Adding pocket and barn doors
Pocket doors slide into the wall; barn doors slide across it. Both eliminate the swing arc; here's how to add each.
Pocket and barn doors save the floor space a swinging door would waste — ideal for tight spots and closets. A pocket door slides into the wall cavity and disappears; a barn door rides a track on the face of the wall. Neither has a swing arc to keep clear, so Flow Check doesn't reserve one.
This page covers placing each type, setting the width and the Pocket or Rail length, and seeing the hardware in 3D.
Step by step
- 1
Pick the door type from the Build panel
Open the Build panel (on a phone, tap Structural & Interior under the plan) and find the Doors & Windows section. Tap Pocket Door or Barn Door.
- 2
Click the wall
Click on the wall where the door goes. The door lands at a default position; drag along the wall to reposition. For an exact spot, select the door and tap one of the two distances shown beside it: type the distance from the corner (for example 20 cm) and press Enter, or tap Center to put it halfway along. The Inspector shows the same numbers as From left / From right (From top / From bottom on an up-and-down wall).
- 3
Pocket door — set width, side and pocket length
Select the door. In its settings: Width (typically 28–42 inches). L / R picks which side the pocket is on — the door slides that way. Pocket is the length of the cavity in the wall, in inches; it starts at the door's width, which is what the door needs to disappear completely. Open / Closed shows the door slid away or covering the opening, and the colour dots set the hardware finish.
A pocket door slides into the wall — no swing arc to clear. - 4
Barn door — set width, rail, and side
Select the door. In its settings: Width (28–60 inches). L / R is the way it slides open. Rail is the track length in inches; it starts at about 2.1 × the door width, so the open door clears the opening — keep it shorter than the wall. In hangs the door on the room face of the wall (the default); Out hangs it on the other face. Open / Closed and the hardware finish work as for a pocket door.
A barn door rides a track mounted on the wall face. - 5
Verify in 3D
Switch to 3D View. A pocket door shows slid into the wall (Open) or across the opening (Closed); a barn door shows with its track and hardware.
Tips
Pocket doors need a clear stud bay
A pocket door slides into the wall, so that run has to be deep enough and free of plumbing. On the plan, keep that stretch of wall clear of other fixtures.
Rail length for a barn door
A barn door needs roughly double its width in wall to slide onto. The Rail starts at about 2.1 × the door width; make it longer if you like, but keep it shorter than the wall it hangs on.
Common mistakes
A barn door over a switch or outlet
The door and its track cover the wall face when open. Keep switches and art off the wall the barn door slides across.
Expecting a swing clearance
These doors have no swing arc, so don't leave the quarter-circle clear the way you would for a hinged door — that space is yours to use.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a pocket and a barn door?
A pocket door slides inside the wall cavity and disappears; a barn door slides across the face of the wall on an exposed track.
Do they need swing clearance?
No — neither has a swing arc, so Flow Check doesn't reserve the quarter-circle a hinged door needs.
How do I set the barn door's track length?
Select it and type the length in the Rail box of its settings (in inches). It starts at about twice the door width, which is what the open door needs to clear the opening.
Can I use a pocket door in any wall?
On a real build the wall must be deep enough and clear of plumbing where the door pockets. On the plan, keep that run of wall free of other fixtures.
Can I change the hardware finish?
Yes. Select the door and pick a swatch under Hardware in its settings: brushed nickel, matte black (the starting finish for pocket and barn doors), brass, chrome, oil-rubbed bronze or white. The door's metal hardware shows the finish in 3D.
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