DIY pocket door using VJ panels

[Renowayoflife]

We wanted to add a pocket door to our home; we recently added an extension, where we added the bedrooms. We wanted to design a door to create some privacy so we could close the bedrooms off if we wanted to entertain.

We knew a 3m high custom door was way out of the budget so we decided to build it ourselves.

Video here - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4qvrywSl06/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

We built the door using leftover hoop pine flooring and VJ panes. Derek constructed a frame using ripped-down hoop pine flooring and nailed it together.

• We laid a VJ panel on the floor with the VJ's facing down.
• We attached the frame to the VJ panel using liquid nails.
• We applied liquid nails to the top of the frame and placed another full VJ panel onto the frame VJ side up.
• We then nailed the board to the frame, flipped it over and nailed the otherside.
• The nail holes were filled with wood fill.

We framed in the opening, taking it as wide and high as possible and in one side of the pocket door.

The hardware was installed and we hung the door.

We framed in the remaining side sheeted and painted.

Happy DIYing 

Claire 

TT

IG 

Blog

Materials

Materials

• Hoop Pine Flooring - or other wood - We had materials left over 
• liquid Nails
• VJ panel
• Framing Timber
• Door track

Tools

[EricL]

Hello @Renowayoflife 

Thank you so much for sharing your door assembly process. The door looks fantastic, and it would probably have cost you an arm and a leg to have this made. It's great that you had some left-over materials to build it, what is the overall thickness of the door? 

Again, thanks for sharing this fantastic project.

Eric

[Renowayoflife]

Hi @EricL Thank you so much, love how it turned out and loving the savings you're right it would have cost a fortune. 

The door is 40mm thick.

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @Renowayoflife 

Now that is a brilliant idea! First up I really like the seperation if needed and then such an imposing door but hidden Nice work and definently outside the box thinking. Think I will file this away for possible future use

Dave

[Renowayoflife]

Thanks @Dave-1 It's great as it retracts entirely into the wall so most people don't know it's there

We have 3 small kids so it's great if you're up early you don't wake everyone up.

[RobP]

Hi @Renowayoflife I absolutely love this door - so impressive! Would you be able to provide a list of tools needed to construct the door. I'm sure there are plenty of members who would love to have a go at this if they have the right tools available. Such a great looking feature.

[Renowayoflife]

Hi @RobP 

We didn't need a lot of tools for this project, we used; 

• Circular Saw to cut the pine frame and VJ's down
• Nailgun 15 gauge to nail it into place
• Orbital Sander to sand after filling the holes
• Framing Nailer for the frame install
• Screwdrivers for the frame.

Thanks Claire 

[RobP]

Hi @Renowayoflife thanks so much for that list - great to know people don't need a huge list of tools. Looks very achievable!