Repairing Out-of-Plumb Pocket Doors

Thisprocedure includes guidance on repairing a pocket door that is not plumb byshimming the doors, or by shimming the track or rollers to make the doors meetproperly.

1. When pocket doors are out of plumb and both slope in same direction, theproblem is usually caused by differential settlement between the exterior andinterior walls of the building. This problem cannot be repaired. However, thedoors may be
rendered usable.

2. If double pocket doors have a space between them which is wider at thebottom, the floor is sagging. If the space is wider at top, it is due tobuilding settlement. If floor sag or building settlement is not severe ordangerous, the pocket doors or track
can be modified to improve the situation.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

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


MATERIALS

A. Hardwood blocking for shims

B. Metal angle to replace stop (if needed)

C. Hardwood to match door for finished wedge

EQUIPMENT

A. Carpenter's tools for shimming and for finishing wedge


EXECUTION

For Two Doors that Slope in the Same Direction:

1. Shim out or replace top guide if it is unable to keep uphill door fromsliding 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.

For Gaps Between Double Pocket Doors:

1. If the space between doors is wider at bottom, shim the bottom track up incenter. NOTE: KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM AS THIS COULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO TRIPON THE HIGHER SURFACE.

-OR-

Insert shim between roller case flange and bottom of door. NOTE: SHIMONLY THE ROLLER CLOSEST TO
CENTER. SHIM SIDES OF SHEAVE DIFFERENTLY SO THAT SHEAVE IS PARALLEL TO EXISTINGFLOOR TRACK. 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 towardpockets and/or shim between roller sheave and door, at roller closer to pocket

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