Why you should consider upgrading old sliding doors to modern pocket door systems

Pocket doors and sliding doors have been a common feature in older properties for many years. They are a very popular feature for linking rooms and for creating temporary zones. This is an advantage in a domestic home when you want to create an open plan feel to a ground floor space, for example when entertaining people or for large family gatherings. Sliding doors and pocket doors enable you to open up space between a kitchen and dining room or a dining room and lounge for example. This means people aren’t isolated in separate rooms and there is more flow and a more sociable atmosphere to a room. In a commercial workplace, sliding doors and pocket doors can also be used to create temporary spaces which can be large or small as desired.

But modern pocket door systems offer a range of advantages which have made them the go-to choice for people wanting to create space and to link rooms effectively in a property. And this has seen them increase in popularity compared to older sliding doors. So let’s understand a bit more about modern pocket door systems and why they should be your preference.

What are the differences between pocket doors and sliding doors?

• Pocket doors completely disappear into a wall cavity when opened, while sliding doors sit parallel to the wall when opened and so are still visible.
• Sliding doors tend to leave a section remaining in the passageway when opened, while pocket doors can be installed to sit 100% in the pocket.
• Modern pocket door systems can be installed with various accessories to assist their operation.

What are the advantages of modern pocket door systems over sliding doors?

Following on from these differences listed above, how does that present benefits to the property owner? Here we have listed the main advantages of pocket doors and why you should consider upgrading your old sliding doors to install pocket doors:

• Full passageway width – Pocket doors 100% disappear into the wall cavity, while sliding doors leave a small section remaining in the passageway. This can cause a hindrance to free movement through the passageway and to creating seamless transition between rooms.
• No obstructions – Because the sliding doors sits alongside the wall in the open position, it requires that section of wall to be left blank. So you can’t hang a picture or mirror, you can’t locate furniture or you can’t install a radiator or a light switch in this section, as these will all become an obstruction to the door. The pocket door, meanwhile, completely disappears and poses no obstruction.
• Ideal for small spaces – Even though the sliding door doesn’t open into a room and allows you to use more space in a room, it does sit proud of the wall and hence restricts the amount of space available. The pocket door enables you to use every millimetre of space in a room and hence is ideal for tight spaces such as creating an en-suite, a utility room, a downstairs toilet, or for storage space.
• Minimalist appeal – The pocket door disappears when open and can’t be seen, which enhances a property that has a contemporary and minimalist appeal because there is a flawless appearance with no sightlines.
• Discreet appearance – The sliding door will always be visible whether open or closed and hence could be considered a visual obstacle in a room. The pocket door easily blends into a room, particularly if you choose a flush pocket door.
• Operational practicality – The pocket door can be installed with a number of accessories which enhance its practical functionality. These can include a soft-close feature to prevent the door being slammed, a self-close accessory, double-door co-ordination and a touch latch door opening facility.
• Insulation – Sliding doors sit proud of the wall and hence leave a gap, while pocket doors are engineered to be part of the wall structure and can also be fitted with seals. This means they are better for sound and thermal insulation.
• More design options – Modern pocket door systems include various design options to suit your space. These include flush pocket doors with no architrave, glass pocket doors and telescopic pocket doors, which are ideal for areas where there is limited wall space, as one vertical section of the door opens into the other, so you don’t need as much wall space to accommodate the system.

You can choose from our range of pocket doors which are made from quality materials and using techniques which offer robust and reliable performance for long-term consistency.