We’re not big fans of pocket doors, but it seemed like the best way to implement a door to the commode in the master bath. I had looked at EZJamb products for doors without casings but decided to go down another path, more on that in another post, but I thought the SlideSet would reduce installation labor and be high quality for this pocket door, and that the accompanying CavKit would provide modern/clean finishing trim with minimal fuss.
It is not possible to order from EZJamb directly and no local building supply company really knew anything about their products. RO requirement is 2x door width + 1/2″ and door height + 3″, and we prepped opening for a 32″ x 84″ (x 1 3/4″) door. The SlideSet marketing brochure says the kit is available for 30, 32, or 36 inch wide by 80, 84, or 96 inch high doors (1 3/4 only).
Despite clear direction the first supplier decided to order a kit for a 30″ wide door, which we did not discover until the kit was ready to ship about a month after we ordered it. This same supplier goofed on jamb width for a couple of other doors we had ordered, forcing us to cut them down, and ordered an entry door I didn’t want, so I was not too sympathetic and I ordered another assembly from a local supplier that EZJamb recommended (but which local supplier didn’t really know the EZJamb products). So then it was another month plus to get the correctly sized kit, but it arrived with some damage and the supplier refused the delivery. Another couple of weeks and the repaired assembly was delivered. During that process I asked to see a drawing of what we were getting, it indicated kit was for a 2×4 plate/wall, I had asked for 2×6, we actually received the latter, strange that they didn’t know what they sent us.
So the supplier of the kit also got us a slab to use with the kit, solid core birch, I asked for 32x84x1.75, in their defense they said they had highlighted that they only stocked beveled slabs, but the one we got was about 31.5×83.25 and was of course beveled. So that door (and the 30 inch slab that was delivered before the first SlideSet order goof) went in the dumpster. Another local supplier was able to get a slab that was the full 32×84 size (though also beveled), so we got that on site.
Next challenge was to find someone to put this thing in. First carpenter spent half a day looking at it and gave up. The basic instructions are OK, but there is very little detail in them about the rail system and fastenings. Next carpenter set the assembly frame in the rough opening but didn’t think fastening to the MDF top edge of the solid core door would work. Solid core doors are heavy, this one probably pushing 100 lbs, and the fittings that fasten to the track cars mount into a groove that needs to be routed in the edge of the door, he thought screws would pull out. Carpenter #3 said no sweat and got the slab installed in the kit, took two good guys a few hours. I went and got some long coarse thread screws and some glue for the job. Carpenter said there should have been a header above the RO and that we may have an issue with the track sagging.
Here is the install with the closer cap sunk into the sheet rock to the left.
Soft close mechanism works great but the rolling action is pretty noisy. These wheels a hard plastic, I think other rails (architect called out a Johnson 2060 or equal) may have softer wheels and run more quietly. The SlideSet and CavKit were just under $1500, it probably would have been quicker and cheaper to use the Johnson kit and have the carpenter do the framing.
