The trick is making sure the wall cavity is deep enough and not cutting corners on the frame. I will say, though, I hear you on the open concept noise: That’s painfully real.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
- Totally get the open concept struggle. That “someone’s blending a smoothie...” moment? Been there, regretted that.
- We did sliding doors for a couple spaces and honestly, no regrets. They’re not perfect, but they’re way better than the constant noise bleed.
- If I had to do it again, I’d probably add more solid walls or glass dividers. Open is nice till you need privacy or quiet.
- Agree on the hardware—don’t cheap out. Ours glide like butter, but a friend’s stick all the time and it drives him nuts.
- Bottom line: a little separation goes a long way if you actually live in your space, not just look at it.
STARTING OVER: WALLS, DOORS, AND NOISE—WHAT I’D DO DIFFERENTLY
You nailed it with the wall cavity depth. I see a lot of folks try to squeeze sliding doors into 2x4 walls and then wonder why they rattle or don’t block sound. If I had to start from scratch, I’d go 2x6 for any pocket or sliding door—gives you more room for solid hardware and insulation.
On the open concept thing...I get the appeal, but after living in a few, I’m convinced some separation is just practical. Doesn’t have to be full-on closed rooms everywhere, but even partial walls or those glass dividers you mentioned make a huge difference. I once did a build where we used floor-to-ceiling bookshelves as dividers—looked cool and actually helped with noise.
And yeah, hardware matters way more than people think. Cheap tracks are a nightmare. Spend the extra for soft-close and sturdy rollers. It’s one of those things you only notice when it’s bad.
If I could go back, I’d plan for more flexible spaces—pocket doors, movable walls, stuff like that. Open when you want it, closed when you need it. Live and learn, right?
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
- Couldn’t agree more on the 2x6 for pocket doors. Tried to retrofit a 2x4 wall once—never again. The noise and flimsy feel just aren’t worth it.
- Open concept is nice in theory, but after a few years, I miss having spots to escape the chaos. Partial walls or even sliding panels make a world of difference.
- Hardware’s one of those things you don’t notice until it’s driving you nuts. Cheap tracks = regret.
- If I had to do it over, I’d think harder about outlets and switches too. Always seem to end up with one in the worst spot.
Curious—has anyone tried those accordion-style glass walls? Wondering if they’re actually practical for daily use or just look cool in photos.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
Yeah, the 2x4 pocket door regret is real. I did that in my old place and every time someone closed it, the whole wall rattled. Never again—2x6 or nothing. On the open concept thing, totally get it. It looked great at first, but now I wish I had a spot to hide from the kids’ Nerf battles. As for those accordion glass walls, a friend put one in his kitchen. Looks amazing, but he says cleaning all those panes is a pain and the track gets gunky if you’re not on top of it. Cool factor’s high, but I’d want to see how it holds up after a year or two of daily use...
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
I hear you on the pocket doors. I did a 2x4 one in my last house because I thought it’d be a slick way to save space and cash. Regretted it pretty quick—felt like I was living inside a drum set every time someone used it. If I could go back, I’d honestly just do a regular swinging door or pony up for a proper 2x6 wall. Sometimes “budget-friendly” just means fixing it later.
The open concept thing is funny too. Everyone’s obsessed with it on those home shows, but after living in one, I’d trade some of that “airy” vibe for a little peace and somewhere to stash the laundry baskets. Not everything needs to be visible all the time.
As for those glass accordion walls... sure, they look incredible, but have you ever tried to keep fingerprints off them? Or dealt with crumbs in the tracks? If you’re not into cleaning, it’s just another chore waiting to happen. Cool factor isn’t everything—sometimes simple wins out in the long run.
