Pocket doors are very popular in modern homes and offices. They make more space in a room and add a touch of sophistication. Still, there are times when they need to be removed, whether for repair or when other refurbishment work is taking place around them.
When this is the case, you may need to know how to remove a pocket door. To remove a pocket door, follow these four steps: remove the plastic guide at the bottom of the frame, slice through the paint film with a blade, gently pry off the trim, then tilt and lift the door to remove it. Newer trolley runners require you to disconnect the runner first.
A pocket door that slides into a recess in the wall rather than swings on hinges can prove challenging to remove if you have never done it before. But if you know the steps to remove a pocket door, you will have it off in no time. Below are step-by-step instructions and all the tips and tricks you need to remove a pocket door.
Top Tip: If you are going to put the same trim back in the door frame after you have replaced or repaired the door, be gentle with it so that it doesn’t get any dents, knicks, or scratches.
How To Remove A Pocket Door
Materials
- None
Tools
- Electric screwdriver with bits that will fit whatever screws you see in the door frame
- A sharp utility knife
- Paint scraper & small pry-bar
- Manual flat-head screwdriver
Instructions
Step 1. Remove Plastic Guides From The Base of the Frame
First, remove both plastic guides from the bottom of the door frame.
The guides are in place to keep the door on track when opening and closing and stop the door from swinging outwards when the door is closed. If you do not remove the plastic guides, you will be unable to tilt the door outwards and get the slider off the rail later.
Check the door's trim for other hardware, screws, or nails. Other hardware, like latches and screws, should also be removed. If nails fasten the trim to the door frame, leave these in for the time being. Trying to remove them at this point may damage the wood. They should come out easily enough when you pry the trim off in Step 3.
How To Remove The Guides From A PocketDoor
In most cases, these are screw-in and will come off in seconds. Using the reverse or unscrew setting on the screwdriver, unscrew each screw.
Top Tip: As you remove the two plastic guides and several screws while removing the pocket door, get a small bowl or another container to put all of these into so that none of them get lost.
Step 2: Slice Through The Paint FilmBetween Trim And Frame
Locate where the door trim meets the door frame. In most cases, this has been sealed in or painted so that the joint is painted shut.
To avoid paint chipping or pieces of the paint pulling away unevenly, cut through the paint with a utility knife where the edge of the trim meets the door frame.
Do this on the left-and right-hand side of the door frame.
Top Tip: Slice the full height of the door frame. If you only slice part of the frame or where it looks like it is painted over, there may still be places where the paint will pull away.
Step 3: Pry The Trim Off And Away FromThe Door Frame
Using a pry bar and a paint scraper, slide the pry bar in the gap between the trim and the frame and gently move the trim away from the frame. Do this down the entire length of both sides of the door frame until the trim is completely removed.
Put the trim out of the way so they do not get damaged.
Top Tip: If nails are fastening the trim to the door frame, you may need to pry the trim and the nail away from the door frame enough to remove the nail with a claw hammer or nail remover. Nails can make removing the trim more difficult, so be careful not to damage the wood of the trim or frame in the process.
Step 4: Tilt And Remove The Door From The Frame
With the trim completely removed, there should be a gap between the door and the frame. You should be able to see both side edges of the door. Position the door so that it is completely open and none of the door is still in the recess.
Recessed doors tun on two kinds of track: 'J' Track and Trolleys. Check which your recessed door is as how to remove them from the rail will differ.
This next part may require two people as the door can be quite heavy. If you are not confident that you can hold the full weight of the door and lift it yourself, get someone to help you.
Notes
How To Remove A Recessed Door From A 'J'Track
Securely holding the door, tilt the door between 30-45 degrees so that the wheels of the runner can come free from the track. Lift the door so the wheels lift out and away from the rail. The door will now be free.
Take note of which side you stand to remove the door and which side the door and runner are on so that when you replace the door, this way you can repeat the process in reverse, and it will go in the same way it came out.
Replacing A Door On A 'J' Track
When the door repairs or other work around the door frame are finished, replace the door by reversing the process and steps above. Ideally, you will want to place the wheels exactly where they were removed from to ensure the door doesn't jump off its rail. Test the rail and track by sliding the door in and out to see that it slides without any problems.
Replace the door's trim, sealing it with glue, screws, or caulk if necessary. Replace the plastic rail guides and paint the frame.
How To Remove A Door From A Trolley Track
Removing a door from trolleys will require two people. With one person securely holding the door, the second person locates the clasps on the trolley that hold it to the rail. Using a flat-head screwdriver, the second person should push the clasps with the head of the screwdriver until they unclip. The door will usually move down
about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch, indicating that the clasps are released.
With both people taking the weight of the door, tilt the door and remove the trolley from the rail.
Replacing A Door On A Trolley Track
With both people taking the weight of the door, position the trolleys on the rail and allow them to take the weight of the door. Clip the clasps back into place to secure the trolley on the rail. Test the hardware to see that the door slides without any
problems.
Replace the door's trim, sealing it with glue, screws, or caulk if necessary. Replace the plastic rail guides and paint the frame.
Do I Have To Break The Wall To Remove A Pocket Door?
While it may look like there is no way to remove a pocket door without removing the drywall or breaking part of the frame to get it out, this is not the case.
The trim around the inside of the door frame keeps the door from swinging out when it is closed. Removing the trim from one side of the door frame will allow you to take the door out without obstruction.
Why Choose A Pocket Door Over A Swing Door?
Pocket doors work well in small spaces and save space in a room that is taken up by the door’s swing. The door slides into a cavity in the wall using a kit that creates a pocket without having to alter the wall.
Pocket doors are great in small bedrooms, closets, and bathrooms. They are also often used between two adjoined rooms.
Resources:
YouTube – Family Handman – How to Remove a Pocket Door
family handyman – How to Remove a Pocket Door
eHow – How Do I Remove a Pocket Door for Painting?
FAQ – Pocket Door Systems
How To Remove A Pocket Door
Materials
- None
Tools
- Electric screwdriver with bits that will fit whatever screws you see in the door frame
- A sharp utility knife
- Paint scraper & small pry-bar
- Manual flat-head screwdriver
Instructions
Step 1. Remove Plastic Guides From The Base of the Frame
First, remove both plastic guides from the bottom of the door frame.
The guides are in place to keep the door on track when opening and closing and stop the door from swinging outwards when the door is closed. If you do not remove the plastic guides, you will be unable to tilt the door outwards and get the slider off the rail later.
Check the door's trim for other hardware, screws, or nails. Other hardware, like latches and screws, should also be removed. If nails fasten the trim to the door frame, leave these in for the time being. Trying to remove them at this point may damage the wood. They should come out easily enough when you pry the trim off in Step 3.
How To Remove The Guides From A PocketDoor
In most cases, these are screw-in and will come off in seconds. Using the reverse or unscrew setting on the screwdriver, unscrew each screw.
Top Tip: As you remove the two plastic guides and several screws while removing the pocket door, get a small bowl or another container to put all of these into so that none of them get lost.
Step 2: Slice Through The Paint FilmBetween Trim And Frame
Locate where the door trim meets the door frame. In most cases, this has been sealed in or painted so that the joint is painted shut.
To avoid paint chipping or pieces of the paint pulling away unevenly, cut through the paint with a utility knife where the edge of the trim meets the door frame.
Do this on the left-and right-hand side of the door frame.
Top Tip: Slice the full height of the door frame. If you only slice part of the frame or where it looks like it is painted over, there may still be places where the paint will pull away.
Step 3: Pry The Trim Off And Away FromThe Door Frame
Using a pry bar and a paint scraper, slide the pry bar in the gap between the trim and the frame and gently move the trim away from the frame. Do this down the entire length of both sides of the door frame until the trim is completely removed.
Put the trim out of the way so they do not get damaged.
Top Tip: If nails are fastening the trim to the door frame, you may need to pry the trim and the nail away from the door frame enough to remove the nail with a claw hammer or nail remover. Nails can make removing the trim more difficult, so be careful not to damage the wood of the trim or frame in the process.
Step 4: Tilt And Remove The Door From The Frame
With the trim completely removed, there should be a gap between the door and the frame. You should be able to see both side edges of the door. Position the door so that it is completely open and none of the door is still in the recess.
Recessed doors tun on two kinds of track: 'J' Track and Trolleys. Check which your recessed door is as how to remove them from the rail will differ.
This next part may require two people as the door can be quite heavy. If you are not confident that you can hold the full weight of the door and lift it yourself, get someone to help you.
Notes
How To Remove A Recessed Door From A 'J'Track
Securely holding the door, tilt the door between 30-45 degrees so that the wheels of the runner can come free from the track. Lift the door so the wheels lift out and away from the rail. The door will now be free.
Take note of which side you stand to remove the door and which side the door and runner are on so that when you replace the door, this way you can repeat the process in reverse, and it will go in the same way it came out.
Replacing A Door On A 'J' Track
When the door repairs or other work around the door frame are finished, replace the door by reversing the process and steps above. Ideally, you will want to place the wheels exactly where they were removed from to ensure the door doesn't jump off its rail. Test the rail and track by sliding the door in and out to see that it slides without any problems.
Replace the door's trim, sealing it with glue, screws, or caulk if necessary. Replace the plastic rail guides and paint the frame.
How To Remove A Door From A Trolley Track
Removing a door from trolleys will require two people. With one person securely holding the door, the second person locates the clasps on the trolley that hold it to the rail. Using a flat-head screwdriver, the second person should push the clasps with the head of the screwdriver until they unclip. The door will usually move down
about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch, indicating that the clasps are released.
With both people taking the weight of the door, tilt the door and remove the trolley from the rail.
Replacing A Door On A Trolley Track
With both people taking the weight of the door, position the trolleys on the rail and allow them to take the weight of the door. Clip the clasps back into place to secure the trolley on the rail. Test the hardware to see that the door slides without any
problems.
Replace the door's trim, sealing it with glue, screws, or caulk if necessary. Replace the plastic rail guides and paint the frame.