Why Pocket Doors are a Bad Idea

The below are affiliate links. I get a small percentage when you buy using these links. It does not cost you anything extra, but helps supports the channel. Thanks!

My Tools

The Camera Gear I use

My coffee stuff

My Work Wear

SEND STUFF HERE
PO BOX 3506
Richmond 7050
New Zealand

Disclaimer:
These videos are intended to provide information and inspiration only. If you choose to imitate, duplicate or copy anything you may have observed in these videos, you do so at your own risk. Scott Brown Carpentry Ltd does not take any responsibility for any action taken as a result of the information or advice on this YouTube channel and shall not have any liability in respect of any injury or damage that may result.

[yttkuar]

At 75, retired carpenter and untold number of pocket doors installed, I have repaired many with the same problem of doors warping. In my own designs rather than 'normal' 2 x 4 walls, I always used a 2 x 6 wall. The normal hardware purchased at stores usually has metal studs which are very flimsy. I used the head tracks, but always substituted regular 2 x 4 wood studs. By using a 2 x 6 wall, which is 5- 1/2 inches wide vs 3- 1/2 walls the available free space between the studs is now 2- 1/2 inches. Deducting 1- 3/8 for the door thickness, the free space is 1-1/8 which allows much more space for normal and somewhat expected warping over time. Therefore, when the final face split trim is applied with minimal clearance desired, the space behind where the door resides is not as likely to ever rub on the side studs. That is the most common complaint with pocket doors; the door rubs and may mar the door finish. Another reason for using this method, the wall itself is much more sturdy.

[vintagelady]

I had a pair of incredibly heavy oak pockets doors in my 1908 house. They were fantastic, rolled smoothly, looked incredible, sealed off the living room from the after-dinner table mess, & didn't take up a lot of room space with a swing path. I guess back in the day, carpenters didn't mind a little extra framing & having to make the structure sturdy in order to do things right.

[chopsjazz]

I understand your apprehension. I watched a team of "carpenters" nail baseboards in a renovation thus sealing two pocket doors in the open position.

[jsimes]

lol I put a pocket door in my tiny bathroom 21 years ago and have had no issues with the door. I've changed out the bath tub twice and the tile twice and now have a lovely walk in shower with beautiful subway tile over a waterproof Schluter System and still no issues with the pocket door.

You need a pocket door in your bathroom Scott! 😊

[PHXRichard]

When I completely remodeled my kitchen I had enough room to put up a wall to add a laundry/ pantry room. After a few designs I decided I wanted didn’t want to deal with a swinging door so I had my contractor build put a packet door with a frosted glass panel into the new wall. Best feature of my kitchen. I can leave it open and it’s a clear walkway when doing laundry and cooking. But when I have guests or parties I can close it and it hides my laundry room and muffles the sound of the dryer. Packets doors are awesome in the right places.

Loved the video!!

[benefitthirteen]

"Day's not over yet." Words of wisdom.

[Vaeltis]

Jess is now on a mission to convince Scott to replace every door with a Pocket door. 🤣

[mejofi]

"But can he hang a pocket door?" 😏

[CryptikStudios]

Hey Scott, something I came up with myself to insulate cavity sliders. What I use is rigid foilboard and cut panels which slot into the cavity bays. They fit perfectly hard up to the moulded steel, I then use stud adhesive to firmly secure the board at the top, bottom and sides and it helps A-LOT with reducing noise and increasing thermal efficiency.

[matthewkyle]

The most important thing, when you are mad, slamming a pocket door doesn't have the same impact.

[geneard]

I found a few French Colonial and Plantation homes with 'pocket doors', where the wall has a pocket door? It often has a decorative cornice that is intentionally held in with decorative screws that blend in with the wall and cornice, and the baseboard is removable as well, occasionally the entire wall is just a big removable panel so you can gain access to doing maintenance on the sliding door and its hardware.

[ccadama]

@Scott Brown Carpentry. No Scott. You're not a worrier. You're a detail person which I appreciate.
Thanks for another exciting and educational video.

Hope you and your family stay safe and well.

[unfairleyc]

I love when people ask about pocket doors but think the door just vanishes from existence when it goes into the wall.

[Kelvallontan]

It's always interesting to have another take on those things.
Over here in Europe, semi structural or structural dividing walls are quite rare, most of the framing is done with metal rails and it's much easier to install, except for the fact that it makjes for a much thicker dividing wall than the standard 7cm.
So all in all, still a lot of framing to install them, but no load bearing headaches.
Good job, and thanks as usual for the quality of your videos!

[dennis]

Pocket door also has privacy issue in bathrooms and as you stated they let out a lot of noise. Thank you and have a great week.

[MrVisde]

Love the pocket door on our master bathroom. The main challenge for our contractor was adding some thin plywood to the outside of the frame so we could hang floating shelves on the wall. Space was very tight and we had to use little screws 😅

[dfiler]

My 1903 house has two sets of massive pocket doors. It isn’t necessary to remove the wall to service them. Instead, the wall is over a foot thick. Removable trim boards provide access for hanging alignment. Though they still float effortlessly so I haven’t tried that.

[SimonHoning]

Ray deserves his own program- maybe on NZ breakfast television.He reminds me so much of my old man with that deadly Dutch humour.

[nicolawitty__]

We did a pocket door for our small bathroom. Do not regret it at all. No tiles on that side of the wall. All the best Jess with convincing Scott 😂 I convinced my hubby

[PiefacePete]

Interesting video, well worth watching... by which I mean I don't agree with everything in it. 😜
* There are places where a pocket door make for a really tidy solution.
* Some of those places have little requirement for sound (or thermal) insulation... bedroom / ensuite, or bedroom / walk-in wardrobe for instance.
* If there is a need for insulation, increasing wall thickness is often an option. The same applies where the wall needs bracing.
I have replaced tracks without damaging any finishes, although it was a challenge. Where I could not access the innermost screws, cutting access holes is all I have ever needed. You end up with small repairs, similar to those left by a Sparky, and if you make them on the least visually important side of the wall, making-good will probably not involve a complete wall repaint. Admittedly your ply layers on both sides would add complication, but I have never come across this particular challenge.
I sound like a "Pocket Door Fanboy"... I'm not! They are a faff to use, much slower and more fiddly than a normal hinged door.
Finally, a plug: I have recently installed pocket doors using the units in your video. (I think; mine came from Bunnings?). They were fairly lightweight, but worked OK, easy to install, reasonably priced, and are smooth and almost silent in use... far removed from the machine-gun clatter of twenty years ago.
Many thanks for the video.