Hello,
I’ve reached a point with a topic in our new build (move-in September 2024) where I really need some input. Let me give some background...
We have a niche on the ground floor intended to be used as a storage space for beverage crates, vacuum cleaner, sports bags, and other items. Having lived in the USA for over five years, we fully understand the purpose of a closet space, and when this niche was left over in the planning, we immediately decided that we wanted a closet space as well.
The niche (135 cm (53 inches) wide and about 110 cm (43 inches) deep) is currently just an empty spot in the hallway.
During the construction phase (wood frame construction), when I started looking for a door system for it, I realized that this type of system is really uncommon here in Germany. I found a German supplier offering folding doors (two or three-panel elements) and got in touch with several carpentry shops selling this system, but the cost was around €3000. So, the project was put on hold. One carpenter also mentioned that the doors would need to be fixed at least once on the floor, which would require drilling into the floor tiles (about 6 cm (2.4 inches) long screws). Since we have underfloor heating, we were not very comfortable with that.
Now, this corner is starting to annoy us, and I would like to know if anyone in the forum has ever taken on such a project with folding doors (not the plastic accordion-style ones). Currently, we have the following idea: build a frame from wood (with a transom window, which my husband wants) and hang floating doors from this structure (my husband has carpentry experience—he built two wooden platforms for the children aged 10 and 16 leading to the visible roof truss!).
We can locate the sturdy beams of the wooden structure by knocking, so we can attach the frame there. We would lose about 20 cm (8 inches) in depth. Where there are no beams, the walls are just single-layer drywall.
Has anyone implemented something like this and what kind of "hanging system" did you use? There are several suppliers on eBay, but I would much prefer to rely on experience.
P.S. We do not want a sliding door system, as we want to keep the opening as wide as possible…
P.P.S. The whole project should definitely stay well under €3000.
I’m curious if someone has found a good solution and would like to share it. :-)
Best regards,
Gaby
I’ve reached a point with a topic in our new build (move-in September 2024) where I really need some input. Let me give some background...
We have a niche on the ground floor intended to be used as a storage space for beverage crates, vacuum cleaner, sports bags, and other items. Having lived in the USA for over five years, we fully understand the purpose of a closet space, and when this niche was left over in the planning, we immediately decided that we wanted a closet space as well.
The niche (135 cm (53 inches) wide and about 110 cm (43 inches) deep) is currently just an empty spot in the hallway.
During the construction phase (wood frame construction), when I started looking for a door system for it, I realized that this type of system is really uncommon here in Germany. I found a German supplier offering folding doors (two or three-panel elements) and got in touch with several carpentry shops selling this system, but the cost was around €3000. So, the project was put on hold. One carpenter also mentioned that the doors would need to be fixed at least once on the floor, which would require drilling into the floor tiles (about 6 cm (2.4 inches) long screws). Since we have underfloor heating, we were not very comfortable with that.
Now, this corner is starting to annoy us, and I would like to know if anyone in the forum has ever taken on such a project with folding doors (not the plastic accordion-style ones). Currently, we have the following idea: build a frame from wood (with a transom window, which my husband wants) and hang floating doors from this structure (my husband has carpentry experience—he built two wooden platforms for the children aged 10 and 16 leading to the visible roof truss!).
We can locate the sturdy beams of the wooden structure by knocking, so we can attach the frame there. We would lose about 20 cm (8 inches) in depth. Where there are no beams, the walls are just single-layer drywall.
Has anyone implemented something like this and what kind of "hanging system" did you use? There are several suppliers on eBay, but I would much prefer to rely on experience.
P.S. We do not want a sliding door system, as we want to keep the opening as wide as possible…
P.P.S. The whole project should definitely stay well under €3000.
I’m curious if someone has found a good solution and would like to share it. :-)
Best regards,
Gaby
S
Sonnenseite1221 Jul 2025 21:14@ypg It would definitely save a lot of carpentry work…
@Musketier Maybe the videos from Hettich and Häfele could help. I haven’t watched those yet… (I’m still old school and read manuals) but I will catch up.
I definitely received some useful ideas.
Ideally, I can present the results in August.
Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions.
@Musketier Maybe the videos from Hettich and Häfele could help. I haven’t watched those yet… (I’m still old school and read manuals) but I will catch up.
I definitely received some useful ideas.
Ideally, I can present the results in August.
Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions.
Sonnenseite122 schrieb:
and doesn’t it flap so much that it’s annoying?Here, it’s a rather small square hallway. No one constantly passes through it.I would probably also suggest aluminum slats for you.
S
Schorsch_baut2 Jul 2025 09:52What is the disadvantage of a standard door? Usually, there are shelves on one side anyway. I also lived in the USA for a long time and found most closets rather impractical, as they tend to be like storage rooms and are not very functional.
S
Sonnenseite1222 Jul 2025 17:33kbt09 schrieb:
Here, it’s a rather small square hallway. No one passes through it all the time.
I would probably also suggest aluminum slats for you.So they hang better… Thanks for the tip.S
Sonnenseite1222 Jul 2025 17:37Schorsch_baut schrieb:
What’s wrong with a regular door? Usually, there are shelves on one side anyway. I also lived in the USA for a while and found most closets quite impractical, as they are often like storage rooms that are hard to use. As I said, it’s more of a quirk of mine... and we actually loved the closets. Thanks to the "Container Store," we fitted them out with shelves, and that was that (for those familiar with the USA).
You can also nicely equip niches with a door in front of them with shelves and all kinds of storage options.
Currently, in my apartment, I have a "storage room/niche" with a door opening outward, approximately 130 cm (51 inches) wide and 125 cm (49 inches) deep. There is space for my washing machine with a hanging option and a pantry shelf. Additionally, the fuse box is located there.
Here is the floor plan. However, I installed the storage room door with hinges on the right side, not the left as shown in the floor plan.
I do not find this door disturbing at all.
Currently, in my apartment, I have a "storage room/niche" with a door opening outward, approximately 130 cm (51 inches) wide and 125 cm (49 inches) deep. There is space for my washing machine with a hanging option and a pantry shelf. Additionally, the fuse box is located there.
Here is the floor plan. However, I installed the storage room door with hinges on the right side, not the left as shown in the floor plan.
I do not find this door disturbing at all.
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