There’s more to consider when deciding to install sliding closet doors than simply ease of use. The conventional difficulties with closet doors, such as creaking and squeaky hinges, are eliminated with these ingenious swinging panels.
The closet’s sliding doors are smooth to operate, silent, and provide quick access to the closet’s contents. The size of your bedroom is irrelevant; you may have a spacious closet that accommodates all of your garments and has doors that don’t dominate the room. The extra area will come in handy when decorating your bedroom to maximize coziness and relaxation.
Varieties of Sliding Wardrobe Doors
Certain variations of sliding closet doors do not have a bottom track. The doors may be free-hanging or may be held in place by a thin plastic guide. The top track holds most sliding closet doors in place. Although some are hung from above, others just glide through and follow the contours of a channel.
The options for offset or flush installation of a sliding closet door may be available to you depending on the model you choose. Positioning the doors in the middle of the jamb creates a shadowy, offset appearance, which is preferred by some homeowners.
Some like to set the doors farther forward, making them flush or almost flush with the walls on each side.
Improvements to Sliding-Closet-Door Installation Methods
One of the most obvious aspects of any woodworking job is the amount of measuring and cutting that must be done. Taking measurements of the closet opening is a must before purchasing sliding closet doors.
Often mounted at the top, these doors swing horizontally along tracks. The door rests entirely on its upper track. Sliding any door may be done in either direction. In this manner, you may get entry to the closet’s inside. Just one side of the closet may be opened at a time, however. You’ll need to move both doors the other way if you wish to cross across. Sliding one door closes indicates completion.
That’s because there are two sets of tracks at the top of the closet, so the doors may swing open in any direction. Both the tracks and/or the bottom guides will be doubled up. Unlike heavier doors, which often have tracks or guides installed at the base of the closet, light doors may not have any of these features.
Before You Begin The Closet Door Installment
If your closet has sliding doors, take them and their tracks off. Sliding closet doors have tracks that are typically made specifically for each model. Empty the closet of anything you can. Any clutter on the ground must be picked up immediately.
Various Equipment and Tools you’ll need:
- Hacksaw
- Set of drill bits and drivers for a cordless drill
- Pencil
- Hammer
- Length Measuring Tape
- An old-fashioned Phillips screwdriver
- Indelible Marker
- Cutlery chisel
Materials to be used:
- Sliding-door wardrobes
- Plank of wood (optional for carpet installation)
Here are some of the steps on how you can install your closet doors easily:
Step 1: Assemble the Door’s Head Jamb
Ensure that there are no nails or screws protruding from the top of the door jamb (or door frame). Clean the path.
Step 2: Take the Dimensions of the Entrance
Take a horizontal measurement of the door opening from both the top and bottom, since these dimensions may be somewhat different.
Step 3: Separate the Tracks
Make a tiny mark on the reverse of each track with the permanent marker, using the exact measurements you took, minus 1/8 inch. Trim the rails to size using the hacksaw. In order to get rid of any sharp edges that may have been left behind when cutting, use the metal file.
Step 4: Wet-Fit the Top of the Track
Recruit an aide to help with this process. The helper’s job is to steady the higher track while you evaluate its placement. At the middle of the track, divide the 1/8-inch space evenly between the two sides. The door track may be mounted either at the door jamb’s front or its middle, depending on how you want to install the system. Verify that the track is being held properly. A few of the paths might be front and back.
Step 5: Set up the Top Rail
Drill pilot holes and secure the top track with screws after you’ve determined its proper placement.
Step 6: Nail the fascia down
Oftentimes, the top track of a sliding closet door will be concealed by a metal or plastic fascia strip. Fascia strips usually just snap into place.
Put in the bottom track.
Anchor the floor track to the subfloor using screws. You can screw it right into your floor whether you have solid hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, or vinyl.
A piece of wood the size of the lowest track should be purchased if you have carpeting. Anchor the wood plank to the floor, and then fasten the track to the plank using the screws.
Step 7: Set in the Wardrobe Doors
You may ask your helper to open the first door for you by tipping it down to you. Lightly slam the door into the cloakroom. Raise the door and insert the wheels into the upper track’s rear groove.
The closet door may be opened by swinging the bottom edge in toward the closet’s rear wall. When the door slides over the high side of the bottom track, the spring-loaded guides at the bottom should compress. There should be a satisfying click as they settle into the central groove of the track.
If the doors don’t line up with the jambs correctly, you may adjust them. Wheel assemblies often have a set of adjustment screws that enable for fine-tuning the height of the wheel assembly. Aligning the door edge with the jamb may be done by turning the adjustment screws.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs
What do you call a closet that has a sliding door on the inside?
Traditional sliding doors, often called bypass closet doors, consist of two or more door panels that glide down a track. The only negative is that you can only access a fraction of your closet at a time, but they are wonderful for conserving square footage.
Should there be a bottom track for sliding closet doors?
Since the track is on display, it is recommended to utilize bottom-mounted rollers on sliding closet doors. It has the potential to act as a divider between spaces. Sliding doors and dividers used inside work best when mounted high on the ceiling or on a wall.
To what end does a three-panel sliding door serve?
If there are three panels, how do they slide together? Two sliding panels and one fixed panel are also possible, as are three sliding panels. The position of the fixed window glass will determine the primary opening position of the door.
Where do sliding doors slide depends on whether they are inside or outdoors?
Sliding doors, as a rule, should operate within the confines of the fixed panel. They can slide on the outside of the fixed panel if they want to, but it’s safer to move it on the inside. If your sliding door moves inward, the track for the door will be on the inside of your home as well.
Is there a space behind sliding doors?
Traditional doors have identical gaps on all four sides because they are designed to fit inside the door frame. A sliding barn door has a larger clearance on the sides and top than a conventional door since it is installed in front of the door frame.
Final Words
When it comes to protecting your wardrobe and other valuables from dust and dirt, nothing beats the convenience of a sliding closet door.
Sliding closet doors are convenient since they don’t get in the way. Sliding doors, as opposed to swinging doors, allow you to reclaim the floor area in a bedroom. With this being said, you might want to consider your preference first. It is not necessary to hire a designer, all you need to do is do some research or watch some DIY videos if you think that your budget is tight.
To help you with installing other types of sliding doors, here are some ideas that we have just for you:
Written By: Trisha Mae Raymundo
