Choosing a Pocket or Sliding Door System
Pocket doors and sliding doors are an excellent way to maximise usable space where a conventional hinged door would require too much room to open.
Rather than swinging into the room, the door slides horizontally. A pocket door disappears into a specially constructed cavity within the wall, while a surface sliding door travels along the face of the wall.
The best option will depend on the wall construction, available space, door weight and the appearance you want to achieve.
What is a Pocket Door?
A pocket door system allows the door leaf to slide completely into a cavity constructed within the wall.
When open, the door is largely hidden from view and does not occupy valuable wall or floor space. This makes pocket doors particularly useful for bathrooms, en-suites, bedrooms, walk-in wardrobes, hallways and smaller rooms where space is limited.
Pocket door systems can also provide a clean, minimalist appearance in larger contemporary interiors.
Because the door slides into the wall, the pocket system normally needs to be considered when the stud wall is being constructed or refurbished.
Pocket Door or Surface Sliding Door?
Both systems save space, but they operate differently.
A pocket door slides inside the wall cavity. This creates a very discreet installation and leaves the adjacent wall largely free for furniture or other uses.
A surface mounted sliding door travels along a track positioned in front of the wall. This can be easier to incorporate where the existing wall cannot accommodate a pocket system.
Surface sliding systems can also form a visible part of the interior design, while pocket doors are generally chosen when a more concealed appearance is preferred.
Soft-Close Pocket & Sliding Doors
A soft-close mechanism controls the door as it approaches the end of its travel, helping it close smoothly rather than striking the end of the track.
Soft-close systems can improve the feel of the door in everyday use and are particularly attractive in bedrooms, bathrooms, hotels and higher-specification residential interiors.
When adding soft-close hardware, always check that the mechanism is compatible with the particular pocket or sliding door system.
Choosing Sliding Door Handles
Traditional projecting lever handles are generally unsuitable for a door that needs to disappear fully into a wall pocket.
For this reason, pocket and sliding doors commonly use flush pulls or recessed door handles that sit close to the face of the door.
An edge pull can also be fitted into the leading edge of a pocket door, allowing the door to be pulled out of the pocket when it is completely open.
Flush pulls are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and finishes, allowing the sliding door furniture to coordinate with the other architectural ironmongery throughout the property.
Locks for Pocket & Sliding Doors
Sliding doors can also be fitted with specially designed sliding door locks and privacy sets.
For bathrooms, en-suites and bedrooms, a sliding door privacy set can provide a thumbturn-operated locking function while maintaining the low-profile appearance required for a pocket door.
Make sure the lock, flush pull and door system are compatible before machining the door.
Planning a Pocket Door Installation
Before ordering a pocket door system, consider the door width, door height, wall thickness, door weight and available wall space.
The wall needs sufficient uninterrupted length to accommodate the door when it slides into the pocket. Services such as electrical sockets, switches and plumbing also need to be considered when planning the pocket wall.
For surface sliding systems, check the required track length, fixing position and weight capacity of the sliding mechanism.
Planning these details before the wall or door is installed can make the final installation considerably easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pocket door?
A pocket door is a sliding door that moves into a concealed cavity or “pocket” within the wall when opened.
It provides a particularly space-efficient alternative to a conventional hinged door.
Do pocket doors save space?
Yes. Because a pocket door slides into the wall instead of swinging into the room, it removes the clearance area normally required by a hinged door.
This can be particularly useful in small bathrooms, en-suites, wardrobes and compact rooms.
Can you install a pocket door in an existing wall?
Yes, but the wall generally needs to be opened or reconstructed to accommodate the pocket door frame and track.
Pocket door systems are therefore particularly convenient during renovations, extensions and new construction when stud walls are already being formed.
What is the difference between a pocket door and a sliding door?
A pocket door slides inside the wall, while a surface sliding door moves along the face of the wall.
Both save floor space, but a pocket door provides a more concealed appearance when open.
Can a pocket door be locked?
Yes. Special sliding door locks and privacy sets are available for pocket doors.
These are particularly useful for bathrooms, en-suites and bedrooms where privacy is required.
What handles do I need for a pocket door?
Pocket doors normally use flush or recessed pulls so that the door can slide into the wall cavity without projecting handles interfering with the opening.
An edge pull can also be fitted to help retrieve the door when it is fully inside the pocket.
Can pocket doors have soft close?
Yes. Compatible pocket door systems can be fitted with a soft-close mechanism to control the final movement of the door and provide smoother operation.
Always check compatibility between the soft-close accessory and the specific pocket door system.
Need Help Choosing a Pocket or Sliding Door System?
The correct system will depend on your door dimensions, wall construction, door weight and required hardware.
Roundtower Hardware supplies pocket door systems, sliding door kits, soft-close mechanisms, flush pulls, edge pulls and sliding door locks throughout Ireland.
Browse our range online or contact our team if you need help putting together the correct pocket or sliding door system for your project.
