Carefully cut drywall and pocket door frame to allow a 2x4 stiffener on hinge side of the new door.
How to convert a pocket door to a hinged door.
To do this measure the door lengthwise and score a line across the bottom.
Remove the doorknob latch plate and hinges from the door with a screwdriver.
Step 2 move door to the fully closed position and remove it from the upper track by pushing the bottom of the door out then lifting up until the rollers detach from the metal track at the top.
Remove molding from around existing pocket door.
Remove the old door door trim and jamb.
Slide the door fully into the pocket opening and remove the wood casing and door stop on both sides and top of the jamb.
How much trouble is it to convert a hinged door to a pocket door.
Cut the existing door out of frame.
I have a very narrow bathroom that is crammed full with just the bathtub shower toilet and pedestal sink.
To hang a pocket door you need a rough opening that is twice as wide as the door itself.
Measure the length of the door opening from top to bottom.
Remove strike side jamb cut out steel track above.
Lay out the frame pieces and ensure that they are square.
This means taking down the old swinging door removing the jamb and disassembling the wall framing.
4 fill the holes left by the hinges latch or deadbolt with wood filler using a putty knife.
Move door to the fully closed position and remove it from the upper track by pushing the bottom of the door out then lifting up until the rollers detach from the metal track at the top.
Cut the purchased door frame into four pieces two pieces that match the length of the door opening and two pieces that match the width of the door opening.
Cut it back to the middle of the next available stud and to a height corresponding to the top of the door header.
Trim any added door length when converting your hinged door to a barn door you may or may not need to adjust the length of the door to ensure that it slides smoothly on the railing and ground track without scraping across the floor.
Slide the door fully into the pocket opening and remove the wood casing and door stop on both sides and top of the jamb.
Then measure horizontally across the width of the opening.