Pocket door myths - debunking common misconceptions
It feels like the pocket door is one of those interior design features which will always polarise opinion. When it re-emerged as a popular home improvement product around a decade ago, it was roundly dismissed as an outdated Victorian relic and an obsolete feature which offered nothing but novelty value. The pocket door has gradually shaken off that quirky and eccentric characteristic and has been accepted for the progressive and innovative solutions it brings to the home and workplace.
This is one of the many misconceptions that are still held regarding the installation and operation of pocket doors, so we have gathered them all together here and, once and for all, have attempted to address all the popular pocket door myths at once.
It’s true that pocket doors were first developed and became popular in the Victorian era, and that they largely disappeared for several decades afterwards, but it can’t be denied that they have earned a rightful place to be considered amongst contemporary design solutions. Aesthetically, pocket doors are simple, clean and elegant. They disappear from view when opened and don’t create dark shadows or obstacles, and their clear lines and unfussy detail are modern and classy. In terms of practical solutions, pocket doors save space and enable an open plan area to be zoned-off to create temporary living and working areas. In an age where we want multiple uses from one solution, there can be no more contemporary and minimalist design feature than the pocket door.
Another popular misconception is that pocket doors are delicate and can breakdown easily, but there is little evidence to support this. Construction wise, pocket doors are as durable and robust as any other door, and the overhead rail mechanism is solid and effective too. As long the pocket door frame is installed well, and the runners are regularly maintained by cleaning and applying some oil, the pocket door will easily last as long as a traditional hinged door. You can also add an accessory such as the soft-close mechanism which controls the closing of the door to prevent it being slammed. This reduces the chance of damage and extends the lifespan. The pocket door is a simple and reliable system, open for heavy duty use and which should give many years of faultless operation.
At the Pocket Door Shop we have made videos to demonstrate how simple the installation process is, and while it is obviously harder to retro-fit a pocket door in an existing home, installing the system in a new-build home couldn’t be simpler. You need plenty of space to assemble the frame, but the lightweight steel materials are easy to handle and to fit together. Once in place, the door system is simple and straightforward to screw together and the biggest issue is making sure the track and overhead rail is straight and secure. You can do that before the door itself is added, and once that is successfully achieved, there isn’t much else that can go wrong and the door should run smoothly and truly long term.
- You need lots of wall space
Of course you need double the width of a door to incorporate the complete pocket door frame assembly, so you need to measure that. But if you are struggling for wall space you can always opt for a telescopic pocket door. This includes a single door that is separated into two vertical halves. When the door is opened, one half of the door slides into a recess in the other half of the door, like a telescope, and then that whole assembly slides in to the wall ‘pocket’, and hence you only need half a width of the door in the wall recess. This reduces the amount of wall space needed considerably.
- They aren’t good for sound or thermal insulation
There is a misconception that pocket doors leave a gap around the edges which allows sound and cold air through, but a quality install should avoid that completely, particularly if you are careful to allow for flooring and don’t leave a gap at the bottom of the door. In addition, you can fit acoustic seals around all edges of the door to prevent sound and air travel and you can also fit soundproofing panels to the door.
- Small rooms are unusable even with a pocket door
Yes, a pocket door creates space so that small rooms can be more practical, but who wants to sit in a tiny, claustrophobic room all day? Or all night? Glass pocket doors make small rooms much more comfortable and usable, because they let natural light flow into the room and create an impression of space.
The final popular myth regarding pocket doors is that they can’t be locked, and hence can’t be used as external doors or for privacy doors, such as bathrooms, toilets and en-suites. The truth is, as long as the door is installed and aligned properly and is well maintained, it can be fitted with a simple locking mechanism the same as any other door. At the Pocket Door Shop we can supply bathroom locks for exactly this purpose.
So forget about the misconceptions and embrace the practicality and contemporary style of the pocket door. Check out our pocket door systems online and order with us today.
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