Closet Doors
Closet Door Repair Specialists
Closet doors come in a variety of types and sizes. We specialize in repairing the types of closet doors that slide – or more accurately – roll.
Knowing a little bit of terminology goes a long way in understanding and communicating your sliding door issues.
But before getting into closet door types, it would be helpful to quickly go over the different parts of a sliding door assembly. Any singular unit used to cover a door opening is called a door panel. While most patio sliding doors have one fixed panel and one sliding panel, nearly all bypass closet doors utilize 2 to 4 sliding panels. Bi-fold doors normally have 2 panels joined by hinges. The hardware that allows a door panel to ‘slide’ is called a roller. Doors roll along a metal track fastened to the floor. Others roll while hanging on a track along the top of the door opening. Most doors swing open or close on hinges, but bifold doors actually pivot on pins to open. Both bifold and accordion doors use rollers at the top of the door panel.
Types of Closet Doors
Bypass Doors are the proper name for the common sliding closet door system. They are named as such because the door panels slide past each other on separate paths of a track. Most modern bedroom closets utilize this system, often with two large, mirrored door panels. Three and four panel systems are also available and can be used in some cases. Most bypass door rollers are located on the bottom of the door panel. The panels then sit and roll along a track fastened to the floor. Other bypass closet doors hang by their rollers from a top track that is fastened to the closet’s header or the ceiling area within the closet opening.
Pocket doors are often found in bathrooms and kitchens, in addition to being used as a closet door. Because the door slides into a section of the wall when open, these doors are a popular solution for very tight and constrained spaces where a hinged door would cause obstruction. It’s also this specialized nature of pocket doors that make it a bit tricky to service and repair. Our techs carry the specialized tools and knowledge to complete a pocket door repair cleanly and efficiently.
Learn more about our Pocket Door services.
Bi-Fold Doors pivot on pins in order to open. The pins are embedded into the top and bottom on one side of a door assembly. A roller is also attached to the top of the door, opposite the pins, and travels in a track that is fastened to the door opening or ceiling. The track and roller keep the end of the door from swinging in or out of the opening. The actual door is comprised of two panels hinged together that fold outward at the hinges when opening. A single Bi-fold door unit can be used for smaller door openings. For areas like a laundry closet, a pair of bi-folds fixed to the opposite sides of a door opening is a common application. These doors are a popular solution for use in non-standard openings or in very constrained spaces.
Accordion doors are generally associated with commercial applications, especially with regard to schools and office buildings. But there are occasions where a small accordion door proves to be a viable solution for a residential situation, such as a laundry or closet door. Like bi-fold and pocket doors, accordion doors don’t swing out into a room or hallway, making it an ideal choice for tighter areas with limited allowances for movement. Accordion doors are comprised of several thin panels attached to each other but considered to be a single unit. Track & rollers are located at the top of the door.
Learn more about Accordion Doors
The hinged, or swinging door is probably the most common type of closet door found in many homes. There are no rollers or tracks associated with this door and is often interchangeable with other interior doors throughout a home. Repair and replacement parts can be found at just about any hardware store to fit any budget. We usually pass on servicing or repairing regular closet doors. But if you reeaaaallly need it done…
Pocket & Accordion Doors
Pocket & Accordion doors are often used in other areas aside from closet doors. Accordion doors in particular are frequently found in schools and office buildings functioning as room dividers.
Learn more about our Pocket Door services.
Learn more about our Accordion Door services.
Common Closet Door Repair Issues
Damaged rollers
Damaged track
Skewed frames
Glazing damage
Damaged panels
Roller/pivot adjustments
The most common repairs we perform on closet doors usually involve – you guessed it – the track and rollers. In many cases the situation involves mismatched parts as a result of a previous installation, repair, or service (not us!). Hard steel rollers on soft aluminum tracks is one instance where the the damage can be extensive. Broken plastic or vinyl rollers limping along a damaged rail is often cause for a door to ‘jump’ off the track – another common failure found in bypass closet doors. Our extruded, skipless track is a welcome sight every time we install one in place of a warped, folded aluminum track. Adjusting bi-fold doors can also be challenging, since there are more moving and adjustment points to consider when making the adjustments. Pocket doors sometimes require specialized tools to complete a repair, tools that keep the walls intact. And that’s always a good thing.