How To Replace Hinged Door With Sliding Door?

How To Replace Hinged Door With Sliding Door?

Are you looking for a minimal yet modern look to vamp up your home’s sense of style? Opt for sliding doors! Not only are they timeless and gorgeous works of art, but they are also highly efficient and save space.

Switching out your hinged doors for classic sliding doors can be a great way to freshen up your house décor. This transformation can also be a great way to solve access problems in areas where hinged doors cannot fully open. Click here for more info on how you can replace your hinged door with a sliding one.

Step 1 – Removing The Hinged Door

The first step involves getting rid of the previously installed hinged door. First, you should place a book and some other sturdy object beneath the door for support. In order to get the door down, you will have to loosen up the hinge pin while keeping the door closed. In case you don’t have a hinge removal tool, use a hammer and nails to tap it.  Tap the pin upwards that it gets loose enough to be pulled out easily.

You can now remove the door by opening it partway and pulling it to the side so that it drops off the hinges.

Step 2 – Removing The Hinged Frame

Now that you’ve gotten rid of the hinged door, it’s time to get rid of the door frame. Hinged door frames are significantly different from ones that host sliding doors. To remove the door frame, you will have to cut the caulk and paint along the edges of the door trim. This can be done using a utility knife. This will prevent the paint or caulk to be peeled off the wall when the casing is removed.

Once that’s done, it’s time to get rid of the casing using a pry bar. The tip of the pry bar is to be inserted behind the casing and pried upwards in order to loosen the casing from both sides. You will have to knock out the shims (small pieces of wood) placed between the jamb and the rough opening. While some may pop right out, others won’t budge. You will finally remove the hardware (metal plates) from the jamb of the door using a drill.

Now you can easily slide the frame out of the opening. If it doesn’t move, then check for any nails or screws that might have been left in. You can use a hammer to speed up the process.

Step 3 – Measuring The Wall For The Sliding Door

The first step for you is to measure the wall. Sliding doors don’t swing open and take up much space like hinged doors, but they do require enough wall space to move horizontally. You will also have to check the wall housing the door to ensure that it isn’t bearing the load of the entire structure. It’s a bad idea to tear into a load-bearing wall. Make sure that you call over an electrician to check for any wires or outlets beforehand.

Step 4 – Cutting Out The Wall       

Now you’ll have to cut out the drywall next to the opening to reveal the wall studs. You will also have to cut out a portion of the wall above the old door frame. Remove the drywall above the header but try staying a few inches below the ceiling. A reciprocating saw can be used to remove the partition header to cut out the studs in order to make space for the sliding door’s frame.

Step 5 – Framing The Door

The height of the header depends on whether you require a soleplate or not. If the floor above the subfloor is minimal, then you can secure the split-stud brackets directly on to the floor. To decide on the header height, you will have to calculate the length of the sliding door and the height of the soleplate. You will have to cut the stud tops to secure the header at the appropriate height.

Estimate the width of the rough opening and install a new stud on the opposite side, at a distance from the existing one, and nail the header in place while fitting the soleplate on the floor.

Step 7 – Putting The Drywall Back

Last but not least, you will have to fix the drywall back into its place. You can do so using a drywall adhesive and a screw gun (preferably cordless). The head of the gun can be used to hide the head of the screws. You can now attach the drywall to the wall studs and top it with mud and finishing tap to hide the drywall joints.

Step 6 – Installing Hardware

Mount the track by placing the brackets on the studs. Install the required hardware, including the screen door rollers. Now, you can put the sliding door in place. Also install any latch hardware that came with the kit. The level of the door will have to be adjusted properly to ensure that it fits perfectly and can be moved easily and freely. You will also have to fit in the adjustment nuts properly. You will only have to opt for sliding door wheels replacement when your door gets stuck.

Step 7 – Finishing Off the Drywall

You can use sand paper to sand and then paint the walls using good quality paint to match the existing wall color.

Step 8 – Installing The Door Trim

The door trim hardware will probably be a part of your door kit. It is to be installed according to the kit instructions. You can nail or screw them in place onto the jamb and door studs.

Step 9 – Ready To Use

Voila! Your sliding door is ready to use and looks like it was installed professionally!

The Bottom Line

Sliding doors are a modern and chic option to use in your home. They are highly efficient, easy to install and take up minimal space. Try this DIY to make your home more beautiful and elegant!

About Author:-

Lou is an experienced chief designer who has worked for a number of large companies where he has acquired a sound knowledge of modeling, industrial materials, processes and manufacturing methods. Currently, he works as a marketing consultant with Anthony Innovations, a leading manufacturer and supplier of different types of window rollers & door rollers. In his spare time he likes to build smaller projects with his 3D printer.