For small areas in the house, such as closets or half bathrooms, a door that swings open and closed can be a major hassle. In order to allow clearance for the door, you'll reduce the room's usable space.

In some areas, it might be feasible to rehang the door so it opens outward or remove the door altogether. When both privacy and space are a necessity, replacing a traditional door with a pocket door can work wonders. Rather than opening on hinges, a pocket door opens and closes by rolling along a track, which is hidden within a wall.

Pocket doors can be purchased in kits which include the track and other necessary materials. Mounting the door is a fairly simple process, but you'll also have to do a significant amount of work to open up the wall and make enough space to accept the door.

Since you'll have to remove some framing and other obstacles from within the wall, it will be difficult to install a pocket door in a load-bearing wall. Chris Deziel, writing for SFGate, says no work on a load-bearing wall should be done without getting the advice of an engineer.

Walls with plumbing are not suitable for pocket doors, though electrical wires can be rerouted to avoid the door. Merle Henkenius, writing for Popular Mechanics, says it is also important to measure the door and the wall; there should be room to make an opening in the wall about twice the width of the door.

The installation will require a fair amount of demolition work. You'll need to remove the existing door as well as the jamb. Deziel says removing the drywall on both sides of the wall with a reciprocating saw will allow the easiest access to the framework, but you can also make an opening on one side as long as it is large enough to install the track and other pocket door components.

The header, or beam over the door opening, will have to be replaced. Removing the studs will create a pathway for the track, and this step will also take away support from the header and allow you to take it down. The header should be replaced by a longer and wider beam capable of supporting the entire length of the track.

Henkenius says you may also need to install a soleplate, or timber at the bottom of the wall, if you can't secure the track directly to the floor. A new stud should be installed at the end of the track to prevent the door from sliding too far into the wall.

Once the new framework is installed, you can secure the tracks on both the header and soleplate. Deziel says you should be careful to keep these components level and square, since a deviation can prevent the door from opening properly. Hang the door and make sure it rolls easily along the track.

After the door is in place, you simply need to patch up the opening in the wall. This may be a lengthy process, requiring you to add new drywall and replace the jamb.

Over time, the pocket door may start to stick as it rolls along its track. Home improvement professional Ron Hazelton says this is a result of both regular wear and tear and the tendency of houses to settle over time, creating gaps around the door when it is closed.

Replacing the door will also require cutting an opening in the wall, although this opening does not need to be large. Hazelton says the opening will be sufficient if you can access the upper track.

After the door is removed, you can replace the track as well as the rollers on the door. Once this is complete, you can seal up the wall.

Though it is possible to install a pocket door on your own, it can also be a risky do-it-yourself project since you may encounter structural components, electrical wires, and plumbing along the way. If you are uncertain about your ability to put in the door, consult with a professional.