How to adjust a pocket door. A common problem with pocket doors is difficulty getting them to latch. The locks with these doors are very sensitive and do not allow much of a margin for error.
Pocket door adjustment is needed to correct height and alignment issues in order to have the most efficient form of security.
Locks are high on a priority list when dealing with pocket doors, as you’ll want to make sure that this part of the installation process goes smoothly.
How to adjust a pocket door
To adjust the latch, you need to get the height of your door lined up with the strike plate correctly.
If the catch does not click in, then it means that either the strike is shinier and called a piano shank or if it’s smaller you can skip this step.
This also works when rearranging furniture; so don’t be surprised when you move something and are suddenly able to operate a lock that was previously stuck.
And if nothing else fails, check out a locksmith they may have a better solution for you in solving your locked door problem.
Adjusting the height of the pocket door
Pocket doors can be adjusted to be installed at a specific height. However, standard hinged doors cannot be raised or lowered this way. Pocket doors will have two hanger plates and one (1) middle rail inside the doorframe.
Allen wrenches are used to tighten, loosen and level the handyman door hardware components.
The most common issue is misplacing the nuts and bolts that are required as a part of the installation of these useful and functional devices.
Turning the nut on one side or the other will raise or lower your door. It’s important not to adjust both sides of your door evenly when raising or lowering it.
Doing so will cause the door to be off-kilter when in place, which might result in a loss of power to that side of the door.
It’s better to turn some screws more than others, instead of alternating between turning them at all.
When you adjust for a new flooring height, try and keep your adjustments as consistent as possible. This way you can have that perfect fit.
The adjustment of pocket door side margins
A pocket door’s side adjustments work differently than you might expect.
When handling a door that has small air gaps on either side of the bottom, for example, there are two possible things happening.
The problem could be that the door is hitting at the top OR it could be hitting at the bottom.
If your door hits at the bottom, you’ll want to readjust one of the hinge plates nearest the inside face of the wall or jamb where your door is not sealing correctly.
Keep in mind that if you’ve flipped your hinges over so they open outwards as we recommended, then this will really only apply to 3-2/3″ or 4″ doors because 5″ and 6″ pocket doors will have doors opening toward each other.
Assuming you’re dealing with one of those smaller doors, get one that’s in need of adjustment and turn it slightly with your pocket door wrench until it holds itself parallel to both jamb and top plate when pushed closed.
If you need a gap at the bottom of your door, then do the opposite. Get your hinge closest to the door latch and lower the hinge housing so that it moves into the edge of the frame to make a gap at the spot you need it.
Do this in quarters or fractions turning it once in one direction and back again, adjusting as necessary until you have just enough space between the hinges.
This method also works if you need to close up gaps on either side of a door you are hanging.
Are pocket doors hard to fix?
The pocket door is notoriously cantankerous and vulnerable to breakdown. The door is fiendishly complicated to repair and requires a highly-skilled professional for optimum results the wrong person in charge of the handiwork can cause delays, if not damage.
This means that hiring a skilled specialist might be your best option when dealing with a malfunctioning or otherwise damaged drawer door.
How do you maintain a pocket door?
Devices on doors, such as pocket doors, that slide back and forth are susceptible to getting stuck. Over time, the track can get dirty with dust and dirt which will only make it harder to slide.
Lubricating the mechanisms periodically keeps them moving smoothly for a lot longer. Use a silicone-based lubricant that does not contain petroleum products with your door’s hardware to keep things working like new.
Is the pocket door good for a bathroom?
Pocket doors are great for spaces where full-sized walls doors might not be as practical or would not make sense, like a smaller bathroom.
This is because they open up to the inside of a room rather than fully outwards by swinging on hinges and usually only occupy the amount of space they need while retracting into the wall mount they hang on.
Pocket doors can provide an elegant look to your home too just like those the rich and famous have in their luxury homes.
How to adjust a pocket door
Related Guides