Pocket doors save floor space. A standard 36” swing door requires about 10 square feet of floor space to open and close. It also uses up 20 square feet of wall space when standing open. Pocket doors use none of that space but they are not perfect. Consider all of the pros and cons before deciding to install one.
Advantages
Pocket doors were a standard feature in 19th-century homes. They are becoming more popular again with minimalist designers and in smaller homes where every bit of floor space is important.
Add More Usable Space
Small bathrooms especially benefit greatly from pocket doors. The space saved can be used for storage, towel bars, mirrors, etc. Space is usually at a premium in smaller houses, condos, and apartments. Saving 20 square feet of floor space and 40 square feet of wall space is important. This can be accomplished by replacing two swing doors with pocket doors.
Clear Passage
Pocket doors provide wider unobstructed openings when moving furniture–or for wheelchair access. A 30” swing door has an opening of around 28”. A 30” pocket door opening is 30” wide.
Sense Of Openness
Pocket doors–especially double doors–create a sense of openness between rooms–without the clutter swing doors can cause. The finishing used around the frames can add elegance. Living rooms connected to dining rooms by pocket doors make the two spaces feel like one large area.
Looks
Pocket door slabs can be anything the hardware will carry. From smooth inexpensive hollow core doors to slabs with intricate glass designs–the choices are almost endless. Any type of glass–including custom designs can be installed in door slabs. Standard maximum glass size is 22” x 64” but some manufacturers make complete glass doors that provide an open feel even when closed.
Disadvantages
Make sure you know the possible problems with pocket doors before installing them.
Do Not Seal Well
Pocket doors need space above, below, and around the slabs to operate properly. They never seal as well as swing doors. Noise, smells, and light all leak around the door slabs. In many locations–like dining rooms–this is not a problem but it may be annoying if the pocket door is installed in locations like bathrooms and bedrooms.
Pocket door operation is also noisier than swing doors. They roll on tracks that rumble gently or more loudly as they age. When opened or closed too quickly the doors can bang into the wood frame or against the stops inside the wall. Not ideal for bedroom use.
Reliability
Swing door hinges and handles are easy to access and repair. Pocket doors run on a track that is half buried inside the wall. The doors are well-known for coming off the tracks and working themselves out of plumb. Making repairs inside the wall pocket is impossible without removing drywall.
Some pocket door hardware is cheap and flimsy. Most kits are rated to a maximum door slab weight. Hanging a heavy solid core slab from light-weight rollers and track causes maintenance problems that can only be addressed by changing the hardware which also requires drywall removal. Start with high-quality hardware.
Difficult To Operate For Some
Pocket door hardware is–of necessity–small. It has to fit inside the wall cavity along with the slab. Many arthritic homeowners find that operating the locks and pulls is difficult. Heavy doors like solid core slabs or glass-filled slabs are heavy to move–especially if the track or rollers are worn or damaged.
Challenging Installation
Installing pocket doors during construction is fairly simple and easy. Adding one as a renovation project can become a major project. Cutting out a section of wall is often the easy part. Electrical outlets and wiring, plumbing, and HVAC ducts may have to be rerouted. If the wall is load-bearing, a header has to be installed.
Pocket door kits are designed to fit in 2 x 4 walls but all of the wood framing is removed–leaving the wall flimsy. Drywall screws and anything used to hang pictures have to be short enough not to penetrate into the door cavity.
Installing a pocket door can be a DIY project for someone familiar with construction practices. Contractor-supplied and installed doors can cost as much as $6000.00–more for double doors.
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