Replies

1. 
   KRettger | Jun 26, 2003 08:02pm | #1

   Have installed pocket doors over the years and the trick to getting them to work well is in the installation. Every facet of the framing, header, and opening must be technically correct in all aspects. The header is key. It must be stiff, level, and perfectly parallel and centered to the opening.

   The wall it is being installed in had better be plumb. The opening it is going to slide to cover has to have both jambs on the same plane, plumb and parallel.

   I don't remember the name of the manufacturers of the units I have installed, but it seemed if we got the unit mounted technically correct in all aspects the sliding door worked well and and all the reveals worked out nice.

   Good Luck!

   Cork in Chicago

2. 
   brujenn | Jun 26, 2003 09:10pm | #2

   In Portland Oregon, the only good option is a "Johnson" pocket door kit. Johnsons have an extruded aluminum track and a pair of 3 nylon wheel rollers that work very smoothly. The wall structure peices are pine strips in steel channels that stay pretty darn well in place. They have good anchoring bracket at the bottom and you can adjust the spacing if you need to for closet cleats or what have you.

   I have always dreaded pocket doors because my parents 3 homes each had 1 pocket door and none of them ever worked well (the doors, not my folks). I still have this gut feeling about pocket doors, even after 20 years of installing them with out a call back. Follow the advice from Cork and read the directions that come with the door frame kit.

   I install a 4" X 6" or greater header and buy screws long enough to go through the track and jamb and into the header 1 1/2" or so, especially important if the door is solid core.

3. 
   RussellAssoc | Jun 26, 2003 11:30pm | #3

      We've used Johnson with surprising good success.  I say surprising, because all this residential stuff looks and feels Mickey Mouse.  No insult to Mickey intended, I love my Mickey PJ's.

4. 
   djohan | Jun 26, 2003 11:44pm | #4

   When I had my own house built 13 years ago, I speced Johnson pocket door hardware and have been very pleased with it.  Two of the six pocket doors in the house either are between the master bedroom and the master bath, or section off the commode in the master bath.  Both of those doors are used several times each day, seven days a week and have never given us a problem.  I had installed a couple HD units in my old house and had nothing but problems with jumped tracks and such.

   Here's a solid case for the better product even at a price that is 50% higher than the HD units.