FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

“Captured” pocket doors

Oak River Mike | Posted in General Discussion on February 10, 2009 01:01am

So a homeowner calls me about a double set of pocket doors that have been captured inside the wall by the tile installer who set the tile and now the doors do not open.

I told her I would give it some thought as to how to get them out and adjust or trim the bottoms to work properly.

Any ideas aside from cutting the drywall to get to the rollers?

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. User avater
    Sphere | Feb 10, 2009 01:05am | #1

    You should be able to get a small wonder bar under the door edge and lift it up enough to pull the door out. Then get to the adjuster on the trolley ( if so equipped) and jack it up.

    Then find the tile guy and staple the bill to his forehead.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

     

    They kill Prophets, for Profits.

     

     

    1. Oak River Mike | Feb 10, 2009 01:12am | #2

      Sphere,

      I would have liked to have done that but the bottom of the door is about 3/4" of an inch below the top of the tile.  They set a full mortar bed and then set the tile.

      But I do agree with the idea of stapling the invoice to hios forehead.  Although the HO will be paying so maybe she can do it to him?

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Feb 10, 2009 01:15am | #3

        Welp, you got a job ahead of ya then. Start cutting the wall board.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

         

        They kill Prophets, for Profits.

         

         

      2. DanH | Feb 10, 2009 05:07am | #15

        So have you tried prying the door upward hard against the track to see if you can raise it above the tile? You could drive a screw into the edge of the door for a handle, if you can't get a bar under it?
        The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

    2. bolts | Feb 10, 2009 03:40am | #10

      Forget the staples use a framing nailer the he might never do it againIn a breakfast of bacon and eggs the hen has a passing interest but the pig is fully commited

  2. GregGibson | Feb 10, 2009 01:53am | #4

    Idiot.

    I cobbled one years ago where low-pile carpet was taken up and replaced with thick berber.  Same idiot installer, I think.  Anyway, I took off the stop and trimmed the door, an inch at a time, with my Multimaster.  Cut each side, then cut out the chip, closed the door another inch, lather, rinse, repeat.  It was tedius, but it worked.

    Cleaned it up a little after the door would slide in and out.

    Greg

    1. woodway | Feb 10, 2009 02:09am | #5

      What would be wrong with attempting to cut the bottom edge of the door as the door is slowly pulled out of the wall using a Fein Multimaster saw? Even if it was a ragged cut once it's clear of the wall you could take it out (with some trim removal) and trim it properly.

      1. Oak River Mike | Feb 10, 2009 02:55am | #6

        That was what I thought of when she called me before I saw it.  But it will not even come out of the pocket as the tile is butted up tight against it.

        1. jimAKAblue | Feb 10, 2009 04:20am | #12

          Don't you own a sawzall?

      2. GregGibson | Feb 10, 2009 04:24am | #14

        That's just what I meant - you just have to remove the chunks as you go. Don't know about the original poster, now that we know there's no sliding progress at all. Yep, I'd probably remove a tile, then crank up the Multimaster.Greg

    2. glenn_storey | Feb 10, 2009 03:45am | #11

      the phone guy came to install my phone and drilled a hole, then ran the cable right through the pocket door (which was in the wall at the time). i couldn't really blame him, i didn't think about it either.

      1. jimAKAblue | Feb 10, 2009 04:21am | #13

        Thats a good story!

         

  3. TomT226 | Feb 10, 2009 03:11am | #7

    How about cutting the tile and putting some kind of race for the door to run in?  You could cut it the width of the wall past the mud, down to the subfloor, then dado a piece of oak or SS material to match the tile?

    Don't know how you'd cut the last couple of inches but it might beat taking out all the sheetrock to remove the door and cut it down.

    I know! A plasma cutter...

     

  4. Chucky | Feb 10, 2009 03:20am | #8

    remove the tile close to the jamb so that you can slide the door out and then use the Multimaster method mentioned by others.  I assume you have two tiles left that can replace the ones you remove ?

    1. User avater
      popawheelie | Feb 10, 2009 03:32am | #9

      Second what Chucky said. Is the tile guy paid? He should have to at least come back and fix the tile you took out.

  5. chairmon | Feb 10, 2009 05:14am | #16

    Hi Mike
    First a couple of questions
    1 what is at the base of both sides of the wall? (Did the tile installer tile up the walls on both sides of the door?

    2 If there is wood base trim on either side pry it off cut the drywall below the trim line. Cut your door from the side. Then put 1/2 blocking to shim out the base when you reinstall it.

    Just a thot.

    Craig



    Edited 2/9/2009 9:15 pm ET by chairmon

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh

The Titan Impact X 440 offers great coverage with minimal overspray.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh
  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data