The Secret to Pocket Doors' Success
Pocket doors are particularly versatile architectural elements. They’re there when you need privacy and gone when you don’t. Selecting the actual door is a straightforward process — just pick something that suits the architecture of your house and be done with it. But picking the hardware — the pulls and tracks — is a much more detailed and nuanced process. Here’s what you’ll want to consider:
Ceiling track. It all starts with selecting the proper track system for the doors to slide on. Typically pocket doors are top-hung. The track is recessed in the door opening, and the top of the door is affixed to the rolling trolley hardware or “running gear.” The trolleys are like a small set of roller skates that ride along the rails. So the track and trolleys must be sized to carry the weight of the door, and a big door like the one seen here weighs quite a bit more than a standard 32-inch to 36-inch-wide door.
This project used a track system by Häfele America Company called the Hawa Junior, which is a favorite of architects. The track is made from extruded aluminum, which is stable, uniform and lightweight. The trolleys roll on two nylon wheels with ball bearings — a combination that makes for low rolling resistance and quiet operation.
By choosing a full height sliding door here, the architect has maximized the opening and minimized the perception that it’s a door opening when the pocket door is fully open. Recessing the track is a clean, modern aesthetic, but it demands a high-quality track that won’t deflect under load or require future replacement. This is a permanent detail, so expect that the track price will reflect its durability.
Floor track. This system by MWE uses a floor track and rollers. One of the advantages of a floor-mounted rail is that the top of the system can be relatively light because it doesn’t bear the weight of the door. It can be used in situations where the ceiling is either inaccessible or the bearing capacity of the structure above is unknown.
The downsides are that it requires a very level floor and the track can be an obstruction. MWE offers a recessed, concavely shaped track that helps to minimize this effect.
Continue reading The Secret to Pocket Doors’ Success
The Secret to Pocket Doors' Success
