How To Remove A Pocket Door?
The majority of newly built homes have pocket doors installed, however as is common with home furnishings, over time they deteriorate and need to be replaced with new doors. If you know how to remove a pocket door yourself, you could save some money for yourself.
Despite how easy it may seem, this removal procedure is not simple. Additionally, you might need some help if pocket door repairs are new to you. For the removal and installation, you must also obtain high-quality pocket door hardware.
Furthermore, with our tutorial, regardless of your level of experience, you will be able to remove pocket doors. Additionally, we separated them into two segments for clarity’s sake. The removal of pocket doors with or without the trim is covered in each section of this pocket door tutorial.
What Are Pocket Doors?
A pocket door is a special kind of door that slides straight into the side walls and is common in contemporary buildings. The pocket door slides sideways in opposing directions rather than swinging outwards or inwards like a normal door does. You save a lot of space in both directions with this method of opening and closing.
Therefore, the half-round area in front and back would not be required to allow for the closing and opening of a door. You can make the most of the area right behind the door for your chair or table since there is no requirement for such a room.
Pocket doors are typically seen in rooms of the house when there is a need to maximize space. These pocket doors are frequently installed in congested living spaces like the bedroom, bathroom, or hallways.
Amass the necessary tools
A few simple portable tools are needed to remove a pocket door. The removal of the trim that secures the door in the following stage will mostly require these tools. The equipment you will require is:
- A power drill
- Utility knife
- Hammer
- Pliers
- A flat bar
A table saw and wallboard saw will be useful if you need to do more than simply remove the door itself, such as remove the entire pocket door track or cut the door for a flooring job.
An Instructional Guide for Removing Pocket Doors
Step 1: Remove the door stop’s caulk
In order to get to the door stop, where the caulk is, you should fully open the door first. Then, using a sharp object like a razor or utility knife, gently scrape the caulk off the doorstop. Make sure to carefully scratch around the caulk lines of the stop to prevent loss or damage.
Once you have removed the caulk and reached the doorstop, remove the wood if you won’t be using it again. If you want to recycle the wood, you won’t remove it using a pry bar.
Step 2: Removing the door stop
After completely removing the doorstop from its frame, remove the caulk. Even though taking out the stops is not difficult, a pry bar is still required. There is no danger posed by a doorstop that is nailed to the side, so you shouldn’t be concerned.
The only thing you need to do to prevent denting it is remove it from the wood beforehand. You will receive a replacement one if the wood deteriorates, of course. In order to take the pocket door out of the frames, it is preferred if it is closed.
Step 3: Completely lifting out the pocket door
When you fully lift the pocket door off of its rails, you’ll notice there is a portion you need to open. After that, turn to the door’s open side and lift it out. Once all sides are open on one side, begin dragging the screen in your direction.
To get the rollers out of their grooves, try pulling while lifting the door just a little. You would require assistance if the door was too large for one person to open alone. This person would assist in opening and closing the door as needed.
Step 4: Pull out the pocket door
You can finally take out the pocket door and put it away once these first steps have been finished. You must move it further away from your exit, yes. This is usually the part that causes the biggest problems for some folks. The size of the door also has an impact on how difficult it would be to open; you might even need help.
To remove the door, however, you must hire a professional if the track enters the wall. You can spend all of your time and energy making it without getting the intended outcomes.
How to Take a Pocket Door Out Without Removing the Trim
Step 1: Remove the jamb stops
Remove the jamb stops first if the trim is still required for pocket doors. These are located at the head and on the J-shaped single track. Remove the jamb stops from the door angle that faces the closed side of the track for a more efficient procedure. If the screw-attached stops are backed out on this side of the track, it will be simpler.
Step 2: Remove the roller from its location
Once you’ve completed the first step, it’s time to take out the stops so you can pull out the rollers. When the stops are released, try slowly swinging the door upward from the bottom. Additionally, while pushing it up, make an effort to free the rollers from their position.
Relevant Advice
- If you are replacing a door because it is warped, painting it will keep it from developing the same issue. To accomplish this, you must understand how to paint a pocket door without taking it off its tracks. Once you master the technique, you can paint the four sides’ faces and edges to keep them from warping.
- Slide the rollers into the track after attaching the hanging pocket door hardware to the top of the door. Adjust until the door is level while hanging it on both hangers. When putting up drywall over the pocket, attach the door grip as well before taking the door off. Therefore, before attaching it to the door, spread a few layers of the drywall mixture on the connections.
- Install the pocket door guides both inside and outside the door opening. By fastening the head jambs and two-piece to either side of the door, you can ensure the door is flush and prevent pocket door wobbles. With the aid of pocket door studs and nails, secure the door casing to the frame. The strike plate should then be installed.
Conclusion
If you use a pocket door, it will be beneficial to learn how to take it out in case you need to repair or replace it. The accompanying instructions will be of great assistance to you and will show you how to free a stuck pocket. To remove worn-out pocket doors, follow the instructions and advice.
In conclusion, be sure.
- Take the caulk off.
- Eliminate the door stops.
- Swing and lift the door’s wheels out.