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How to Build Sliding Closet Doors

Jon Olson

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.

Build Sliding Closet Doors
    Flush doors do not have any raised sections and are completely flat.
  1. 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.
  3. 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.

  4. Polyurethane is the clear coat that protects the wood.
  5. 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.

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

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

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

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

  10. 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.

  11. 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.