Does anybody know of a manufacturer of exterior pocket doors? I currently have french doors and would like to maintain the same look, but without swinging them into the house to open.
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I've never seen them. But Andersen makes French doors that swing out. They work best with a porch. You have to have some way to keep them from catching in the wind and blowing shut.
French doors that swing out is probably the simplest and most cost effective solution as it appears that there currently is not a manufucturer of exterior pocket doors. Thanks.
out swinging door
My experience with them is not blowing shut, but the wind catching them and blowing them plum off. :)
I think the starship Enterprise had them, google for the maker.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Pocket-door hardware is available as a kit from Stanley, among others, and all you need besides that is a door rated as an exterior door and a few lengths of nylon-brush type weatherstripping. Mechanically, it's just a matter of puttering around until you get all the little pieces figured out and nailed in place.
I couldn't offer an opinion on the aesthetics of this sort of a set up, as I've never seen one before and I can't quite imagine how it might look since I haven't seen your house. I understand you wanting to clear the door swings from your existing French doors, but have you considered a true French door set instead of the bastard American version commonly used in North America? True French doors use two 18 or 20" facing doors with fixed 12" or 14" mullion lites on each side. The narrower doors make for a lot less interior space eaten up by the door swings.
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
Exterior pocket doors would be an interesting concept. The standard design of a top hanging pocket door would make it nearly impossible to weatherproof unless it had a bottom track. The closest thing I could imagine would be a patio style slider with french door accents.
I would forget about the starship enterprise and talk to a local window supplier.
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http://www.milgard.com/products/fiberglass-patio-doors/woodclad-french-sliding.asp
Look an the Andersen French Wood sliders.
http://www.nanawallsystems.com/pocket_doors.html
I like this thought, I do a lot of work in Cottage Country in Ontario and I could see the real advantge with the full opening that you would get, rather then having a swinging door into a room or a slider that takes up half the opening.
How would the screens work? I think this is a great idea. This method of opening exterior doors is used on store fronts for restuarants that what a large opening however they are usually by-folds with full weather stripping.
Great thought
George
I agree with those who said pocket doors would be hard to weather proof. I was wondering (oh, oh!) about sliding doors that are like sliding garage doors--when open are flat against the outside wall. Those may be hard to seal from weather too though.
Beyond the weatherproofing, don't forget that the pocket will be sans insulation. Beyond weatherproofing the sides, would also need to weatherproof the top and bottom, since the door gotta slide clear of the ground. I imagine it'd be easy for bugs to get into the pocket and house.
Also brings to mind...security. Wouldn't you need a bolt or something to keep the whole works from being pushed to either side allowing entry?
They make screens that pull out from the sides, sort of like the old pull down black out blinds. I've seen them on new french doors.
Peace
Interesting problem. I've seen those on historic homes. Easy enough to build, but hard to build something that seals well.
I was just thinking that sliding patio doors are just like pocket doors without the 'pocket'.
So, theoretically it should be possible to get a standard 4 panel sliding door (where the 2 center panels close together), and hide the 2 fixed panels in the wall.
Pella sells them, among others.
http://www.pella.com/resources/pdf/Ascsf-s.pdf
Multiple Manufacturers Available
There are a number of manufacturers at multiple price points that produce exterior pocketing doors (available in single or multiple panels). Here are a few:
-Marvin Windows and Doors
-La Cantina
-Nana Wall
These companies also provide a variety of other options for sliding, swing and stacking exterior systems. These doors have manufacturer provided door frames and gasgeting for weatherproofing.
Work with your structural engineer and contractor to provide proper wall framing and insulation. Rigid foam insulation can be used in place of batt insulation at the limited space at the pocket cavity framing. Check local codes for required insulation R-Values.