How to repair vintage pocket doors?

We found old pocket doors in our wall that had been closed up.  They don’t pull out easily, and it’s obvious some screws are missing and the track has to be adjusted.  Our contractor wants to put in a new track, but he says once we do that we cannot remove the doors to have them stripped.  We’d like to wait to strip the doors until after the holidays, but if there’s demo work to be done, we’d like to do it now and get it over with.  If possible, we’d like to repair the old hardware, finish the molding work and strip the doors at some point in the future.   So, my questions are:  1) Is it true that if a new track is put in, you cannot remove the doors for stripping?  2)  Is there somewhere in the area where we can get vintage hardware to repair the doors and 3)  Is there someone you all can recommend who knows how to do this?   Thank you!

msre

in Doors 12 years and 6 months ago

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thetinkerswagon | 10 years ago

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Hi folks: steve here and I appreciate the comments above. I only just saw these this morning whilst doing some on line research for pocket door repair (the marketing side of things). I have to be honest, I have gotten some calls to do these and have managed to get some done but have not moved it into the mainstream of my business. and to do that, I have to keep a parts inventory and really get to where I have everything at hand to do these. we are studying that now. I am sorry to the folks who I have not been able to take care of over the years and if they still have faith in me, they can try back. you know, brooklyn has been good to me and as we move forward we may shrink our service zone to just brooklyn, but until we do so, I may get pulled in other geographical areas and into other lines of work. thank you for the comments. Steve www.thetinkerswagon.com

hancockone | 12 years and 6 months ago

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I had my doors restored by Tamer and Tamer on Baltic Street in Carroll Gardens. They stripped them, repaired the molding and filled in missing pieces. They do beautiful work.

Rick | 12 years and 6 months ago

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It sounds like you are in good shape. You shouldn’t have trouple replacing the screw. Dykes Lumber in the slope is good for moldings.

msre | 12 years and 6 months ago

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An happy update to our situation:  we oiled the wheels and got the balky door working by putting in a temporary screw and bolt (the other one just had to be oiled).  They are just beautiful doors and we couldn’t be happier that we’ve found them and got them to work.  But now we have to find a screw that will fit the roller mechanism just right (without having to use the bolt), and a good paint stripper to strip them (especially since they have bevelled glass inserts), and molding to match the trim in the rest of the room (two different kinds, for one side of the doors and for the other!).  Any recommendations, people?  I haven’t heard back from Steve of the Tinker’s Wagon yet.  Thank you!

Rick | 12 years and 6 months ago

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A large part of my work is restoration and repair of pocket doors. If your floor is level you can go with a new top track system that is very quiet and smooth compared to the antique floor track. However, installing a new floor track and wheels is much easier than the dirty job of opening up the wall needed to install the top track. If your floor is not level and you want to install a floor track you will have to add hardware like a slide bolt to keep the doors in place. If you would like more information I can be reached through my website at RickLaddBrooklyn.com

berniceshola | 12 years and 6 months ago

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Ditto Steve at Tinker’s Wagon, he’s an ace. And is something of an expert on the mechanics of pocket doors.

citigyz | 12 years and 6 months ago

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www.the**tinkerswagon**.com/. Steve is the only one I would trust to do this. Heights Carpentry could but they are probably too busy and too expensive. Your contractor is not the one for this job. If the track is cut to the opening then the doors can be taken out at any time. They can also be stripped in place if you take out the overhead stop. In order to get the doors closing properly you usually shim the sheath wheels that the doors run on. Your floor is probably uneven. If you level the track it will not match the floor.