Structural Support
Check Structural Support
If there is not adequate support (i.e., blocking or head casing) for the weight and movement of the door(s), then you must add structural support before attaching the track(s) and door(s) to the wall. Follow these steps to add structural support to an unfinished or finished wall.
Unfinished Wall
- Determine which direction you wish to open the door and add or install structural support in that direction.
- Check the length of the track(s) and determine the number of blocks you will need. Keep in mind the suggested door-to-frame overlap of 1” per side for doors up to 54” and 2” overlap per side for larger door sizes.
- Cut the 2x6 block(s) to the correct length(s) between the wall studs.
- Place the blocking at the appropriate height. Note: Add 2” to the height of the door; this is the ideal center of the block in.
- Position the wide face of the blocking so it is flush with the front surface of the wall studs.
- Securely fasten the blocking to the wall studs.
Finished Wall
Important! The maximum door weight rating for attaching a door to head casings alone with no wall blocking is 75 lb. The head casing must be a least 1” thick, and hardwood such as oak or poplar is recommended. We also recommend that you paint or stain the head casing before attaching it to the wall. See our Header Board on page 4 for the easiest application to a finished wall. *see unfinished wall section for installing structural support for heavier doors.
- Determine which direction you wish to open the door and follow thedirections below.
- Check the length of the rail(s) and cut the head casing to the desired length.
Note: The size of the head casing can be oversize if desired. - Using a stud-finder, find and lightly mark the location of the wall studs.
- Place and level the head casing.
- Securely fasten the head casing to the wall studs at the marked locations.
Warning!
- Failure to wear proper safety gear (i.e., eye protection) may result in serious injury or death. Always wear proper safety gear before using power tools.
- Improper operation of power tools may result in loss of control, serious injury or death. Always ensure you have complete control of the power tool and the work area is free of hazards before operating any tool.
- Lack of secure clamping of the door may result in unexpected movement of the door, loss of power tool control and serious injury or death. Always securely clamp the door in place before cutting or drilling the door.
- Lack of nor improperly installed Anti-jump Disc may result in the door coming off the track and cause serious injury or death. Installation of Anti-jump Disks is required for the safe operation of this hardware. Installed correctly, these discs will keep the door securely attached to the track.
Caution!
- Mishandling of heavy objects (i.e., doors) may cause a loss of balance and severe injury. Always be sure you have a secure hold on the item and that the objects are balanced before moving. Always wear safety shoes when lifting heavy objects
- Getting body parts (i.e., hair, fingers) caught in moving parts may cause pinching and severe injury. Do not put fingers in parts that may move and always remove or contain anything on your body that may become entangled with a moving part.
- Closing sliding doors with your hand on the end of the door may result in your hand or fingers, getting caught between the door and other solid objects (i.e., another door, molding), causing severe injury. Always use the door handle to operate doors.