Do-it-yourself sliding door system step-by-step plan

With this step-by-step plan you can get started installing a sliding door system yourself. We show you step by step how to put it together. Can't figure it out? Please feel free to contact us. Good luck!

Step 1: what are your wishes?

First of all, it is good to consider what your wishes are for the sliding door system that you are going to install yourself. For example, in which room should the do-it-yourself sliding door system be placed? Do you want to mount the sliding door system against the wall, in the wall, against the ceiling or perhaps even in the ceiling? Will it be a system for glass or perhaps for wood? Write this down for yourself and make a sketch of the situation. We distinguish between two main categories. These are systems that are placed in the wall (built-in systems) and separate rail systems.

Two main categories

Sliding door systems can be divided into two main categories. These are, on the one hand, systems that are placed in the wall (built-in systems), and, on the other hand, separate rail systems. We explain both systems:

Built-in systems

The built-in systems consist of self-supporting cassettes that are placed in a wall. These systems are easy to install in metal stud walls with a plasterboard finish, but are also available with a mesh net so that the system can be plastered immediately with the rest of the stone wall.

We have systems with a ready-made cassette for this, but also do-it-yourself sliding door systems. The systems with a ready-to-use cassette are ready for installation almost immediately. The do-it-yourself sliding door systems still need to be clicked together. This is not difficult due to the snap-fit system and the do-it-yourself sliding door system is ready to assemble in about 30 minutes.

Separate rail systems

Loose rail systems may be a little easier to install for the novice handyman. These can be cut to size yourself, so that you can be sure that your rail system meets your requirements. Individual rail systems can be mounted on the ceiling, on the wall or in a suspended ceiling. Basically, a separate rail system consists of the following parts:

  • A rail
  • Hanging set (1 hanging set per sliding door)

Step 2: Put together your shopping list

Then it's time to put together a shopping list. It is wise to first choose your sliding door system and then gather the rest of your requirements from there.

If you want to install a sliding door system yourself, you need the following:

  • Built-in cassette / Loose rail
  • Suspension set (this is always included with built-in systems. This is not self-evident with the separate rail systems, so see which suspension best suits your situation)
  • Possibly a separate soft-close system (sometimes also included in the suspension set)
  • Door panel
  • Sliding door handles/sliding door lock
  • Possibly a door post package
  • Possibly front laths (finishing laths that come around the door opening)

Step 3: Making your own sliding door panel

You can of course buy a sliding door, but you can also make them yourself! Of course, always pay attention to which specifications are required for the sliding door system in which you want to place the door. Pay particular attention to the minimum and maximum thickness of the door panel. You can make a door yourself by, for example, cutting a thicker mdf plate or a plywood door plate to size and providing it with the correct milling work. This can then be painted or wallpapered, so that the door fittings can be mounted.

Make your own barndoor

If you want a visually more interesting door, you can also try making a barndoor yourself. Below you will find a tutorial for a door of 90x210 cm. In our tutorial, the final door will be 90x210, but if you adjust the sizes of the planks, you can make a door that is suitable for a different door size.

Requirements:

To make a band ear you need the following:

  • Sander/sandpaper
  • bDrill
  • Tape measure
  • Saw
  • Saw jig
  • Geotriangle
  • Level
  • Glue clamps
  • Wood glue
  • Wood Filler
  • Stain
  • Ammonia
  • Sliding door system
  • Sliding door handle/sliding door handles
  • 9 planks of 10 x 210 cm
  • 2 shelves of 15 x 180 cm
  • 2 shelves of 15 x 90 cm
  • 1 shelf of 15 x 60 cm
  • 2 planks of 15 x 102 cm

Note: wood works

Attention! Wood works. When making a wooden sliding door, take the humidity level into account. The humidity level is probably different in the hardware store than in your home. The size of the shelves can therefore be slightly different at home. You can respond to this by first placing the wood in the house for a while before you start processing it, so that it can acclimatize. Always use wood that has not been impregnated. Douglas wood, for example, is very suitable for making a door panel.

Gluing the backpanel:

You start by gluing the back panel of the sliding door, namely the 9 planks of 10 x 210 cm, together via the sides. You then use the glue clamps to hold the wood pieces firmly together while the glue hardens. After about an hour the glue has hardened, but waiting longer is of course always advisable!

Create frame:

Once the backpanel is finished, we will start with the frame. Start by gluing the outer planks first. Are they stuck? Then you can also stick the middle plank of 60 cm on it.

Matching corners:

The diagonal planks must be given appropriate angles before it fits diagonally between the framing. Mark the angle with a protractor and, if necessary, use a saw template to saw the correct angle. Are there any cracks? You can easily seal it with wood filler. Wait until everything is dry and hardened.

Prepare door:

The door must then be prepared for the sliding door system. In any case, this almost always means that a groove is milled at the bottom of the door panel, so that the floor guide of the sliding door system keeps the door stable (this prevents the door panel from flapping).

Milling work:

In many cases, the suspension set also requires milling at the top of the door panel, so that there is minimal space between the door panel and the rail. This gives a nice minimalistic effect. Always check the instructions of the sliding door system for the dimensions of the milling work.

Finally, the sliding door handles often require milling. This is either because the door handle needs to go into the door so that the door can slide along or into the wall. It is also possible that a lock box has to be milled into it (for a toilet door, for example).

Mounting sliding door handles:

Once you have finished the milling work, the sliding door handles can be mounted and your door panel is ready for installation in the DIY sliding door system.

Create actual system:

Once you have completed all the steps above, it is time to make the sliding door system yourself. Follow the instructions for the chosen sliding door system.

Want to know more about a do-it-yourself sliding door system?

View the different do it yourself kits, place an order in the webshop and get started yourself! Do you have questions during installation? We have many instructional videos on our Youtube channel. Still not clear? We are available for your questions. Send them to info@bestfix.nl or call us on +31 (0)570 768 737.

Have you made a sliding door system yourself? We really like to see this! We would like to highlight your project on our social media channels. Send the photos and description of your project to info@bestfix.nl.