Needing help with closet doors

[jam022316]

Hey all. Our house was built in the late 70's. Every room has those really long metal doors (go about 84" high) that slide on a track. I would like to go about replacing these with a regular door instead of having to use a track based system.

It's looking like I am going to have to add a header and reduce the height of the closet by at least a foot.

Has anybody replaced these doors before and if so any suggestions on alternatives? I would love to not have to lose closet space if I don't have to. Seems like all I can find is wood replacements that are still on a track.

 

[Porcupine]

We had three "floor to ceiling" sliding doors that were quite cheap and needed replacing. I built a header in all three closets and swapped them out with 80" high mirrored sliders. Look's clean and modern than what was there before.

I have seen others do the same thing, and I have also seen people modify it so they put in sliding doors that slide "into" the wall, and have seen others put in bifold doors.

For a regular door, I would just frame it in to the proper dimensions (studs and drywall), and then install the door. Just be mindful as to how you want the door to open (open into closet, or open door into the room, what side hinges are on, etc).

One of our closets has a regular door, and that is what was done to it.

Hope that helps!

 

[56nash]

be careful ever having a closet door swing into the closet. I have seen a walk in closet this way and when something fell over and blocked the door, it meant a new door. The door was literally destroyed in order to get back into the closet.

 

[Porcupine]

Good point - I have seen the doors open into the closet (smaller room but big walk in closet), but yeah, if something ever did fall and block the door, that would be a pain to get in there.