Lay a Track for Closet Sliding Doors
Closet bypass doors operate on upper and lower tracks. These tracks have a rear and front channel that each door travels on to open and close the doors. Laying the track for closet sliding doors is not difficult, but it is important that the top track be level. Although most sliding doors use adjustable hardware, if the top track is level, the rest of the door installation will require little adjustment. Having a helper makes the installation easier. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the top header of the closet opening from the left side to the right, using a tape measure. Cut the metal top track to your measurement, using a hacksaw.
2. Mark the bottom of the header back 3/8-inch with a pencil. Measure in from the front of the header 3/8-inch at each side and the center. This is where you want to install the front of the track.
3. Ask your helper to hold one end of the track up while you secure the other end into the bottom of the closet header. Align the front of the track with the 3/8-inch mark. Secure the track to the header using an attaching screw and screwdriver. Use a cordless screwdriver if you have one.
4. Line the front of the track on the other end with the 3/8-inch mark and attach the track to the closet header. Secure the middle of the track at the 3/8-inch mark with the attaching screw and the screwdriver. Check the levelness of the track by placing a 6-foot level across the bottom of the track. Place small shims between the track and the header where necessary. Attach two more securing screws between each side and the center of the track.
5. Measure the distance between the closet jambs at the floor with a tape measure. Cut the bottom guides with a hacksaw according to your measurements.
6. Lay the bottom glide track on the floor between the closet jambs. Ask your helper to hold a plumb line from the center of the top track on one side of the closet opening. A plumb line is a string with a pointy weight on one end of the string. Position the center of the floor guide track directly under the point of the plumb line weight. Secure the track to the floor with an attaching screw and a screwdriver.
7. Go to the other side of the closet opening and have your helper hold the plumb line. Install the center of the bottom glide track directly under the plumb line weight. Attach the track with four more securing screws, evenly spacing the screws across the length of the track.
8. Install your sliding doors into the tracks. One door will install in the rear track and one will install in the front track. Test the operation of the doors and adjust the bottom glide track as necessary.
Tags: plumb line, front track, 8-inch mark, attaching screw, attaching screw screwdriver, bottom glide, bottom glide track