Pocket Doors Remodeling Ideas

Pocket Door Installation Q&A

Q: I want to utilize the wasted space that the bathroom door takes up by swinging into the bathroom. I remember homes in the 1970s and '80s having sliding doors that you could pull out of the wall. I love that idea, but I can't seem to find any information about installing one. Do you know what they are called? Do you know where I could find one? My husband doesn't think they even make them anymore.

A: They're called pocket doors, and they are still available. The largest manufacturer in the United States is L.E. Johnson Products, Inc., of Elkhart, Indiana.

A pocket door can easily slip into your bathroom wall, as long as you have enough space to accommodate installation. You need at least 49 inches of wall space to install a pocket door, although most require 57 inches. As for thickness, standard 1-3/8-inch doors will just fit into a typical wall built with 2x4 lumber.

Installation is a matter of taking off the drywall, removing studs, fastening the pocket frame, hanging the door, replacing drywall, and putting on the trim. When finished, the door should glide effortlessly on double rollers running on a boxed-in track. For more information, visit www.johnsonhardware.com.