Have you ever seen sliding doors that separate individual rooms? These doors are known as pocket doors. You may have seen them as a sliding door separating a bedroom and bathroom or a bathroom and a closet. That’s just the short answer to the question, “What is a pocket door?” In this blog, you will find a more in-depth explanation of what is a pocket door, including its history, its advantages and disadvantages, and when it should be installed.
What Is A Pocket Door?
The first part of the full answer to what is a pocket door involves a little bit of history. The earliest recorded instances of these doors being used in residential homes date back to the 1850s in England and the United States. However, they didn’t become popular until the late 1880s. These doors were mainly used to create separation and a natural flow between parlors and dining areas.
As a result, pocket doors maintained their popularity well into the twentieth century. However, they dropped in popularity for a time, starting in the 1980s, due to the safety hazards presented by the tracks’ construction. When the technology used for operating pocket doors began improving, though, they made a comeback and are still enjoying the regained popularity at present.
Advantages Of Pocket Doors
The first part of the long answer to “What is a pocket door?” has been answered with a short history lesson. The next part of this detailed answer involves a deep dive into the advantages and disadvantages of pocket doors, starting with the advantages.
They Save Space
Unlike traditional swinging doors, pocket doors slide, which already frees up a lot of space. This is because you don’t need to account for the swinging space usually required for traditional doors. If there’s a small amount of space between certain rooms in your home, this door will make the most sense to install. As a result, you can use that extra space for additional features if you wish.
Different Types Are Available
If you’re worried about whether or not a pocket door will successfully complement your home interior, there’s no need. Pocket doors are available in a variety of styles, materials, and colors. Single, double, and French pocket doors are the three most common types of pocket doors. The single pocket door is the conventional type of door with a single sliding panel. Double pocket door panels meet in the middle and can be slid back into the walls. French pocket doors bring the aesthetic of French doors to your interior with their trademark wood panels with decorative glass inserts.
Increased Accessibility
This perk is ultimately dependent on the design of a specific pocket door, but more often than not, these doors are easily accessible for small children, the elderly, and people with mobile disabilities. As long as you use the best hardware and construct the door in a user-friendly way, any of your guests will be able to explore your home easily.
Disadvantages Of Pocket Doors
While the advantages are definitely worth accounting for, it’s also important to be mindful of the disadvantages of these doors. Examining the disadvantages gives you a complete answer to the question, “What is a pocket door?”
Repair And Replacement Might Be Tricky
Pocket door hardware is often very small in size. Because these pieces of hardware are small and deeply tucked into the walls, performing repairs and replacing specific parts might be tricky. For this reason, it’s important to stay on top of taking care of these doors and to ensure you can reach out to someone who specializes in repairing or replacing pocket doors.
Challenging Closing Mechanism
Most pocket doors are locked through the use of a small manual latch that attaches both door panels together. The size of the latch and the lock itself can be challenging for some people to operate. If you want to reinforce privacy with these doors, ensure the locks are either easy to use or become well-practiced in successfully using the closing mechanism.
Upgrade Your Doors With Prime Remodeling!
You now have the most thorough answer possible to “What is a pocket door?” If you’re planning to remodel your home in the near future, consider including pocket doors in that plan. The good news is that our experts at Prime Remodeling have the necessary tools and expertise to bring pocket doors to your home, so make this upgrade by contacting us today!