Pocket doors are a smart solution for saving space, creating a sleek interior, and adding a modern touch to your home. When selecting the right pocket door kit there are several options to choose from. To make specification as easy as possible, in this guide we break down the essential steps to choosing the perfect pocket door kit.

Step 1: Choosing Your Door Size

The first step is selecting the correct door size, which determines the structural opening you'll need to create before installation. Most pocket door kits are designed for standard door sizes, but many can also be adapted for custom or non-standard doors.

At P C Henderson, our pocket door kits cater for doors up to 2315mm high and 930mm wide.

Key Considerations

  • Door Weight: Ensure your chosen pocket door kit can cater for the weight of your doors.
  • Wide openings: For large openings, you may consider bi-parting doors

Step 2: Choose Your Finished Wall Thickness

Pocket door kits are designed to cater for a range of wall thicknesses. Which one you pick depends on personal preference. Most installers will specify a pocket door kit to match the thickness of the existing internal walls. However, if the pocket door is being installed into a new wall, the choice is down to you.

Our Pocket Door Pro caters for finished wall thicknesses of 120mm and 125mm which covers most standard walls.

Tips 

  • If your wall is thinner than the kit's specified thickness, you can double-board the walls to achieve the same depth.

Step 3: Consider Fire Rating

Some pocket door installations may require fire-rating, particularly in apartments or when connecting a garage to the home. Fire rated pocket doors are certified to FD30 or FD60 standards to slow the spread of the fire and smoke.

Important Points

  • Standard pocket doors cannot be upgraded to fire-rated-they must be purchased as a certified fire-rated kit.
  • You may need to check with your building inspector as to if you require a fire rated system and either this should be self-closing or non self-closing.

Step 4: Choose Your Accessories

There are several accessories you can add to your pocket door to increase both it's style and functionality:

  • Soft close mechanism - Prevents slamming and ensuring quiet, smooth operation.
  • Jamb kit - Provides a professional, flush finish and saves installation time.
  • Self-close -  For added convenience, you may choose to add a self-closing mechanism without obstruction.
  • Simultaneous action kit - Ideal for double-pocket doors, allowing both doors to be open or close together.

By following these 4 steps you can find the perfect pocket door to suit your application. For more information on our pocket door systems, view our range here.