Eichler Homes & Pocket Door Repair

Repair & Replacement Tips For Eichler Pocket Door

Joseph Eichler's modern home design -- with its use of pocket doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and indoor/outdoor space -- remains an architectural icon for many Californians. For those in Eichler communities in San Mateo, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Marin County and beyond, maintenance is a critical issue to keeping decades-old homes as clean and functional as their original design dictated.

Eichler's use of pocket doors coincided with his desire to optimize space for modern stylish functionality. In some cases, Eichler sliding pocket doors are integrated with floor-to-ceiling windows, combining pocket-door usage with Eichler's desire to "let the outside in." However, the various components of pocket doors wear over time, requiring either pocket door repair or replacement.

If you're like most Eichler homeowners, you want to preserve as many original components as possible. That means repairing a door, not replacing it. How do you know if you can actually repair your pocket door?

Like most fix-it jobs, a pocket door repair depends on the severity of the damage. However, Eichler pocket doors present a unique situation because of the original style of the construction. Let's look at the easiest problem. If your pocket door slides roughly when you pull on it, there's a chance that there's no structural damage to either the pocket door or the pocket door track. Instead, it could be something as simple as a loose or damaged roller.

To do this, remove the door by first removing the jambs in the track, then center the door and angle it out of the track. This bit of pocket door repair can be done by homeowners but professionals like A1 On Track can be called in to help at any time. Once the door is removed, a quick inspection of the rollers can determine whether or not they are the cause of the problem. If they're loose, tighten their screws. If they're not rolling well, try lubricant. If they're damaged, replace them with compatible parts from your local hardware store.

Other types of damage (damaged tracks, warped doors, etc.) may require extensive pocket door repair, including gaining access through wall. For the many Eichler homeowners in Palo Alto, San Mateo, and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, A1 On Track is available to provide fast, friendly, and affordable expertise for your pocket door repair needs.

Not sure about your pocket door repair? Need to replace a pocket door? Contact A1 On Track today.