How to Fix a Pocket Door That Rub

At some point in time in every homeowner’s life, they may probably have to deal with a door that rubs. It can be pretty annoying and frustrating as doors that rub can drive you crazy due to that squeaky sound when you open or close them.

If you have a pocket door that you find difficult to open because it gets stuck in the middle and hard to move, it is either because the wood is warped or the studs are bowed. This means that you will probably have to take out the door altogether. Sometimes, one can quickly fix the cause of the problem with some grease, but most times, you might need to change the hardware parts.

Luckily for you, you can fix this problem with only a couple of tools, materials and the basic knowledge of what to do. This article outlines all you need to know about a pocket door that rubs and how to fix the problem, keep reading for more information.

Contents

What Are Pocket Doors?

The first step to fixing your pocket door rubs is knowing all the correct information about pocket doors. Pocket doors are sliding doors, but they are a different version because when you open them fully, they disappear into a compartment in the adjacent direction of the wall.

People first used pocket doors during the Victorian era (the 1850s) in the UK and US. Still, they were not very popular until the 1880s, when the technology needed to make their installation easy was introduced.

When a builder realizes that the wall space of a room in the house is too small for the full swing of a hinged door, they opt for pocket doors as it is a great solution. This is why they are mainly used as closet doors or connect two areas – such as a bathroom and a closet.

Installing pocket doors is an easy task because they have hangers that slide along a track (or tracks) on the upper side of the door or tracks which can be rolled at the bottom of the door. They are incredibly lightweight and thin, which allows for less sound travel.

Although these doors are easy to install, they are quite challenging to maintain if they are not lubricated regularly. They could fall off their tracks which makes them difficult to roll, and could eventually start to make squeaky noises as they rub against the door.

Most builders do not like to install pocket doors because if they ever need to be repaired, you could end up having to demolish a whole wall or remove the trim around the door.

Why Does My Pocket Door Start To Rub?

After you have confirmed that your pocket door has started to rub through rub marks on the back of the door, you probably wonder why this has happened. The primary reason your pocket door rubs is because of wood warping.

Warping in wood occurs when the moisture content of the different parts of the wood changes unevenly. For example, when one part of the wood dries up faster than the other part, the dried part shrinks more quickly. Warping causes the lumber fibers to change from a flat shape to a curved or deformed shape.

Another reason your pocket door rubs is that the door studs are bowed (the warping is in the studs or the wooden slabs that make up the door compartment). Rubbing pocket doors can also be traced to the problem of bottom door guides which is usually the problem of an inexperienced carpenter.

They may install the bottom door guides where they are not supposed to be installed. The right place to put them is on the face of the split jambs, but they could end up putting it on the wrong side, which can be challenging to adjust and will cause rubbing over time.

How to Fix a Pocket Door That Rubs

As written above, rubbing pocket doors are pretty easy to fix if you have enough woodwork knowledge and if you do not, it is better to hire a professional as they are not as easy to fix. If you prefer to do it yourself, you must know the different tools and materials that are likely needed to get the job done; they are listed below.

Tools you need

Screwdriver
Hammer
Pliers
Measuring tape
Nail gun
Putty or butter knife
Vacuum cleaner
Toothbrush

Materials you need

Cleaning rag
Lubrication
Sawhorses
White vinegar
Pocket door rollers
Tracks

The way you fix a pocket door that rubs depends on what caused the problem, and this should be the first thing you should do – figure out the problem.

Problem of Studs

If your pocket door rubs because there is warping in the studs of the frame, the only option you have is to remove the structures entirely and replace them with a new one. This can be quite a difficult task because you will have to remove the wall surrounding the stud before taking it out and replacing it with a new one.

The Tracks

Three problems can occur with your pocket door’s tracks; either they are damaged, debris is affecting their smooth operation, or they need to be lubricated. These can easily be fixed with some of the tools and materials are written above.

The first thing you need to do is clean the tracks because much dirt can hinder a smooth operation. You will need your cleaning rag, toothbrush, and vacuum cleaner for this. First, you should use your vacuum to clean up all the dust you cannot reach, then use the brush and cleaning solution to clean the tracks, and finally, the cleaning rag to finish the job.

After cleaning the tracks, the next thing to do is to check if they are damaged because if they are bent, the rollers will not work correctly. If it is a minor issue, you can fix it with some of the tools above, but if it is significant, then you will need to replace them.

Finally, your pocket door is rubbing because there is not enough lubricant on the tracks, which causes friction and will eventually lead to noises. When you grease your tracks regularly, it allows for easy sliding.

Warping

If the problem is because your door’s wood is warping, then the best choice is to replace the door entirely. This is because wood warping is a never-ending process, and no matter how many times you sand your door, it will still be uneven.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should have enough information on pocket doors that rub and the solutions to the problem. Remember, hiring a professional to fix your pocket door is advisable if you are not experienced.