Update old doors and expand storage space with sliding closet doors.
Having more room space than closet space is a problem you can solve. All it takes is parting with 26 inches or more of floor space so you can create a frame to install sliding closet doors. Create a closet that spans the whole width of the room for a wall-to-wall closet. And if you "go deep," you can make a walk-in closet to maximize your storage space and keep your room neat and tidy. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select the location to frame the sliding closet so that the back of the closet will be an existing wall. Determine the depth for the closet. If the closet will be used for hanging clothes, it should have a minimum depth of 26 inches to accommodate hangers. If it will be a walk-in closet, it should have a minimum depth of 40 inches.
2. Measure out from the back wall to the front edge for the closet based on the depth that you have selected. Mark off the front edge with masking tape.
3. Use a stud finder to locate the ceiling joists and wall studs. Mark the locations with chalk. This is an important step to follow to make sure that your frame will be safely and securely anchored to the walls and ceiling.
4. Roll back carpeting (if applicable). Use a utility knife to cut back carpeting one inch before the front edge of the closet frame to the back wall. You do not have to remove flat flooring, such as vinyl, laminate or wood since it has a flat surface.
5. Cut 4 pieces of 2-by-4 wood boards 6 ½ feet long with a circular saw. These pieces will form the doorjambs for the left and right sides and for the center, which will have two jambs to support each sliding door.
6. Attach the left and right doorjamb pieces to the nearest wall stud to the front edge of the doorway. Measure the width from the top of the left doorjamb to the top of the right doorjamb on the edges of the closet to determine the length for the header and top plate pieces. Cut pieces from 2-by-4 wood boards, according to your measurements. Nail the header piece to the top of the left and right doorjamb pieces.
7. Cut one 18-inch long piece from the 2-by-4 lumber to create the bottom plate for the center jambs. Nail the bottom plate into the floor. Nail one center jamb wood piece to the bottom plate on the left edge, and nail the other piece on the right edge of the bottom plate. Use shims, if needed, so that the top of the center doorjambs meet the top of the header piece. Nail through the top of the header into the center doorjambs to connect the pieces together.
8. Determine the height for the cripple studs, which will connect the header to the top plate. Measure from the base of the header to the ceiling. Cut enough pieces of wood from the 2-by-4 lumber to install cripple studs every 16 inches, and space evenly. You can more cripple studs than needed, but do not use less than one for every 16 inches. Nail the cripple studs to the header lumber piece. Next, place the top plate on top of the cripple studs and connect by nailing.
9. Measure the closet door frame area to determine the dimensions for the drywall. Cut drywall pieces according to your measurements. Nail drywall to the frame to complete your sliding closet door frame project.
Tags: cripple studs, bottom plate, front edge, from 2-by-4, left right, right doorjamb, 2-by-4 lumber
