, level floor surface)
Double track will be made up of two single tracks, installed side-by-side so that the wider edges of their bases are abut.
Maximum length: 5000mm

Calculate the cost of your pocket sliding doors

To discuss the options available to you and for a free, no obligation quotation call us on freephone 0800 035 1730.

Clear glass pocket sliding doors

Our clear glass pocket doors contain toughened glass to meet with the current Building Regulations.

To comply with Part M of the Building Regulations, the extract that applies is shown below.

If you are installing our toughened glass sliding doors in a pocket door installation you will need to follow these additional guidelines*:

3.10 I/J

"i, when of glass, they are clearly defined with manifestation on the glass at two levels 850mm to 1000mm and 1400mm to 1600mm, contrasting visually with the background seen through the glass in all lighting conditions.

j, when of glass or fully glazed, they are clearly differentiated from the adjacent glazed wall or partition by the provision of high-contrast strip at the top and on both sides."

Put simply, to comply with current safety regulations, the sliding doors must be highlighted to users by employing the methods described above. This can be achieved in two main ways:

• integrally, with the inclusion of H-bars at 850mm and 1000m and 1400mm and 1600mm and by incorporating a solid panel or different coloured glass panel at these heights; or
• additionally, with the application of decorative adhesive panels, etched effect film or strips between the legislated heights which make the doors visible when in the closed position.

The information given here is a summary, not an authoritative statement of the law and is intended for guidance only. Reference should be made to the published legislation for more detailed information.

We hope you found this guide useful, if you have any questions regarding pocket sliding doors please phone our Design Team freephone 0800 035 1730.