Pocket Doors
Pocket Doors: mini-guide to help you choose the right one
How to understand the difference between the different models (single, double, classic or flush pocket door), to correctly calculate the dimensions of the door opening and the overall dimensions; how to choose and identify the type of frame on the basis of the door, the opening and walls.
The box contains detailed information on each topic.
Understanding sliding doors from A to Z
Which is the difference between a barn door and a pocket door?
Unlike traditional hinged doors, sliding doors allow to regain the space occupied by the radius of the door opening and help to create a larger and more welcoming environment, offering greater furnishing options. Eliminating the hinged doors, the home regains more space that can be essential for environments of reduced dimensions, benefiting of a more refined interior decoration.
There are two types of sliding doors:
- barn doors
- pocket doors
In the former case, a barn door opens by sliding along the wall, while in the latter case the door opens by sliding inside the wall through an appropriate system commonly known as the ‘frame’. The frame of a sliding pocket door refers to a metal box that allows the door to slide inside the wall concealed from sight. Both solutions solve a space problem but, compared to the external sliding version, the sliding pocket door frees the space on the wall where the door slides, opening up greater furnishing possibilities. Depending on the type of frame adopted, several different opening solutions can be obtained.

A sliding door system: what it is and how it works
The details of the pocket door hardware, a metal structure specially designed for stud wall
The frame for pocket doors is a metal structure enabling the door to disappear inside a wall. The frame is made up of a box inside the wall, a sliding system (track) located in the upper part that allows the door panel to slide inside the wall and a vertical metal door stop that receives the closing door.
To qualify as a premium-quality product, the frame necessarily needs to comply with specific reliability and durability requirements.
Sturdiness: the frame must be as sturdy as the wall and it can be inspected to allow its maintenance without knocking the wall down.
Smooth and light sliding of the door: the runners and the track ensure smooth and light movements and can be easily replaceable if they get damaged.
Guarantee of a sliding internal passage without flexes of the metal sheet making up the frame eliminating problems in the door sliding.
Guarantee of a crack-resistant plaster solution: being an integral part of the wall, the counterframe does not alter the appearance and consistency of the wall.
Easy installation and maintenance: a frame that is easy to assemble and to install even by non-expert personnel guarantees and safeguards the product over time. This is possible thanks to a maintenance free track fully extractable which enables to retrofit accessories after the installation without having to break into wall.
To this aim, in over 30 years of research ECLISSE has developed a product boasting the following characteristics:

Extractable track
No worries
With this solution it is possible to replace any parts subject to wear, apply accessories and adjust the internal door stop mechanism.

Runners with ball bearings
Smoothness and fluidity
The sliding runners are certified to guarantee durability, smooth movements and a silent sliding. The standard load-bearing capacity is 220 lbs per pair, 330 lbs on request.

Alignment bar
Always perfectly centered the bubble
This is a special galvanized metal sheet profile that facilitates the installation by aligning the counterframe with the metal door post.
Calculating the dimensions of a sliding pocket door
To properly calculate the sizes of a sliding pocket door, it is first necessary to understand the difference between the terms ‘door opening’ (or passage size) and the ‘maximum overall dimensions’.
The door opening, or passage size, refers to the actual dimensions in height and width between the jambs (if present) and the level of the finished floor. A standard sliding pocket door has the same sizes as a corresponding hinged door. It typically measures 30" or 36" in width and 80" in height. It is also possible to build customized solutions having very large or very small passage sizes. The dimensions for single-leaf doors start from a width of 24" up to 48", and from a height of 80" up to 120".
The maximum overall dimensions instead refers to the total space required to install a sliding pocket door system. In width, this size is given by the sum of the passage size and the counterframe dimensions while in height it is given by the space from the finished floor level to the underside of the supporting architrave.
Types of frames for sliding pocket doors
Choosing the correct counterframe model is not difficult, however, certain key factors must be taken into account.
These include: the type of door, the opening and the construction material of the walls.
- Regarding the type of door: whether the door is fitted with jambs or not (the so-called flush-with-wall doors). The jambs and architraves refer to all those elements that cover the walls around the door panel, actually called frame. In traditional doors, it normally protrudes from the door and the walls around the door panel. If instead there is no frame, we refer to modern doors without jambs and architraves flush with the wall. In the third case, when all jambs and architraves around the door panel are integrated and flush with the wall, we refer to traditional contemporary doors.
Each of these solutions requires a specific counterframe.

Systems for sliding doors with jambs
The evergreen classic
Space-saving solutions or extra-large openings.
For the bathroom or the living room.
Choose your ideal solution among the systems for traditional sliding pocket doors with jambs.

Systems without jambs and architraves
Minimalist style
Whether sliding or hinged, the door is always perfectly integrated into the wall, almost invisible.
All the solutions for flush hinged doors and sliding pocket doors without jambs and architraves.
- Regarding the type of opening: sliding pocket doors can be suitable for different contexts and, though they are highly appreciated for their space-saving function, are an excellent solution to discretely separate rooms, walk-in wardrobes, storerooms and service rooms. Moreover, especially with the larger-size versions, they add a modern and design concept to the setting, transforming it into a wide open space. Special striking solutions can be combined with sliding pocket door solutions. Some examples include curved doors or telescopic doors, which allow to create an opening up to 13 ft wide. It is also possible to have folding doors or hybrid solutions, where half the door slides away into the wall and the other half is hinged and swings open. Each of these solutions requires the installation of a dedicated sliding pocket door systems.

Telescopic
sliding pocket doors
Openings up to 15 ft
With this solution, two parallel door panels can slide into the same pocket, enabling you to have an extremely large opening.

Curved
sliding pocket doors
Unleash your imagination
Have you ever thought of a curved door? This frame will allow you to have a curved sliding door, single or double.

Sliding pocket door systems
wiring ready
And there was light
If you think that having switches, lights and sockets on the same wall where the door slides is a problem, you’re wrong. ECLISSE has devised a specific frame for this purpose.
Frames for stud walls
In the case of stud walls, the pocket door hardware has an open structure similar to a metal framework on which the actual plasterboard slabs will be installed.
The unassembled frame version (KIT) for stud wall has compact overall dimensions that facilitate transport and optimize the storage in warehouses (over 50 pieces fit into one square meter). Moreover, it allows to decide on-site which internal passage to use (2-3/8" and 4-3/8") according to the finished wall thickness, since the counterframe can be enlarged during the installation phase. Thanks to the innovative interlocking assembly system, no screws or screwdrivers are required, making the frame assembly process easy and quick.
The open structure is 20% more resistant to lateral bending compared to equivalent products currently available on the market*.
The reinforced vertical bars, together with the horizontal bars, result in a far sturdier structure compared to frames made of a single metal sheet, normally found in closed structures.
* Based on internal laboratory tests conducted on various equivalent counterframes.


10 predrilled reinforcing horizontal bars
Made from 0.7 mm thick galvanized sheet steel sections with an inverted swallowtail-shaped profile for improved resistance to pressure. And predrilled for attaching the plasterboard sheets more easily.

Metal header
Improves resistance to any pressure coming from above.

Vertical reinforced bars
They are made from galvanized steel with a double reinforcement fold for high resistance to bending.