Custom vs standard pocket doors - what you should know

The pocket door is a stylish and innovative design feature for the modern home, and there are lots of variations to the design which can bring a number of practical and aesthetic benefits. If you have already decided to benefit from the space-saving qualities of the pocket door, and you have opted for the sleek and stylish design which brings seamless operation to your modern home, you might now be faced with choosing between a standard and custom pocket door. So here we have outlined the key differences to help you make the right choice.

Standard pocket doors are a range of regular-sized doors which can be both single and double doors. These carry no additional design features and simply operate as a standard door. Custom pocket doors, on the other hand, include non-standard designs such as:

• Flush pocket doors – door systems with no architrave which sit flush to a wall for a seamless, contemporary aesthetic.
• Fire-rated pocket doors – doors made with denser materials and tested to withstand the spread of smoke and fire, and installed as an essential safety feature to comply with safety regulations.
• Glass pocket doors – pocket door systems made from glass and with the option of using a satin opaque finish and etched designs.
• Telescopic pocket doors – pocket doors split into two vertical sections with one half opening into the second half like a telescope. For use where there is limited wall space.
• Made to measure pocket doors – bespoke pocket door systems made to your unique measurements.
• Curved pocket doors – pocket doors with a stylish curved finish.
• Unilateral pocket doors – two adjacent pocket doors which open in opposite directions and into the same wall pocket. For use where there is limited wall space.

Considerations when choosing between standard and custom pocket doors

When choosing between standard and custom pocket doors there are a number of decisions to make, and which may require compromise or offsetting in terms of size, compatibility, cost and installation complexity. These include:

• Size – With standard doors you can be supplied with a range of pre-defined door sizes which reflect the normal door sizes used widely across the UK. With a custom design size is likely to be more of a factor. Although some still reflect the standard range of door sizes, others, may require more precise measurements, or may mean it is not possible to install this type of door with the space you have available. Of course, made to measure pocket doors are made to your precise requirements, in this case larger doors will require more materials and could be harder to install.
• Compliance – Fire-rated pocket doors are a legal requirement in some buildings, but not in all buildings, or all areas of a building. You need to research this thoroughly to establish where you can install standard pocket doors and where you will need fire-rated pocket doors.
• Lead time – Standard pocket doors are usually in stock and therefore are available ‘off the shelf’ for quick delivery. Custom pocket doors are not always in stock and in some cases will need to be made specially. This will result in a longer lead time for sourcing component materials and for manufacture. This may also affect cost.
• Installation – Standard pocket doors are designed to suit standard wall thicknesses and door frame sizes, and hence installation is straightforward. With custom pocket doors there may be more to consider, particularly with models such as the curved pocket door. However, these are not insurmountable issues and installation should still be relatively straightforward.
• Location – It may not be practical to install some custom pocket doors, due to the wall space required. Meanwhile, some custom products such as glass pocket doors will deliver substantial benefits in some locations, by allowing more natural light to shine between adjacent rooms and areas.
• Interior style – Standard pocket doors are very versatile and can fit in with most interior design schemes, whether they are for traditional, rustic or contemporary properties. However, some custom pocket doors have a more singular design style and will only work in certain schemes. Glass pocket doors, flush pocket doors and curved pocket doors, for example, have a very individual look, and hence won’t necessarily work everywhere, but will definitely enhance the aesthetic of the right rooms and locations.

On the whole, with standard pocket doors you have a more limited choice, but should find the type of door you need and will find that is more readily available for delivery. Installation will also be straightforward. With custom pocket doors, however, you have a wider choice in terms of style, appearance and design schemes, but may find that lead time is longer and there are some installation challenges. When choosing the right pocket door for you, consider all these elements and weigh each one up against the other in order to find the right solution. Our sales team are always available to help you decide.  

At the Pocket Door Shop we have a range of standard and custom pocket doors for you to choose from.