Soft Close Pocket Door Options

There’s a lot of pocket door hardware out there & each provider can use different terminology when referring to the functionality they offer, as a result we’ve put together a breakdown of the different soft closer hardware out there, how they function & terminology used by different brands.

Standard Soft Closer

With a standard single pocket door installation you’re likely going to be after a simple soft closer, these work with your pocket door frame kit to ensure that when the door is pushed close it does so slowly & quietly to reduce noise & improve safety in the home. The main standard soft closers what work with our pocket doors are:

• ECLISSE Soft Closer Rallently (unlike most soft closers this hardware works with any brand of pocket door & can be installed retrospectively)
• ECLISSE BIAS Built-in Anti Slam/Soft Closer
• SAHECO Soft Close
• Cavity Slider SofStop Single Action
• SliDor Soft Close Mechanism

It’s worth noting of course that if you’re looking to have a soft closer on a double pocket door frame then you’ll need to purchase 2 soft closers, should this be the case you ay also want to consider a co-ordination kit to ensure both pocket doors move in tandem.

Soft Open & Closer

The next step up from a soft closer would be a soft open & closer, this ensures a smooth & gentle movement both when closing the door & opening the door when then door slab returns into the pocket in the wall. The main soft open & closers what work with our pocket doors are:

• ECLISSE DIAS DS Soft Closer Both Directions
• SAHECO Soft Open/Close
• Cavity Slider SofStop Double Action

ADA Compliant Soft Closer

In some instances it may be required for you to have a ADA compliant soft closer, this means that less than 5lbs of pressure should be used open the door. In this instance you’ll need to choose a kit that adheres with these requirements & we’ve listed below the main ADA compliant soft closers that work with our pocket doors:

ECLISSE Anti Slam HD

Other things to consider when choosing a soft closer for your pocket door frame:

• Door weight: There are limitations on the weight that some soft closers work with, be sure to look at the technical specs before making a purchase to ensure this will support the door slab you’re looking to use.
• Point of install: Not all soft closers can be installed retrospectively, so make sure that if you’re looking to have this functionality in place it’s something you consider before you put the kit in place to ensure you have a choice of all hardware on offer.
• Increased force required: Installing a soft closer does of course reduce noise & the chance of trapped fingers, however its worth noting that it can make the door harder to open & will require slightly more force to do so. If this is a concern its worth looking at the ADA compliant options as these will move with no more the 5lbs of force.
• Complementing hardware: In some instances only certain hardware is compatible, so if you’re also looking to combine your soft closer with co-ordination kits or self-closing kits it’s worth checking that this is possible with the soft closer you’re considering.

If you want any more guidance on which soft close pocket door kit is best for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of pocket door experts who will be able to point you in the right direction.