Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Jul 10, 2010 1:57 pm Does anyone know if it's possible to retro-fit a sliding internal/cavity door? We have a house built in the 70s that has a few sliding doors with really tacky runners showing. We'd love to hide these doors inside the wall but not sure how to go about it or if it's even possible. We are not totally hopeless, we have quite a bit if experience in renovating houses. Any advice would be fantastic! TIA Re: retro-fitting sliding cavity door 2Jul 10, 2010 2:32 pm Well, you'd need to take out the bit of wall where the cavity will be and then fit and replaster. At least, that is what I figure from seeing a cavity sliding door go into a new wall in our recent renos. We used a prefab unit from bunnings to go in the wall, it works well so far. Status: sold our first house, moved in with parents, bought our second in Pakenham, still planning to build in a few years time. Re: retro-fitting sliding cavity door 3Jul 10, 2010 2:54 pm Done a few and it is not beyond a capable handyman. Basically you have to cut the wall out into which the cavity door goes. So first is plaster off but you need only do one side, leave the other side plaster in place to eventually re-attach to the door frame. Then you need to cut out the studs to cavity frame height plus a bit more for a top plate over the door. Once that is done fit the top plate into position and then fit a rear stud immediately behind where the frame will extend to along the wall. Leave a bit of a gap between the frame and the stud into which you can place some spacers. On the inside of the rear door frame you will see a rubber stopper - which the door will hit when fully opened. Put your spacers between the rear of the cavity frame and the stud at this rubber stopper height so there is something solid for the door to hit back onto. After that you will find a hole in the base plate of the cavity frame to screw or nail onto the floor and there will be some holes in the top metal door track through which you can screw or nail this track to the top plate you installed. Make sure it is all square and vertical or if not at least so that it lines up with the line of the walls so there is no obvious kink in the wall when completed. Install some fresh plaster over it all, install the actual door on the tracks and then the covers over the door tracks and job is basically done other than architraves skirting board and painting. If the wall is non load bearing relatively light stud timber can be used - if wall is load bearing you might care to check above (roof cavity) where the load is actually being carried so it may be appropriate to mount the cavity top plate in a manner that can bear some load. Bunnings have the cavity frames for about $130, a door is about $30, so with studs and frame and paint all up should be about $200 cheers Re: retro-fitting sliding cavity door 4Jul 13, 2010 5:03 pm Thanks very much barkly! I'll have to read through those instructions in more detail when we start to fit one... they don't make much sense to me right now. We have raked ceilings so I'm pretty sure the wall is not load bearing. Thanks again! I’m in a similar position except I’m after sliding 3 stacking doors. I am on a second-story apartment of which the balcony would not adequately fit any bi-fold or… 5 16153 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Thanks Chippy . Did also see a YouTube video before. Removed them . Thanks again for the advice. 2 13961 |