How to Build Sliding Closet Doors
Why pay a carpenter to build closet doors when you can do it yourself? Building and installing closet doors can be accomplished with these directions.
Things You Will Need
- Tape Measure
- "Slab Doors" from your local home center or hardware store
- Stain to match your woodwork
- Polyurethane
- Several rags
- Several foam brushes
- Steel wool (fine)
- Sliding-bypass door hardware
- Drill
- Screwdrivers
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Measure the opening to your closet. If the opening is 48-inches wide, you will need two 24-inch slab doors. A common door is the Flush Lauan Wood Interior Door Slab.
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Choose a stain that will match your existing woodwork. Apply the stain to one side of each door. Use plenty of stain, and let it soak in for several minutes. Use a clean rag to wipe off excess stain. Repeat this step until the desired color is achieved. Once finished, let the doors dry for 24 hours.
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Evenly apply the polyurethane using a foam brush over the dried stain. Let it dry for 24 hours. Lightly smooth the dried polyurethane with fine steel wool. Wipe off any dust and repeat this step to create a second coat of polyurethane. Let it dry for 24 hours. Again smooth the dried polyurethane with fine steel wool and wipe off any excess dust. Apply a third coat of polyurethane and let it dry for 24 hours. Do not use steel wool after the third coat.
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Purchase the correct size of sliding-bypass door hardware for your closet opening from your local home center or hardware store.
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Mount sliding door track on top of the closet-door opening.
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Attach roller hangers to the top of each door.
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Hang the rear door first on the sliding door track, followed by the front door.
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Push doors to one side and adjust the roller hangers to make them square with the side of the closet. Push the doors to the other side of the closet and double check that they are square.
Tip
When you purchase the hardware for your sliding door, it will come with specific directions for installation of the product.
Warning
When working with any type of chemicals, make sure your work area is well ventilated. Dispose of any chemicals or waste properly.
The Drip Cap
- Why pay a carpenter to build closet doors when you can do it yourself? Apply the stain to one side of each door.
- Use a clean rag to wipe off excess stain.
- Evenly apply the polyurethane using a foam brush over the dried stain.
- Purchase the correct size of sliding-bypass door hardware for your closet opening from your local home center or hardware store.
Writer Bio
Jon Olson holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also has a Master of Science in curriculum and instruction, as well as a master's degree in educational administration. Olson teaches industrial technology at the high school level and is in charge of all industrial technology curriculum for his school district.
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