Are there ways to ensure security of the door--latch, lock, or something like that? sure - you can use a simple hook and eye, will cost you around 2 dollars at he hardware store. Also, are there small cracks at the edge of the door between the wall trim and the door itself that compromise privacy? Of course, but how large or small depends on your contractor's talent and your pocketbook. To minimize gaps your wall will need to be very , very , very , very , very straight AND plumb. The door you use will have to be free of twist and warp also AND remain that way. Normal bulges in the drywall from tape and mud joints will be very troublesome. A level 4 or 5 finish is what you are after. good luck

dandm- We have a sliding door from our den to a handicapped accessible bathroom and used hw from Barn Door Hardware. Not cheap, but works beautifully and not that difficult to install. sandyponder

I had the same problem - the wall I wanted to install the Johnson pocket doors contained pipes and vents. No can do. Instead, I first wall mounted them, then built a new 2X4 wall to hide them. At the doors, the drywall mounted to the sides of the pocket door assembly. Yes, the wall is unusually thick and I lose a little of the room, but no one has noticed, I have beautiful French pocket doors and I avoided the barn door look. In my opinion, using the barn door concept just looks like nothing better could be done but to slap it on the wall. But there is nothing wrong with it if that is what you like and it is much less bother than building a new wall, mudding, sanding, painting, trim, etc.

Guy exterior man, you were right. I found the reason the door frame was not square was the bottom of the frame that includes the track was bent downwards in the middle. I set the middle of the door on a stack of newspapers so most of the weight was supported in the middle and let it sit in the sun for a few hours. Gradually the bottom of the frame straightened out and now I only had a 3/8 inch difference in the diagonal measurements instead of 1 1/8 inch like I had before. I don't think I could get it any better as the fixed panel was slightly out of square and there in nothing I could do about that. But anyway I figured this was close enough and went ahead and installed the door. It took two days because the sill was not level and I had to wait for the stuff I used to level it with to dry overnight. I still have to trim the interior. I only wish Certainteed would allow you the option of getting the door delivered wothout the fixed panel mounted in the frame like Superior allows. That frame and fixed panel are heavy and cumberson to move. Took me, my wife, and two of my daughters to move the thing. The job turned out pretty good if I say so myself. BTW, the window companies all say that their two man crew can remove the old door and install the new one in three or four hours. I don't believe they can do as good a job as I did in that short a time. They probably slap it in there and hide all the problems with trim.