How to make a sliding door with your own hands. Instructions with photos

To make a sliding door with your own hands, you need drawings, a description of the work plan and step-by-step instructions, because this is a rather non-trivial task, especially for a beginner. At the same time, installing a sliding door is an opportunity to save space, which is especially important when the room area is limited.

In this way, you can still zone the room, without having to build durable floors. You can even make such a design with your own hands, using new materials or old fabric - you just have to purchase a special mechanism and components for it. Today we will dwell on this type of work in detail.

DIY sliding door

How do sliding systems work?

The compartment door is designed in such a way that its doors slide apart to the sides. This can be either one or two door leaves, moving parallel to the ceiling or sliding inward. And if the general operating principle of such doors is the same, then the installation and opening methods are different. Let's talk about this in more detail.

Table No. 1. Main types of sliding systems.

Table No. 2. Types of interior sliding doors by opening method

Design diagram with top movement mechanism

Making a canvas

For example, we will consider the size of the canvas with a width of 180 cm. If 2 sashes are planned, the length is divided in half. When each half is installed on different rails, the width of the leaf is increased by 10 cm (5 cm for each sash). This is necessary to overlap one half of the door with the other.

To make compartment doors stronger and stiffer, a metal profile is installed at the ends of the door leaf. The roller is mounted next. At a distance of 10 cm from the bottom edge of the canvas, a recess is made using chisels or a milling machine. A roller system is installed into the finished landing groove and secured with self-tapping screws. The mechanism is adjusted after the door is installed in the opening.

To make handles, cut out a recess in the canvas. The groove is made at a distance of 3-5 cm from the edge of the door, drawing a vertical line with a pencil using a construction corner. The wood is selected using a chisel or milling cutter, and the edges are rounded with a crown drill. Everything should be done carefully so as not to damage the canvas. A hole of the required diameter is drilled under the fastening pin. After the preparatory work, the handles are installed and connected with a bolt on both sides.

What mounting options are there?

Depending on the type of structure, the following installation methods are distinguished:

1. With two guides. They are fixed on the ceiling to a wooden beam (which is previously installed there) and from below. Thus, the canvas is securely fixed, allowing it to move smoothly and without obstacles. The only disadvantage that can be highlighted is that for the lower profile in the floor you will have to make a recess in advance using the gating method. If it is not embedded into the floor, the structure will look unsightly and the profile itself will quickly become unusable. In addition, contaminants often accumulate in it.

   
   Doors with two tracks

2. With one guide. For canvases of this type, special fasteners are provided. They are installed in the opening and move along the profile, which is located on top. An additional rail is not installed at the bottom, because usually such doors have a small mass.

Assembly of top-hung structures using the example of “Puerta”

Suspended structures are silent and comfortable. Such systems are sometimes used in residential premises as sliding partitions. For assembly you will need:

• sets of lower and upper rollers;
• profile;
• stoppers.

Top-hung system "Puerta" assembled

In addition, it is worth preparing guides, purchasing wooden beams, stoppers, appropriate fittings, and, if necessary, trims and false panels. It is important to leave space between the partition and frames. The contact of such elements is unacceptable.

Suspension systems provide for a number of restrictions on dimensions, as well as weight. Sometimes a frameless option is used, in which the doors seem to float above the floor. The absence of a threshold will be an unsurpassed solution for a dressing room, or a partition designed to separate different rooms.

For reliable assembly, it is recommended that you read the information provided on the page. Using her example, it’s easier to understand all the nuances.

Materials for making sliding doors

The reliability of the structure will also depend on the quality of the materials from which it is made, so special attention should be paid to this point.

The sliding system is a mechanism that consists of guides, rails and rollers. It can be made from various materials:

1. Steel. It is these durable mechanisms that are best suited for installing heavy interior doors. They securely fix the canvas and do not deform under load. The only drawback is the noticeable noise when the doors move.
2. Aluminum. Guides made of this metal should be chosen only if you plan to install a weightless canvas. One of the advantages of such a mechanism is the silent movement of the canvases.
3. Plastic. A mechanism made from this material is used only for simple hinged doors.

   
   It is recommended to use only durable, steel guides

Note! An equally important point is the choice of material for the canvas itself. In this case, the purpose of the structure will be of great importance.

Table No. 3. The most popular materials for making door leaves.

Glass doors are often used by designers to create respectable interiors.

If you have the desire and opportunity, you can combine the listed materials. Some craftsmen prefer to install glass or mirrors in wooden doors.

Important point! It is important to use only high-quality material in your work, otherwise the door leaf may become deformed. This especially often happens when natural wood is poorly processed and dried.

Aluminum

The optimal material for guides, but at the same time expensive. High strength allows you to withstand any weight of the structure. The rollers move along the aluminum guides smoothly and silently.

Aluminum guide

Making a sliding door

Even a novice master can handle a simple version of the sliding design. We will look at the main stages of manufacturing a sliding door.

Before starting installation, you must prepare all materials and tools

Materials and tools

During the work we will need the following devices:

• electric drill, screwdriver;
• chisel;
• electric jigsaw;
• Bulgarian;
• building level;
• roulette;
• Screwdriver Set;
• a simple pencil and a ruler.

In addition, you will need to prepare materials:

• chipboard sheets for door leaves;
• guide rails, rollers, fittings;
• bars with a cross section of 5×5 centimeters;
• anchor fastenings;
• decorative additions;
• self-tapping screws

Calculations and drawings

It is recommended to draw up a drawing of the door leaf with dimensions. To do this, we will need to first measure the doorway (it is necessary to take into account the distance to the ceiling in order to determine the method of installing the sliding doors). In addition, you should take into account the distance from the opening to the corners, because in all cases it is not enough for the sash to slide out freely.

If you decide to install a frame over a doorway, then first of all you need to take into account the thickness of the floors - if there are too crooked walls, the measurements may not match, so they will have to be double-checked several times. In addition, you should make sure that the floor is level and not sloped.

This is what the measurement diagram looks like

According to the standard, the canvas has the following dimensions:

• width – from 40 to 90 centimeters;
• height – 275 centimeters.

When making a door yourself, you should not make it too large, because the rollers may not withstand excessive load.

When choosing the classic version of sliding doors, you need to make a leaf that will be 20-50 millimeters higher than the opening. The width of these doors should be 20-30 millimeters larger on both sides.

The table shows the maximum dimensions of door leaves. The possibility of deviation from these values ​​is not excluded, but only to a lesser extent

In the case of installing a cassette mechanism, it is necessary to cut out the canvas exactly to the size of the opening, because first the mechanism itself will be installed, and only then the niche.

By combining materials, you can make the door leaf weightless. Here are some of the most popular lightweight design options.

If you think that it will be easier to make a door leaf from wooden blocks, then the following diagram of their connections will be useful in your work

In this case, you should use polished timber, which will not have to be further processed. In order to make the most accurate cuts, it is advisable to purchase specialized carpentry equipment.

The process of making a sliding door: step-by-step instructions

Step 1. First of all, we need to cut out a door leaf of the required size from a sheet of chipboard. This can be done at home, but it is better to turn to professional furniture makers. Next we need to process the edges. This is quite simple to do, using an iron or hair dryer with hot air, after which the edges can be cut off with a utility knife.

Treated and untreated chipboard edges

Important point! During work, you must use protective gloves for your hands and special glasses for your eyes.

Step 2. Now you need to take a wooden beam and measure the required length from it.

You should mark and saw off the beam using a jigsaw

Now, according to preliminary markings, we will need to fix the beam above the doorway (in our case it will be held on by four long screws)

Step 3. Now you need to measure the required length of the rails.

You can cut the metal guide using a grinder

Now you should make holes in the guide for the screws

It is necessary to place it on a chair, holding it with one hand, and drill through holes.

Step 4. Next you will need to screw the guide rail to the wooden block above the opening.

You need to hold it with one hand and screw in the screws one by one

Important point! If the guide is installed without a bar, then it is necessary to fix it a few centimeters further from the wall, otherwise the door will touch the trim when moving.

It is necessary to carefully check the correct position of the bar and the guide using a level, because the ability to freely open the door depends on this.

Step 5. Now you need to attach the metal fasteners from the kit to the door leaf.

We attach the hanging mounts for the rollers with self-tapping screws

Step 6. Now you should mark the location where the door handle is attached.

It is important not to make mistakes in the calculations and put marks on all sides

Now you need to make holes using a drill along the marking lines

This is necessary in order to place a jigsaw blade there and cut out a recess for attaching the handle.

You should also cut out the hole carefully, moving exactly along the marked lines.

Tips for choosing a jigsaw

It’s better not to rush here and, if necessary, make a few more holes with a drill on the other side.

The door handle mount should be installed in the resulting hole, after which you will need to insert the door handle itself

Step 7. The next step is to insert the rollers into the top guide.

You need to insert two rollers into the guide

Now you need to screw the door lock from below

The groove in the door leaf must be made using a grinder and a special circle.

Step 8. Next you need to hang the door leaf.

Using the screws located on the rollers, you should set the canvas to the optimal level, after which it can be secured with nuts

Next, you need to insert the clamps into the guide and wrap them up - this will be needed so that the door does not go beyond the rails

Step 9. The fastenings will need to be covered with decorative trim in the color of the door leaf.

First you need to measure the exact length of the extension, and then you will need to cut it to size with a jigsaw

The extension can be secured to small nails with decorative heads. It is important to carefully fix it on both sides. Now we need to mark and cut the side panels for our door. Then all that remains is to install them according to the same principle.

Upon completion of all work, it is necessary to check the functionality of the structure - the door should move smoothly along the guide without any obstacles.

Video - Sliding door from an ordinary one. DIY compartment door

This is the simplest option for making a sliding structure at home, which is suitable for beginners. If desired, you can also install a lower guide with rollers. In this case, it will be necessary to make a recess according to its dimensions in the floor. It is worth noting that this is a more modern option, because such a mechanism operates silently.

Important point! In this case, when hanging the door, the door leaf is first inserted into the lower guide, and then into the upper one.

Standard and non-standard door leaf sizes

Standard

As for the size of canvases, each state has its own standards. In Russia, the height is usually two meters (the rough opening height is 210 cm), and the width of single-leaf products is from 0.6 to 0.9 m .

Manufacturers produce sliding structures in the same size range. Therefore, choosing the right product option for a standard opening will not be difficult.

Non-standard

Considering that non-standard options are made to individual orders, they will not be cheap. When manufacturing products, materials such as glass and mirror are often chosen.

Glass devices give the interior lightness and weightlessness, while mirror ones make the room visually larger. Equally popular are blind products made from various wood species.

An option for a non-standard sliding design is a glass door

If you want to order products whose width is larger or smaller than generally accepted standards, make sure that you have enough space for the doors to open completely. To do this, measure the width of the vertical surface. It should be larger or equal to the width of the canvas.

Non-standard height products can also be made to order. These are, for example, models with arches or transoms.

Advantages and disadvantages of sliding doors

Before you start manufacturing sliding doors, you need to carefully study all the advantages and disadvantages of such structures. It is worth considering that sliding doors are also not suitable in all cases.

Interior sliding doors can be incredibly aesthetic

The following advantages of sliding doors should be highlighted:

• such doors take up minimal space compared to any swing models;
• you can open and close the canvas without much effort; even a child can handle such actions;
• even if there is a draft in the room, the door will definitely not slam or open from it;
• this is the best way to divide a room into several zones, because glass sheets are often used as decorative partitions;
• some door designs do not provide for a threshold, so this option is suitable if disabled or elderly people live in the apartment;
• the design is perfect for any room, including the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom;
• If you have additional funds, you can install an automatic door opening mechanism.

  
  Installing this design allows you to visually expand the wall

However, it is necessary to note the disadvantages due to which some people refuse to install interior sliding doors:

• if the canvas moves along the wall, then it is impossible to place furniture near it (it turns out that the design conceals useful space);
• poor sound insulation from extraneous sounds is often observed - this is due to the fact that there are gaps between the canvas and the frame;
• Because of such doors, heat in the room is worse retained;
• the cost of installing sliding doors will be significantly higher compared to the standard option;
• if you buy budget components, the door may fail within a few months;
• If you are going to install compartment doors with two leaves, then it will be more difficult to cope with this process, because these parts should be perfectly matched to each other, so you will have to involve a professional craftsman in the work.

Video - Installation of sliding doors in thin ceilings

Only if it is assembled correctly will you be able to evaluate the ease of use of sliding doors, so when installing it yourself, you must carefully take measurements. Even minor deviations will lead to the design not functioning properly. The work must be carried out slowly and carefully, then the result will definitely please all household members.

You can learn more about how to make sliding doors with your own hands by reading our article.

Scheme

The diagrams show important compartment door components:

Scheme of compartment doors Scheme of pencil case doors Design

Door design diagram

Sliding door fastening diagram Wheel fastenings

Fastening the guides

Door opening diagram

Opening for installing a compartment door

Sliding door diagram
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Preparing parts

To save money, many are interested in whether it is possible to do without the help of experienced furniture manufacturers and how to make wardrobe doors with their own hands. First, the parts are prepared for installation. Having chosen the most relevant material (chipboard, MDF or natural wood), purchased fittings, you can get to work. You will need to make a reliable frame from pre-prepared parts:

• two side walls;
• lid;
• lower.

In the future, shelves and storage systems will be installed inside the structure.

A sheet of selected material is cut out on special equipment, which cuts out the described details of the future cabinet with high precision. If there are no special tools for this, you can order cutting of the material from professionals. After cutting, the parts are machined and covered with end plates to make them more aesthetically pleasing. Next, we will tell you how to assemble the doors and get a finished piece of furniture at minimal cost.

Door design without filling

Profiles may be different, so they must be measured individually

Installation features

Installation of the sliding panel is quite simple:

• Marking is carried out, during which the attachment points of the guides are marked on the upper part of the wall above the opening. You can measure the height of the leaf in advance and add the size of the guides to it, but for inexperienced craftsmen it is more correct to install the door in a vertical position, attach the guides and mark the points according to their actual position;

• nests are made in the wall, dowels are installed and the upper guides are attached;

• upper and lower rollers are attached to the canvas;
• the door is hung on the upper guides. Install the rollers on the lower support strip and mark the attachment points. Some experts move the canvas to one side and attach the lower guides, after which they move the sash to the other side and fix the second half of the rail with grooves;

• check smooth operation, install handles (locks, latches);
• install platbands and other decorative elements.

As a rule, sliding doors come with detailed installation instructions. It must be carefully studied in order to complete the installation quickly and without errors.