What Are the Different Types of Pocket Door Kits?

Pocket door kits are typically sold according to the size and type of sliding door they will hold. Basic kits are initially divided into two categories based on the type of stud found inside the walls of the home where the pocket door will be mounted. Within each stud category, the kits are then sold according to the core quality and overall weight of the interior door that will be used on the sliding track. If multiple kits will work with an installer's corresponding stud and door measurements, he may then wish to choose a package that provides heavy duty, long lasting hardware designed to prevent hazards and maintenance over time.

Installers should begin by measuring the wall width and length where the frame will be mounted as well as the height, width, and thickness of the door intended for use. Most kits do not include the door with the purchase of the frame and mounting hardware. Very large doors that exceed standard height and width measurements can still be used in pocket door assemblies, but often require the additional purchase of an adapter kit.

Once the installer has the necessary door measurements, he can narrow down his selection of pocket door kits based on the type of studs used in the construction of his home. Most homes are built using framing studs that are either 2 x 4 (61 cm x 1.22 m) or 2 x 6 (61 cm x 1.82 m) in size. The correct door kit will provide a mounting frame built from studs matching these in size exactly.

The most commonly available type of pocket door kits are those intended for use with a hollow core sliding door. These doors are lightweight and can move easily across the sliding track. Door kits designed to hold solid core doors are sold based on the weight of the doors they will hold. Larger, heavier doors tend to require kits with larger frames and more mounting hardware than hollow core kits, and can be more expensive initially.

Wide door frames may require the use of two sliding doors. The type of installation assemblies needed to complete such a project are known as converging pocket door kits. Frames are designed to meet flush in the center of the open doorway, allowing the sliding doors to connect and lock on perfectly converging tracks without bumping into one another.

All pocket door kits generally include a mounting frame, a sliding track, roller wheels, and attachment hardware. The base of the frame is usually constructed of timber split studs. Long lasting kits will wrap these timber studs in an additional layer of steel to provide durability and prevent the wood from warping inside the walls over time. The track provided should be labeled by the manufacturer as jump proof, indicating that the rolling door assembly will not fall out of alignment easily. These features are not included in all kits, but can help homeowners and installers avoid the hassle of removing portions of the door or the entire frame in the future to fix small, regularly occurring problems.