A door that disappears into the cavity of a wall is called a pocket door because it slides away and doesn’t require room to open. A pocket door has long been the solution for a small room or tight space, because it takes up virtually no wall space and requires no room to swing out and open like a traditional door. This feature makes a pocket door the ideal choice where space is at a premium, but privacy is required. And it’s often used as a room divider to separate two rooms like a dining room or a parlor, often found in classic old homes.
The door is actually a system that includes hardware and special framing, which is sold separate from the door; it can be flat, paneled, hollow or solid, so its style can be matched to other wood trim and doors in a home.
A carpenter will charge $693, including labor and material, to install a 36-inch pocket door. If you have carpentry experience and tools, you can buy the door and hardware system for $225 and do it yourself, saving 68%.
The best online source of information that we know is www.johnsonhardware.com, the manufacturer of the hardware. Watch a video of the installation or download the instructions so you can see what’s involved before deciding if you want to tackle the job or hire a pro. Both instructions and videos are in the “Resources” section. If you’re looking for ideas, go to the “Image Gallery.”
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com.
Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved
$693 — $225 — 10.5 — 17.0 — $468 — 68%
