When not in use, a pocket door slides out of sight into a hollow cavity or "pocket" created inside the wall. Instead of being mounted on hinges, a standard door is hung on rollers that glide along an overhead track. Almost any type of door can be made into a pocket door, as long as the hardware has the capacity to carry the door's weight. Pocket doors are relatively easy to add to new construction or an extensive remodeling project where the walls are already opened up, but can be an expensive project in an existing home, depending on the space available next to the doorway, the location of any electrical or plumbing lines, and the amount of drywall or other wall covering that has to be removed (to install the pocket cavity) and then replaced.
Typical costs:
Having a pocket door installed costs $400-$1,000 (labor and materials) for a relatively straightforward installation in new construction or if the walls are already removed for a remodeling project, but can increase to $1,000-$3,500 or more (particularly if walls must be torn open in an existing house), depending local rates, the materials chosen and the complexity of the project. Installing a pocket door can cost two to five times the cost of installing the same door on hinges, because the wall opening for the pocket door must be twice as wide as the door (so there is enough space for it when it's tucked out of sight inside the wall and when it is covering the doorway).
Do-it-yourself pocket door kits can cost $60-$400, but are typically about $100-$150, depending on door size, materials and the weight capacity of the frame. For example, the Johnson Hardware 1500 Series Pocket Door Frame[1] that holds doors up to 30"x80" and up to 200 pounds costs about $110-$150, and the Johnson Hardware 2000 Series Pocket Door Frame[2] for doors up to 48"x90" and up to 300 pounds can cost $290-$340. The pocket door systems sold at most home improvement centers or lumberyards typically include a jamb, a hanger track, misc. hardware and a pre-made cage that, when framed with lightweight lumber, becomes the pocket inside the wall. Many online retailers sell pocket door hardware kits that require slightly more work to install (rather than being pre-assembled, the frame is created using thin steel-reinforced studs). With either type of pocket door system, there are additional costs for any needed lumber and the actual door itself ($25-$100 for a standard interior door, or $200-$500 for a solid wood door). Total DIY costs for installing a pocket door can be $100-$500 or more, depending on the materials used.
DIYNetwork.com estimates that replacing an existing pocket door[3] (where the pocket cavity has already been created inside the wall) is a relatively easy project that takes about an hour and costs $100-$250 in do-it-yourself materials. Hiring a handyman or laborer to replace a pocket door might cost $200-$400, parts and labor, depending on local rates, materials chosen and the extent of work needed.
A video by pocket door manufacturer Johnson Hardware illustrates how to install a pocket door[4] , and HGTV explains how to turn one large room into two by building an interior wall with pocket doors[5] .
Shopping for a pocket door:
Pocket doors that ride on steel rollers may be noisy or tend to jump the tracks; look for axle-mounted nylon or ball-bearing rollers and metal tracks. DoItYourself.com lists tips for choosing a pocket door[6] .
Pocket door frames/kits are sold at lumberyards and home improvement centers like Home Depot[7] and Lowe's[8] , or online retailers like Amazon[9] . Or search for a local door and window dealer through the American Window and Door Institute[10] .
If hiring an installer, verify that the company is properly insured, bonded and licensed; ask for and check references, and look for any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau[11] .
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I spent $550 on all supplies including drywall, trim, and paint. The supplies and scope of the job are easily underestimated. This does not include labor which I provided myself. I have the tools and construction background and this is no walk in the park. I'd say intermediate experience is needed.
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