Good Morning,
I am looking for hardware suggestions for 1 large pocket door to enter a media room and offer some degree of sound proofing. I would like a door roughly 8’x9’h but my wife won’t allow a barn style sliding door and I don’t really want a multi-pass system.
After performing some searches here it appears that Johnson Hardware is recommended and I may have to live with a 5’x9’h door. This is the harware I’m considering http://www.johnsonhardware.com/2000.htm I doubt the door will weigh 300# but I want it to work very smoothly and I can fit the track.
Could anyone comment on this hardware or offer other suggestions.
Secondly, I would appreciate recommendations re the door itself.
Thanks, TWG.
Replies
Hopeful bump.
Hafele is the Cadillac. I'm replacing my Johnson with them in the very near future.
Johnson pocket door frames are the only brand we install and as of yet, have not had a problem with them.
What the wise man from NY said, Hafele is the Cadillac!
Doug
I think it's the wise guy from NY
<G>
I heard that!
Heh Heh!
Hardware is the most important factor, for sure, and I like Hafele too (because I equate weird names with quality). Most hangars have two, three or four wheels each. I like four wheels to distribute the abuse.
5'x9' is a big opening. You can use any door that's flat and stable, but weight will be a huge factor in determining your hardware needs. A hollow core (veneer over edge glued cardboard) would be easiest to move, could hang from smaller quieter wheels and won't break anyone's leg under momentum (hand- yes). It's not going to be very soundproof, but not many pocket doors are anyway.
A raised panel door would look nice, but the 5' width could make it prone to warping. Anything thicker or a solid core door will probably have to roll on a rail in the threshold.
One more possible option is to have two small pockets and doors that pull together and lock in the middle. This is a common room divider in Victorians with 9' doorways. Rather than dragging a single heavy door five feet, you might find two small doors more manageable. It actually stops sound better than you might think.
Hardware is an issue no doubt but wall construction is another.
I put in a 3'0" pocket door in a master Bed/ Bath access with at least a 200 lb door. Walnut 6 panel. Massive thing.
If this is an entertainment room sound will be an issue. Firm it up with some sort of buttress or stub wall. the pocket doors get pretty whippy as the 2X is non existant the whole opening. it is only glued DW to the 1x3 pine slats. Pretty resonant in my book.
In any instance make sure you clean out the track well before you install the door in the wheel sets (or "trucks" as they are called in industry) Impacted drywall and mud makes for a bumpy ride that is hard to remove after the fact. Even though it is enclosed it still finds a way to mess up the ride.
Installed two johnson units (let the jokes roll...) on Rec. of folks on this site in job earlier last year and they we're excellent. Roller ball hardware smooth as can be, heavy duty available. Installation very straightforward and adjustable. Both my doors came out perfectly and hang dead-on, straight up and down in the world in their pockets.
Couldn't be happier.
Thanks all for the replies. I am headed to a neighbors to check out a Hafele system tonight although I don't think it's as sturdy a system as I would purchase. The strength of the higher end Hafele systems are really impressive (1100lb door weight with 19' tracks), albeit at $1500+ hardware cost.
This leads me to consider again my wish for a 8'x9' "door", but now I'm thinking more of a framed, soud-proofed and drywalled "moving wall" instead of a door. My rough estimation puts this "door" at 300 to 400 lbs. Watch out future kids!!
I do understand this would require some significant structural support but all of the nearby walls are getting moved around anyway. An engineer can figure it out the specifics.
Has anyone ever built a "moving wall" like this or a similar weighted sliding door?
I will continue to update.
Thanks again, TWG.