Sliding doors over built-in-robes & plasterboard walls & floorboards.

[slowdude]

Hi all,

Just bought my first PPOR in Burwood, Victoria... Its about 25mins drive from Melbourne CBD, totally love it!!! :D Over the next few months we will be looking at doing some renovations to make that place nice...

Anyhow, a few questions:
(1) All rooms in this house have built-in-robes. Problem with them is that they are wide (stretching the entire width of the room) and have too few doors, so the doors are very wide and have a width of 0.7m. When you open them, they take up too much space in the room. So I am thinking of taking them out and putting sliding doors over them - maybe 3 or 4 panes of sliding doors.

Anybody know where I can get hold of these sliding doors? I imagine that I would have to custom make them to the size of the built-in-robes, will this be expensive at all? Any pointers on where (which manufacturer) I can start looking at will be great! Tried most furniture stores (Ikea, Guests etc) but can't find anything like this - sort of looking for parts here... Any alternatives to sliding doors also most welcome!!! :D

(2) How strong are plasterboard walls? I believe the standard thickness is around 13mm or 16mm. Would I need to create a railing across the top in between studs and have a wire dangling from the railing in order to hang pictures/mirrors etc? Or could I just drill a screw into the wall (not over stud) and hang it off the screw? Sorry - first time in plasterboard home here! Also, are there any carpenters that will help me hang these railings across the roof? Skills a bit dodgy here...

(3) Floorboards - I am thinking of changing all the carpeted areas into floorboards. Any good floorboards installer/manufacturer/shop you folks in Melbourne can recommend?

Thanks! Sorry to shoot questions at you guys... At the moment drawing up quotes for the floorboards, just thought should ask anyhow to see if anyone have any good/bad experience with any of the floorboard installers...

Any website (home & building) or ideas most welcome!!! Exciting times ahead!!! :)

Cheers:
slowdude

[rossv]

Hi slowdude,

Q1: try these two links. Most of the cowdroy tracks will allow you to use standard hollowcore doors ($30 each).

http://www.fedfurn.com.au/instructions/instaldoors678%281%29.html

http://www.cowdroy.com.au/index.html

Q2: there are numerous methods of attaching to gyprock ( may only be 10mm thick).
look here

http://www.ramset.com.au/plasterCavityFasteners.html

Q3: can't help, you live in the wrong town. :)



rossv

[Matt Newbie]

Hey Dude

I've recently had to repair my existing sliding cupboard doors and found that Bunnings sold all the gear that you'll need to repair or replace them

The rollers and tracks all come in cheap kit form and are easy to set up

Not sure where to get the actual doors from ... I guess you could make them from MDF and paint them

[Peter 14.7]

...

(2) How strong are plasterboard walls? I believe the standard thickness is around 13mm or 16mm. Would I need to create a railing across the top in between studs and have a wire dangling from the railing in order to hang pictures/mirrors etc? Or could I just drill a screw into the wall (not over stud) and hang it off the screw? Sorry - first time in plasterboard home here! Also, are there any carpenters that will help me hang these railings across the roof? Skills a bit dodgy here...

Cheers:
slowdude

Howdy

Probably 10 or 13mm subject to quality. Reagrdless Go to Bunnings and look for white plastic screw plugs that screw fix into the wall and hold 5kg each.

The grey ones with a toggle flip hold 20kg.

Both look like a swirl with a point about 35mm long.

Regards
Peter 147

[Apocalypse]

...Anyhow, a few questions:
(1) All rooms in this house have built-in-robes. Problem with them is that they are wide (stretching the entire width of the room) and have too few doors, so the doors are very wide and have a width of 0.7m. When you open them, they take up too much space in the room. So I am thinking of taking them out and putting sliding doors over them - maybe 3 or 4 panes of sliding doors.

Anybody know where I can get hold of these sliding doors? I imagine that I would have to custom make them to the size of the built-in-robes, will this be expensive at all? Any pointers on where (which manufacturer) I can start looking at will be great! Tried most furniture stores (Ikea, Guests etc) but can't find anything like this - sort of looking for parts here... Any alternatives to sliding doors also most welcome!!! :D...


Why not convert the existing doors into sliding ones? If the accessories are readily available it shouldn't be too hard.

[slowdude]

Why not convert the existing doors into sliding ones? If the accessories are readily available it shouldn't be too hard.

Yes!!! THanks guys!!! What a brilliant idea!!! To convert the current existing doors to sliding ones is awesome!!! Why didn't I think about that!!! :D :D :D

Cool!!! Will definitely go check out Bunnings and also the screws for the plasterboard... Cheers!! Beers all around!!

slowdude

[skater]

If using the existing doors you may find that you need one extra as sliding doors actually sit in front of or behind each other. Sorry.

[Apocalypse]

If using the existing doors you may find that you need one extra as sliding doors actually sit in front of or behind each other. Sorry.

The track assembly and various other "door furniture" type pieces that need to be added to make them slide etc should add sufficiently to the dimensions to compensate.

[Garry K]

Hi slowdude

If the rooms are small and you want to give the appearance of being bigger, consider mirror on the doors.

Also good for reflecting natural light.

Understand though that you may see a lot more of yourself :o


GarryK