SLIDING DOORS

QWhat do I need to take into account before moving or updating an internal door to create a larger living area?

ARelocating an internal door is a great way to change the perception of space in your home, particularly in remodelled kitchens like Katie’s. It’s a relatively straightforward job, but there are some key factors to consider before you begin.

The good news is that putting a new door opening into an existing wall can be done whether the wall is structural or not, but the process will differ slightly in each case. Creating an opening in a structural or loadbearing wall (constructed from blockwork) requires placing a lintel above the frame, while in a non-structural (stud) wall, the opening can be created solely with timber framing. The wall will need to be checked carefully prior to being cut out for electrical wiring or plumbing pipes. In most cases, an experienced builder can use the positions of existing sockets and radiators to assess the likely chance of hitting something.

From a design perspective, the wider and higher the door, the better. Doors are still built to imperial sizes, with the standard being 6’6” x 2’6” (1,981 x 786mm). However, wider and taller doors provide a greater sense of space as you walk through them, so try and specify something in the range of 2’9” wide (838mm).

One increasingly popular option is to install a pocket door (below) – a sliding door that retracts into a pre-formed cavity in the wall itself. Pocket doors are sold as part of the overall frame, which means a larger section of the wall will need to be removed (and replastered). The costs are higher for this type of door, but the benefit of not having a traditional hinged model is that it saves a significant amount of floor space.