Pocket Door Repair?

[jJim McLaughlin]

I have a pocket door between th MBR and MBath.

Its in the wall, i.e. in the full open position. Hasn't really worked since I bought the house in 1978. Doesn't clear the rug side of the passageway between he bedroom and the bathroom.

I'm going to be re - carpeting the MBR and installing a tile floor in the MBath.

I know that I can re do the carpet and the tile floor leaving the poket door in the wall.

As long as I'm going to be doing the capet and a new tile floor in the bath, I figure I might a well get the door operating.

The configuration of the rooms is such that replacement with a standard door will not work. (Hey, I only bought the place, I didn't design it.)

Long ago I saw a TV piece on "Ask These Four Idiots" about repairing pocket doors. Of course I didn't videotape it (gives you an idea about how long ago this was). I'm looking for that piece. Anybody have any idea on where to findit, or a link o it.

I am separately Googling for material on pocket door repair.

If any body has already got some URL cites to sites dealing with pocket door repair, I dappreciate it if you would share those with me.

Thanks.

[John Gilmer]

First you have to figure out how YOUR pocket door works. Most doors hang from two sets of rollers and each roller set has an independed height adjustment. If luck is with you it might be possible to adjust your way out of your problem.

Note that it may be necessary to remove some trim to make the adjustment. (Try using offset screwdrivers first.) It's almost always necessary to remove trim to replace broken parts. If you house is "pre war" it might be impossible to get drop in replacement parts and you will have to adapt whatever your big box stores happens to stock. "Modern" doors usually use plastic guides to keep the door from banging into the frame, for example.

If there are several broken or missing parts, you might just want to buy a complete pocket door kit from your Big Box store. This will replace ALL the metal hardware and in the future replacement parts will be easier to come by.

As with any door, if you might have to trim to provide easy movement over carpeting or new flooring.

[Oren]

PDF install files:

HTH

Oren

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[dadiOH]

Is being too low the only problem? If so, take off the door opening trim at the top so you have access to the track and trolleys. The trolleys slide in the track and are attached to the door top. There will be some way of lowering/leveling the door incorporated into the trolleys.

[Boden]

Take a look here.

Boden

[Oren]

"Is being too low the only problem?"

Use a carpenter square and check the bottom of the door. It may need a trim job!

Also has universal parts.

Oren

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[jJim McLaughlin]

SNIP HAPPENS

No.

It is too low to clarthe carpet and the "brass" tack strip or edging used by the carpet installer.

It is also apparently off the track at top end nearest opening.

It also would not ever mate up properly with the "strike plate" in the door jamb long long ago. The little "J" shaped hook / latch would never lock into the striker plate so that the door would lock.

Door has what I thik is a lot of "play" in it, from side to side. I can deflect oor about a 1/2 inch either way toward the MBR or M Bath as it sits in pocket.

[Ray K]

Being off the track at the opening end would lower that end so it rubs against the carpet. It would also lower the "j" hook. Getting the door back on the track would solve both problems.

Regarding side-to-side play, go here,

and look at part E. These guides, attached to the bottom of the trim are what keeps the door centered.