There’s a single hallway leading to all the bedrooms in my home, and I have a pocket door there. I’m thinking of reinforcing it to use as a security door if an intruder gets in.
I’d like it to close and lock automatically with the press of a button or switch next to my bed. It doesn’t need to hold up forever, just long enough for me to wake my wife and kids and get them to safety. It also has to be easy to unlock in case of fire (we have another exit).
Has anyone worked on something like this before? How would you reinforce or automate a pocket door if money wasn’t an issue? Looking for some ideas—thanks!
Honestly, you’d have an easier time replacing the pocket door with a standard door. Use a door closer and a magnetic latch. For a pocket door to work, you’d need something like a hydraulic system to push it shut—kind of like those automatic car gates.
For locking, you could try a chest latch. You’d mount part of it on the door and the moving piece on the frame. It’s not perfect, but it might work without wrecking too much of the trim.
For better reinforcement, latches at the top and bottom would hold up better, but a single lock in the middle would be easier to use in a hurry.
@Finlo
That’s a really good point. I was hoping to make the pocket door work since it’s so low-profile, but it sounds like a regular door might be the better option in the end.
If you’re okay tearing into walls, you could look into installing a sliding door with an electric control. But to keep it safe, it’d need sensors to detect blockages and auto-reverse if something’s in the way.
If safety isn’t a huge concern, you could do a spring-loaded gate with an electric latch. It’ll cost you, though.
JacksonReed said: @Riley
I’m fine with opening up the walls and adding auto-reverse sensors. Do you know of any specific products for this?
You’d need to talk to a security company that installs heavy-duty gates and doors. They have automatic sliding systems that can be operated with a switch or remote, and they usually include built-in sensors to stop the door if something’s in the way. It won’t be cheap, though.