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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll 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

Building the doors

1. 
   Flush doors do not have any raised sections and are completely flat.

   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.

2. 
   Golden Oak is a common stain for woodwork.

   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.

3. 
   Polyurethane is the clear coat that protects the wood.

   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.

Installing the door

4. Purchase the correct size of sliding-bypass door hardware for your closet opening from your local home center or hardware store.

5. Mount sliding door track on top of the closet-door opening.

6. Attach roller hangers to the top of each door.

7. Hang the rear door first on the sliding door track, followed by the front door.

8. 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.

Tips & Warnings

• When you purchase the hardware for your sliding door, it will come with specific directions for installation of the product.
• When working with any type of chemicals, make sure your work area is well ventilated. Dispose of any chemicals or waste properly.

[poohwooden]

on 9/14/2009 I recommend closet doors website. I use information from here.

http://closetdoorsblog.com

[supovadea]

on 8/25/2009 Thank you. This is very helpful to me. I was actually trying to determine the best way to do this myself.

[martyd]

on 8/25/2009 I was looking for this info to do in our wood shop to hide a storage area. Thanks!

[DiscountTickets]

on 8/24/2009 Such great informtion on building sliding closet doors.

[jtphantom]

on 8/24/2009 Great Article. Personally I just had to take two out of my bedroom closet to allow for easier access to storage containers in my closet.

But, that being said I believe your ideas would benefit many in hiding overstocked or messy closets.