Old School Pocket Door Help?

**SteveMatt** · 03-15-2013, 07:59 PM

Folks,

I am the son of an 82 yo carpenter...a great classic carpenter, and also a not-so great communicator. And here's another example of why - he has framed interior partitions for us in a new addition. And since he did the framing, he has left town and going to be unavailable for months. And we are now sheetrocked, taped, etc.

So, in that framing of the pocket door opening - he did not use any hardware. Instead he has used ripped 2x4s to create a close fitting set of guides that the door would move along. I'm guessing that this some kind of traditional technique prior to the introduction of hardware kits.

Now I am left to the hang the door and I'm clueless as to how. Most kits and things I see on how to hang it show a track that is installed inside the pocket. Well, I cannot do that.

Are there kits that are designed just for the doorway framing? And any suggestions for online references/material/videos?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

**joseph** · 03-15-2013, 08:35 PM

can you post pictures of what you have .this could be informative .

**Kent Brobeck** · 03-15-2013, 08:46 PM

You're going to need to pull the drywall off the wall and reframe the entire pocket door opening. Do you know a finish carpenter? I'd just hire one and have them do it. A very competent one not the cheapest you can find. Done right they're not a walk in the park.

**LIHR50** · 03-16-2013, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Kent Brobeck

You're going to need to pull the drywall off the wall and reframe the entire pocket door opening. Do you know a finish carpenter? I'd just hire one and have them do it. A very competent one not the cheapest you can find. Done right they're not a walk in the park.

Absolutely! Take that advice to the bank

**Bob scott** · 03-17-2013, 11:17 AM

Your 82 year old dad left town for months and you can't contact him...

HUH??????

Is there a track above?

Get someone who knows In there.

**Mark G** · 03-20-2013, 02:27 PM

Take a look at this article from JLC by Al Constantine on replacing pocket door hardware without tearing things up, August 2005: http://www.jlconline.com/slipform/on-the-job.aspx

**Kowboy** · 03-24-2013, 08:54 AM

Steve:

I wrote an article for Old House Journal (Nov. 1996) on the restoration of historic pocket doors, but I doubt it'll do you much good.

Do it over. It's a sheet of drywall.

Joe

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