Types of Pocket Door Hardware
Pocket Door Hardware is made up of components that work together that allow a door to slide in and out of a wall cavity. It can be anything from the track and rollers to complete pocket door frame kits, as well as any locks, latches, pulls, and handles, that help you move the door.
1. Pulls and Handles: These are what you use to grip and slide the door. * Flush Pulls: These are recessed into the door's surface, sitting flush with it. They are ideal for doors that need to fully disappear into the wall pocket. They can come in various shapes (rectangular, round, oval, square). * Edge Pulls: Installed on the edge of the door, these often have a small lever or a carved-out section that allows you to pull the door out of the wall pocket when it's fully open. They are frequently paired with flush pulls on the face of the door. *
2. Locks and Latches: * Passage Handles: These provide a latching mechanism to hold the door closed but do not offer a locking function. They are good for areas where privacy isn't a concern but you want the door to stay shut. * Privacy Locks: These allow the door to be locked from one side (typically with a thumb turn) but don't require a key. They often have a small hole or slot on the exterior side for emergency access. Common for bathrooms or bedrooms. * Tubular Locks: A simpler locking mechanism compared to mortise locks, where the latch or lock mechanism is contained within a tube-shaped unit. Round pocket door locks are a type of tubular lock, that fits in a standard size bore, 2 1/8”, that can replace a standard door door knob. You can then use a door over that was used as a standard swinging door.
3. Tracks and Rollers (Sliding Mechanisms): * Tracks: Typically made of heavy-duty aluminum or steel, these are installed in the header above the door opening and guide the door's movement. * Rollers/Hangers/Trolleys: Attached to the top edge of the door, these components contain wheels or bearings that allow the door to roll smoothly along the track. High-quality rollers are crucial for quiet and effortless operation. * Pocket Door Frames/Kits: These often include the necessary track, rollers, and framing components to create the wall pocket for the door.
4. Other Components: * Soft Close/Soft Open Mechanisms: These add-ons gently slow the door down as it approaches the closed or open position, preventing slamming and increasing longevity. * Door Guides: Small floor-mounted components that help keep the bottom of the door aligned and prevent it from swinging out. There are also hidden guides that go in between the jamb and the metal studs. Another mechanism is an *EZ closer. This mounts in the back of the door, and pushes off against a stud in the wall behind your pocket door frame kit. They have two positions, closed and open. In the closed position, the door will be flush with the jamb, You can push the door in this position, and the door will pop out into the opening.
When selecting pocket door hardware, it's important to consider the door's weight, thickness, the desired level of privacy/security, and the overall aesthetic you want to achieve.