How to remove sliding closet doors

Accessing the full space of a closet or home renovation are just two reasons to remove sliding closet doors. Different styles of doors have different requirements for removal. Sliding closet or bypass doors can have a notched track, short rear top rail lip, or a combination of both. These things allow you to safely remove the doors without causing damage to them or to the track in which they roll.

Slide one of the bypass doors open to gain access to the closet. Examine the door track to determine what type of track is installed. Sliding door tracks will have a notch or a solid track. Solid tracks have a solid lower flange that stabilises the roller and a short angled top flange. Notched tracks, easily spotted, have notches on both the upper and lower flanges of the track.

Open the sliding closets doors to gain access to the screws in the bottom bypass door guides. Remove the screws in the bottom guide and slide the bottom guide away from the sliding doors.

Remove the door from the notched roller track, if this is the kind you have. To do this, lower the top rollers on the sliding closet doors with the Phillips screwdriver. This will allow sufficient room to remove the doors. Align the front sliding door with the notches and lift the door slightly to remove the door from the track. Repeat the process for the rear bypass door.

Remove the door from a solid track, if this is the kind you have. To do this, lower the top rollers on the bypass door. Slide the front sliding door to the middle of the door opening. Grasp the sliding door on both sides. Pull the door toward the room to angle the door. Lift the door when the door is tilted between 10 and 20 degrees. Repeat the process for the rear door.