How to Install an Antique Pocket Door | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert and his father help a homeowner install a salvaged pocket door in her 1881 house, adding a period-correct touch that it’s been missing. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert takes us on a house call to help a homeowner with a pocket door. After salvaging a pocket door that will work perfectly in one of her doorways, she asks Nathan and his father to help source missing hardware, prepare the door, and hang it. The trio works together to give this classic home a fittingly classic touch. Difficulty: ⅗ (sourcing hardware can be a challenge) Time: One day Cost: $500 (without the cost of the door) Note: Cost will vary depending on the hardware necessary and its availability. Older homes have a charm that can’t be beaten. Many folks look for design touches like stained glass, wainscot, and pocket doors. When the owner of this home built in 1881 noticed that her neighbor was removing a pocket door that would work in her home, she couldn’t wait to salvage it and hang it in a pocket in her home. With carpenter Nathan Gilbert and his father’s help, the trio handles the project beautifully. Where to find it? Nathan and his dad, Bill, help a homeowner install an antique 1880’s pocket door with its authentic hardware. To replace the original pocket door hardware, Nathan sourced Richards Parlor Door Hangers [https://bit.ly/3PQks51] from 1881. To punch in the trim nails, Nathan uses a hammer [https://amzn.to/3PWuvp9] and nail punch [https://amzn.to/3YJE12O]. Nathan scores the paint around the seams of the trim with a knife [https://amzn.to/3hSp6mj]. Then, he carefully lifts the trim using a pry bar [https://amzn.to/3vdUwXG], putting a small piece of wood between the pry bar and trim to give the pry bar leverage and protect the wall surface. Nathan uses an oscillating tool [https://amzn.to/3I7iJGq] to cut into the bottom of the trim pieces anchored into the floorboards. To remove the damaged door plate, Nathan unscrews the set screws with a 6.5mm slotted screwdriver [https://amzn.to/3Wm4Qss]. To fill the gaps in the door plates, Bill cuts strips of thin foam cushioning [https://amzn.to/3veJLnW] and Nathan reinstalls the door plates over the foam to create a kind of gasket that will absorb the shock to keep the old wood on the door from splitting. After lining up the door inside the pocket and attaching the hangers to the door plates, Nathan and Bill reinstall the trim. To secure the trim, Bill uses a finish nailer [https://amzn.to/3BX7gpo] and trim nails [https://amzn.to/3Wlkx34]. Finally, Nathan applies white lithium grease [https://amzn.to/3WdgG89] to the wheels of the hanger hardware to ensure smooth operation and reduce corrosion. Expert assistance provided by Steven Thorp of Fixpocketdoors.com [https://ift.tt/kO4gGMN] Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Materials: Pocket door hardware [https://bit.ly/3PQks51] Sill seal [https://amzn.to/3veJLnW] Wood shims [https://amzn.to/3jkFU5T] Wood filler [https://amzn.to/3hK8fCq] Trim nails [https://amzn.to/3Wlkx34] White lithium grease [https://amzn.to/3WdgG89] Tools: Hammer [https://amzn.to/3PWuvp9] Nail set [https://amzn.to/3YJE12O] Pry bar [https://amzn.to/3vdUwXG] Utility knife [https://amzn.to/3hSp6mj] Oscillating multi-tool [https://amzn.to/3I7iJGq] Screwdrivers [https://amzn.to/3Wm4Qss] Level [https://amzn.to/3hP62W4] Finish nailer [https://amzn.to/3BX7gpo] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/QLw0ECs About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How to Install an Antique Pocket Door | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/