Repairing Out Of Plumb Pocket Doors

CSI Division
Division 8 - Openings
Section
Wood Doors
Last Modified

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Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.

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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.

PART 1–GENERAL

1.01 SUMMARY

  1. This procedure includes guidance on repairing a pocket door that is not plumb by shimming the doors, or by shimming the track or rollers to make the doors meet properly.
    1. When pocket doors are out of plumb and both slope in same direction, the problem is usually caused by differential settlement between the exterior and interior walls of the building. This problem cannot be repaired. However, the doors may be rendered usable.
    2. If double pocket doors have a space between them which is wider at the bottom, the floor is sagging. If the space is wider at top, it is due to building settlement. If floor sag or building settlement is not severe or dangerous, the pocket doors or track can be modified to improve the situation.
  2. Other pocket door repair procedures include the following:
    1. For guidance on unsticking a pocket door, repairing balkiness or binding, see 08210-04-R.
    2. For guidance on repairing pocket door hardware including tracks and stops, see 08210-06-R.
  3. See 01100-07-S for general project guidelines to be reviewed along with this procedure. These guidelines cover the following sections:
    1. Safety Precautions
    2. Historic Structures Precautions
    3. Submittals
    4. Quality Assurance
    5. Delivery, Storage and Handling
    6. Project/Site Conditions
    7. Sequencing and Scheduling
    8. General Protection (Surface and Surrounding)

These guidelines should be reviewed before performing this procedure and should be followed, when applicable, along with recommendations from the Regional Historic Preservation Officer (RHPO).

1.02 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

  1. A pocket door assembly in good working condition is free from decay and structurally sound. It is effortlessly smooth sliding and properly aligned. The pocket doors stop precisely when closed and are easily retrieved from pocket. The door latches crisply and should not rattle between latch and stops when closed.

PART 2–PRODUCTS

2.01 MATERIALS

  1. Hardwood blocking for shims
  2. Metal angle to replace stop (if needed)
  3. Hardwood to match door for finished wedge

2.02 EQUIPMENT

  1. Carpenter’s tools for shimming and for finishing wedge

PART 3–EXECUTION

3.01 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION

  1. For Two Doors that Slope in the Same Direction:
    1. Shim out or replace top guide if it is unable to keep uphill door from sliding past center.
    2. Restore existing latch or add new latch to keep doors closed.
    3. Cut a hardwood wedge to hold uphill door closed and downhill door open.
  2. For Gaps Between Double Pocket Doors:
    1. If the space between doors is wider at bottom, shim the bottom track up in center.

      NOTE: KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM AS THIS COULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO TRIP ON THE HIGHER SURFACE.
      -OR-

      Insert shim between roller case flange and bottom of door.

      NOTE: SHIM ONLY THE ROLLER CLOSEST TO CENTER. SHIM SIDES OF SHEAVE DIFFERENTLY SO THAT SHEAVE IS PARALLEL TO EXISTING FLOOR TRACK.

      NOTE: TAKE CARE SO THAT LARGE GAP IS NOT LEFT UNDER DOOR.
    2. If space between doors is wider at the top, shim bottom track out toward pockets and/or shim between roller sheave and door, at roller closer to pocket only.

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Last updated: Aug 13, 2017
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