askjake

Converting a door to a pocket door

Question:  Can a regular inteior door be converted into a pocket door?

Jake's answer:  It depends.  Check to see if there are any heating ducts, water pipes, waste lines or electrical wires.  Are there electrical receptacles or switches that may be affected.  After you have checked on all of these items, you will need to determine if this is a load bearing wall.  A header will have to be installed the width of the door times 2 (to accommodate the pocket).  You will have to patch the walls that will need to be opened to install the door.

Installing a pre-hung door

Question:  I have taken out a garage door and want to build in the wall and put in a \'people\' door and a window. The wall, however, is six inches thick. How can I put in a prehung door and make it work in this wall? I need help quick as the garage door is already out and gone! Sharon

Jake's Answer:  Most pre-hung doors come with a 4 9/16" thick jamb, which is set up for a standard 2 x 4 wall with 1 /2" drywall on each side.  When  you use 2 x 6's for your wall, you should set the standard door towards the exterior side of the wall and extend the depth of the jambs so the interior side of the jamb will be flush with the drywall.  These jambs are extended to the interior at the trim stage of the project. 

Entry door swing direction

Please advise whether a front entry door should swing into the house or out.  The door is in a covered entryway of a high-rise condominium.  Thank You.

name: Bonnie M

Bonnie,

Residential doors almost always swing into the house, including those in condominiums.  The purpose is primarily due to safety; you would not want a door to swing into the corridor (knocking into someone) or onto your visitors that could be standing at the door.  In some parts of the country it would be impractical due to snow build up on the outside or other weather considerations.   In your area, there could be code restrictions dictating the swing.  On single family residences, there is no code against having an out swing door.