Measuring your opening for a perfect pocket door fit

Choosing the right size of pocket door is the most important decision involved in the installation process, but fortunately this decision is considerably helped by there being standard door sizes in the UK, and by suppliers such as the Pocket Door Shop supplying pocket door kits to specifically match these sizes. There is also lots of help and information available with regards to choosing the right size pocket door.

Considerations when choosing the right size pocket door system

There are 10 standard UK door sizes, with the standard door height being 2040mm, and then ten different door widths. But when you are considering the right size pocket door kit to buy, there are three dimensions you need to think about:

• The door size – This is the size of the actual door you have or want, it is the actually panel width of the door i.e. 762 / 838 etc.
• Passage Width - This is the actual walk width of door opening, this can be relatively narrow for most people, but may also need to be much wider in settings where you are regularly carrying items through a door, such as in hospitality settings, or where you need wheelchair access, for example.
• The frame size – (overall frame size) It is important to understand that the pocket door frame size is very different to the pocket door itself. Essentially, the pocket door frame needs to be twice the width of the door. This is because half of the frame is installed within the wall cavity (the ‘pocket’) as it is needed to accommodate the pocket door when it is fully open. This is the main restriction when people consider installing a pocket door. So you should basically double the width of the door size and also add an allowance for the frame itself and so that the system can operate and be manoeuvred. It is recommended that you add around 36mm to the horizontal width for this allowance, and also add around 75mm to the vertical height for the same reason, to accommodate the overhead section of the frame and the overhead rail and runners.
• The wall thickness – There are also six standard wall thicknesses in the UK, which is based on the fact that most internal walls are now stud walls. When measuring the wall thickness you also need to allow for plasterboard, which will sit either side of the steel pocket door frame, and with sufficient width so that there is suitable clearance to manoeuvre the frame if you need to. So the finished wall size needs to consider your studwork size as well as your plasterboard.
• Other considerations – There are a couple of other considerations you need to make when choosing the right size pocket door system. You also need to think about flooring and need to add an allowance for what kind of flooring or carpet you will be installing. You want the pocket door to sit neatly with your flooring, but this is a few millimetres above the actual floor level. So don’t measure your door length flush to the floor, as you will actually want it to sit slightly above that. Also, if you are installing double pocket doors – often referred to as room dividers for flexible spaces – you will need to double the door width on either side of the door. The double pocket door operates by both doors opening in opposite directions, and therefore the pocket door frame system requires a wall cavity on both sides of the door itself. So when measuring for a double pocket door system, you need to double the door width on both sides, plus add the frame allowance as before.

Once you have the full dimensions for the space you will need, also allowing for additional space for the frame and the overhead rail, you can refer to the list of standard frame sizes that the Pocket Door Shop supply and choose the one that most closely matches your requirements. In most cases you will have standard requirements and the frame system you require will be straightforward to identify.  

Choosing the right size pocket door system

So, in summary, the three main considerations when measuring your opening for a pocket door system are the door size, the frame size and the wall thickness. These are the dimensions you need to accurately measure, and based on these parameters you can then select the appropriate pocket door system for your needs. You can view the full range of pocket door systems supplied by Pocket Door Shop and order online today.