Replace a sliding closet mirror door

One of the best improvements we made to a basic bedroom was replacing an old sliding closet door with a new sliding mirror door. The new bypass doors were a stylish improvement, and the new hardware made it effortless to open and close. The reflective quality of the mirror made the space appear larger, replacing the old ho-hum flat door panels. You’ll find a wide selection of styles sold at home, bathroom and design centers.

To remove an old 5-foot wide closet door and hardware and install a new 5-foot-wide sliding bypass mirror closet door and hardware, a carpenter will charge $560, which includes labor and material. If you have some carpentry experience and tools, you can do the job for $450, the cost of the unit, and save 20%.

The job involves these steps: removing the old door and its hardware, installing the new roller hardware at the top of the door opening and on the floor, and inserting the door panels between the tracks. Usually, some minor adjustments are needed to the roller hardware. The adjustment allows the door in the overhead tracks to compensate for a door frame that is not perfectly square.

While you can replace the doors of a closet without removing what’s inside, you’ll find it’s easier to work on the hardware by removing anything on the floor near it so you can move around it.

Tip: If a new paint job is part of the room makeover, schedule it after the old door is removed and before the new one is installed.

To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved

$560 — $450 — 3.4 — .3 — $110 — 20%