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In a small space where every inch counts, minimizing the number of doors swinging out into hallways or other rooms can help make a home feel open and airy. Pocket doors, which slide in between walls on specially designed hardware tracks, are a streamline, and often overlooked, solution.
“I love to work with pocket doors for bathrooms in smaller spaces,” says designer Carolin Friese, owner of House to Home Inc., who adds that they work well both in main-floor powder rooms and to separate larger bathrooms for those who prefer to tuck away the toilet. “They’re a lot more functional and you can add design elements to give them that wow effect.”
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MANTION, a company in France that has been manufacturing sliding and pocket door hardware since 1920, sells pocket doors to consumers through its brand SLID’UP by MANTION from its warehouse in Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu on Montreal’s south shore. Marketing manager Chloé Guillerm says that because pocket doors don’t need the clearance of conventional doors, up to 10 square feet of surface space can be gained by installing them. They’re also ideal for residents with mobility issues, since they remove the obstacle of a swinging door.
Whether the pocket door is open or closed, the walls on either side are unobstructed, so art can be hung on them, or they can be used for decorative or functional items like a console table or desk.
Guillerm says that before installing pocket doors, it’s important to know what type of walls they’re being added to and whether they were built with 2-by-4-inch or 2-by-6-inch timber, so that a compatible hardware system can be selected.
“Pocket doors can’t be installed in walls that have electrical wiring or plumbing, and it’s also important to know how much space there is between your walls to determine the thickness and size of the door,” explains Guillerm. “There has to be at least twice the width of the door available to hide the pocket door in the wall, and you also need solid door jambs.”
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The sliding hardware depends on whether a home is new construction or not. For new builds, you’ll need a complete kit that includes a wooden beam and vertical aluminum door jambs for the structure. If you’re renovating and want to install a pocket door, you’d buy a track and accessories for the door itself.
Friese says the simplest option is to plan for pocket doors before construction or renovation, so the contractor can build your walls with that in mind.
“Adding a pocket door afterwards is possible, as long as you don’t have any beams in the wall that can’t be removed. Usually a contractors or engineer would be needed to confirm that,” notes Friese.
The pocket door itself can be made of solid wood, MDF, metal, PVC or glass. Most companies offer a wide variety of colours and finishes to complement decor in the rest of home. Guillerm says some popular pocket door trends include double doors that slide to either side of an opening, soft-close mechanisms for silent operation, and casing kits for a sleek finishing touch.
Costs to install pocket doors vary depending on door size, materials, finishings and whether you go the DIY installation route or hire a pro, says Friese.
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“In terms of materials, it’s not that expensive – around $300 – but the installation cost depends on the work itself and what’s behind the walls,” explains Friese. “Are there any studs to be removed or new framing required? That makes a difference.”
Expect to pay between $200 to $500 for SLID’UP by MANTION’s sliding system and between $600 to $1,500 to have it professionally installed, adds Guillerm.
Their kits also come with an installation guide for clients who feel confident enough to tackle the work themselves.
If you don’t want to open and retrofit your walls to put in a pocket door, another option is buying a barn door kit with a track that installs over the doorframe – it’s another good space-saver that can be purchased at home improvement stores.
“However, there’s always a little gap between the barn door and the wall,” says Friese, “so it’s not ideal for spaces where you want a noise barrier, like the bathroom.”
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