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Discussion Forum

Wide Closet Opening

dougco | Posted in General Discussion on June 7, 2008 05:13am

Fairly accomplished weekend warrior here….
I have converted 2 back to back closets into one deep closet in one of two adjoining bedrooms. Presently, there is a rough opening of 6′-8″ high by 7′-1-1/2″ wide. I want to frame a 5 and a half foot opening, slightly off center for doors. My 14 year old “client” does not want bi-folds; a decision I agree with. If I use two 30 inch doors, do they have friction or roller catches for closure? I don’t want a dominant door, or a center post for hardware.

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  1. Westcoast | Jun 07, 2008 05:16pm | #1

    Yes they normally have the rollers on the top for a closure system. I always prefer to use them and avoid bifolds alltogether.

  2. User avater
    BillHartmann | Jun 07, 2008 05:19pm | #2

    FWIW Johnson Hardware makes a bifold door hardware where the doors will open 180 and lay flat against the walls.

    Probably not needed in this case, but just pass it along.

    Great for where you have laundry in a hallway closet.

    .
    .
    A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
  3. Danno | Jun 07, 2008 07:06pm | #3

    I think Westcoast is talking about sliding doors hanging from rollers in tracks mounted above doors and you are talking about double doors with no style between that latch with friction catches, right?

    Anyway, are sliding doors a possibility? I don't know how regular doors pivoting on hinges would latch--maybe bullet latches top (and bottom)? (The kind that have a sort of spring-loaded ball (bullet) in a cup that catches in a detent on the frame.) That would probably work. Magnets would also work--put a fairly strong magnet in a mortise in the edge of each door and another (or just a piece of iron or steel) in the frame--maybe just a magnet in one door edge and a piece or iron in the other and they would hold each other closed.

    1. Westcoast | Jun 08, 2008 01:28am | #13

      Hey Danno that is what i meant, the regular hinged doors with the spring loaded roller catch on top of each door.I dislike the sliding doors too, but not as much as i hate bifolds!

      1. Danno | Jun 08, 2008 01:42am | #14

        Oh, my bad. Something in your post made me think you were talking about the rollers-in-tracks sliding doors. I agree about disliking them (but I have them in our bedroom and the typical, nasty, binding, never quite right bi-folds just about everywhere else.)

        1. Westcoast | Jun 08, 2008 04:59am | #16

          Haha ya i have bifolds througout at home, but most all customer homes get the real deal.

  4. peteshlagor | Jun 07, 2008 07:12pm | #4

    Use double doors that swing out.  Install a light switch in the door jam - it'll keep the doors closed.

    And go to the glass supply house to get these doors.  You'll need lightweight ones with mirrors on the front, maybe also on the inside.  They can order you some real nice ones. 

     

    1. Danno | Jun 07, 2008 07:42pm | #6

      I'm not the OP, but am curious as to how the light switch would keep the doors closed, can you tell me?

      1. peteshlagor | Jun 07, 2008 07:53pm | #7

        Because the light from the inside would bother the HO until she closed the door.  And the mirrors cause her to keep order by having uniform relections.

        I'm speaking from experience.  I frequently have put jam switches in.  Those doors always stay closed.

         

        1. Danno | Jun 07, 2008 07:59pm | #8

          I should stick with my original takes on things--I first figured, yeah, if light is on they will keep doors closed and make light turn off, but then thought (big problem there, thinking) somehow the switch would pull the doors closed. (Maybe if it were a pull chain....) Thanks for replying!

        2. User avater
          BillHartmann | Jun 07, 2008 08:47pm | #10

          "And the mirrors cause her to keep order by having uniform relections."Do you think that is what the Democratic Party needs?.
          .
          A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

          1. peteshlagor | Jun 07, 2008 09:15pm | #11

            They need something for sure.  Not sure if reflections are it.

            But the other side isn't much better.   I'm almost ready to vote for Frenchy.

             

  5. mike_maines | Jun 07, 2008 07:13pm | #5

    Bifolds s*ck, we usually do double doors with bullet catches but I prefer magnets because the bullet catches are hard to get adjusted just right.

  6. JohnCujie | Jun 07, 2008 08:43pm | #9

    I like the old Ives 350 Adjustable Catch. Kind of clunky looking, but you only see it when the door is open. About a 5 minute install and they really suck the door closed. Touted by a big time decorator.

    John

  7. jjwalters | Jun 07, 2008 10:25pm | #12

    I dislike all closet doors except a regular door period ...or 2 depending on the width of the closet........

    roller catches would work if you used a blank door and attached knob of choice.

  8. Pelipeth | Jun 08, 2008 02:09am | #15

    We call them ball orBullet catches. They work fine and adjust easily.

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