Pocket Sliding Door Maintenance

Many pocket doors can be adjusted with special tools from around the top of the pocket frame with the door in a partially closed position.

Pocket sliding door maintenance.

1 use a utility knife to break the paint seal along the stop moldings on each door jamb and then carefully pry off the moldings with a chisel or a 5 in 1 tool and flat bar. Cut the paint seam between the door stop and the casing but don t remove the casing. One of the best ways to lubricate the door rollers is to use a silicone spray. With this type of product you can spray it onto the rollers without taking the door completely out.

The main moving part for the door is the two hanger roller assemblies that roll along a track at the top of the door. Periodically oiling or lubricating the hardware on a pocket door is a good practice. If your pocket door rollers are not lubricated it can cause big problems when you try to open and close the door. These tools are part of the assembly kit supplied with the pocket door but are rarely given to homeowners by the builders.

If you have a gap at the bottom of the door that is causing rubbing towards the top of your door you can lower the door by adjusting the hanger that is positioned the furthest away from the door latch. However if the rollers are worn cracked or bent remove them photo 4 and replace them with a new pair. To clean and lubricate the hardware of a sliding closet door use a stiff brush a toothbrush or a hand vacuum to clean dust from the tracks. Use a pocket door wrench to turn the hanger a quarter of a turn at a time until the door is parallel with the jamb.

Sometimes the hardest part is getting the door out of the pocket or off the track. These tools are often specially angled wrenches designed to fit into that little gap. Use an aerosol lubricant to lubricate all the door rollers. I hope this video empowers the handyman inside you to tackle th.

If the pocket door is off of its track you ll have to remove it before you can repair it. If the rollers or sliding glass door wheels are full of dirt and debris give them a good cleaning and a few drops of lubricant and see if they spin freely. Remove the pocket door. If the rollers are damaged install replacement rollers available at home centers.