Cavity sliding door installation is one of the best space-saving upgrades for a home. The door slides into the wall instead of swinging into the room, which frees up floor space in hallways, laundries, ensuites and walk-in robes.
Cavity sliding door installation in 5 steps
- Open up the wall. The existing door, frame and plasterboard come out where the cavity unit will go.
- Adjust the framing. The opening is reframed to suit the cavity unit.
- Install the cavity unit. It has to go in plumb and square, or the door will drag or drift.
- Hang and align the door. The door is hung on the track and adjusted so it glides and closes neatly.
- Plaster and paint. New plasterboard goes back over the unit, then it is set, sanded and painted so it looks like it was always there.
Where a cavity slider works best
Anywhere a swinging door gets in the way: a bathroom off a narrow hallway, a laundry, an ensuite, a walk-in robe or a pantry. Freeing up the swing space often makes a small room feel noticeably bigger and easier to use.
Things to check before a cavity sliding door installation
- Wall space: the wall beside the opening needs to be clear and roughly as wide as the door, because the door slides into it.
- Services in the wall: power points, switches and pipes in that section may need moving, which is a job for a licensed electrician or plumber.
- Hardware: cavity doors use flush pulls and cavity locks rather than standard handles.
Cavity doors are also known as pocket doors. This is one of the jobs I do as part of our carpentry work. If you already have a sliding door that sticks or drags, see sliding door repairs and door repairs.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cavity slider go into an existing wall?
Often, yes, as long as the wall beside the opening is clear enough. I check the wall first and tell you what is involved.
Can you fix a cavity door that has come off its track?
Usually. Worn rollers, a loose track or a door that has dropped can often be adjusted or repaired.
Need something similar?
Call Sue on 0435 207 771, email surve.gc@gmail.com, or send us a quote request with a few photos. We reply within one business day. I’m Dan, a licensed tradesman and former builder with 35+ years in the building industry, and I do every job myself.
