Yes! We have this exact layout for my sons bathroom

Here is our layout

That needs to be a standard in swing door. A pocket door is a poor choice for a bath to start with.

We have a pocket door in one shower side wall. Works for us as a swing door was not an option.

Marginal and takes some care. Off the top of my head these items need to go elsewhere:

• No room for valves/plumbing.
• No backing for hinge side of shower door.

My father was the pocket door king, up to 6 per home, but the homes were smaller with tighter spaces. I was the prince of pocket door service calls. They cost more. Always need more work than a swinging door.

We have a pocket door at one end of our shower. The plumbing for the rain shower is in the ceiling, and the valves for that (and for the showerhead at the other end of the shower) are on the long shower wall perpendicular to the wall with the pocket door. The shower door is opposite the valves, and, as Mr Grenz says, is hinged on the side away from the pocket door. Seems to be perfectly functional to us after 5 years.

Thanks very much for the suggestions and taking the time to reply.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor

When you say no place for valves/plumbing - why can't that go on the wall that has the laundry on the other side? I've seen that done in 2 other units similar to mine that did this conversion?

(They just didn't choose a pocket door.... on the door side...but their plumbing and valves are on that wall)

What do you mean by no backing for hinge side of the door? Is there any workaround for that? (apologies I'm not that knowledgeable) ...I can't hinge on the side away from the pocket door b/c of the ability to enter the shower where is is in the room..

I'm pushing the pocket door b/c it will help with the entry to the bathroom - which isn't pictured - right now the bathroom door is 1 of 3 doors that all surround the entry to the bedroom -there is an entry to the bedroom directly across from the bathroom door, and a walk-incloset door, on the wall between them - the doors make 3 sides of a square and to get in/out you have to open/close the others one at a time.

@WestCoast Hopeful

Thanks for so much detail - very helpful!!

I think I see in your picture what @Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor may be referring to on the hinge for the shower. Your shower door hinge is on the right and opens to the right when you're facing the shower...is that correct? Is that awkward in the bathroom to open the door from that angle?

Looks like your bathroom may be bigger than mine...mine is TINY...it's a half bath with a linen closet that i'm converting to a shower. Looks like your short side of the bathroom is 5'8".

Mine is only 4'....not sure how swinging open a 3' shower door will be with hinge on the right if you have to step back to open....hmmmmmm now i see where the problem may be....

wonder if there is another way?

....also....wondering if the reason the door doesn't interfere with your tile wall b/c do you have more blank wall before the shower starts than I would have...the total run where the door could go is 36" + 48" (The shower depth + the room width)... looks like you might have another 1'8" (20") where the door can hide, so not as much goes behind the tile wall....hmmmm - wonder if this is an issue?

maybe i can use a door similar to this - frameless - inner bifold -

https://newbathroomstyle.com/product/dreamline-butterfly-frameless-bi-fold-shower-door-36-by-36-single-threshold-shower-base-and-qwall-5-shower-backwall-kit-dl-6130c-01cl/

or why not this where the hinge appears to be drilled into the side of the tile wall?

https://www.houzz.com/products/dreamline-unidoor-lux-frameless-hinged-shower-door-oil-rubbed-bronze-36-prvw-vr~27366195

We actually didn’t follow this plan for door swing and it is hinged on the other side. We have no issues with it at all

Not the best photo but this is the only one I have of my son’s bathroom.

Thanks so much for that A S ... so glad you sent that...whats funny is i also have been googling white vertical subway tile photos! so thanks! double duty!

RM-your shower door can be much smaller than 36 in. Hinge a smaller (28 in max) door near the toilet and have a stationary glass panel mounted from the wall where the pocket door will slide. That way you have a spot to place a towel hook in that stationary glass panel or easier access to a towel on the wall to the right of the pocket door as you enter.

Yes, you can have a pocket door on a shower wall.

A pocket door in a 2x4 wall will not have enough support for a sturdy backing for the tile. It's going to flex and crack if anyone falls against it. Bad idea.

You might be able to do it if you build a thicker wall so that the tile backer board can be supported properly.

Agree with tatts. I have walked away from many jobs over the years for that exact reason. Standard pocket door framing is not adequate for tile installations. Structural adjustments must be addressed.

Sure there will be folks that say they have done it. Doesn't make it right.

What would be the structural adjustments or what should I be asking for to make it right?
If there is a way to do it then I’d ask for that.
If it is a definite “can’t be done here’s why” then I’d do a totally different layout and not add the 36” shower, and do a custom size.
I’m wondering:
If it is possible what makes it possible ? I have seen many pictures and even people in this thread have it, so how did that happen? What makes it different and possible ?

That’s why I confused

Why not put a door on the north side (top of drawing) of the bathroom? Could be either an inswing or pocket door.

Unfortunately Other side of wall is only blank wall in bedroom with space in front deep enough And width to allow for any dresser or chest of drawers or other furniture besides bed.

HI RM-there is an old thread about exactly this issue. You can search it but I found this response:

MLB Design Group

I am big fan of pocket doors, and frequently design them into homes - especially bathrooms and other small spaces. I always note on my plans to sheathe the wall -- both sides -- with 3/4" plywood. Usually the contractor does this onsite after the pocket door/hardware is installed. Not only does this plywood strengthen the wall, it also helps with sound-deadening. You'll need to be mindful of this added 1-1/2" thickness to the jamb, and evaluate how it impacts walls inside and outside the room. Once you have 3/4" plywood on the wall in the bathroom, you can then install hooks and towel bars depending on your plan. For a shower, your tile person will apply the water-proofing/concrete board on top of the plywood. Your plumbing lines will not be in this wall since the door will be "pocketing" into that space, so your shower head/valve/etc., will be located at a different wall. Done right, it's a great solution. Have fun!

You don’t want plywood. It doesn’t provide the correct support and rigidity for a tile installation. Instead of a 2x4 wall, you need a 2x6 wall, minimum. 2 2x4 walls with the pocket in between provides the absolute sturdiest and best framing situation for a shower with pocket door, at a moderate cost. That’s not ever going to shift or rack. It’s just going to take up space.

Anything you need to do here will need to take up additional room that you won’t want to give up. Your tile pro needs to be involved with, and approve the framing for the pocket. Then he can come in and apply the foam board and pan, etc. But he has right of rejection on the framing details.

This is why an in swing door here makes so much more functional sense, and allows for the largest possible shower. Barn doors and pocket doors are best for doors that will mostly be kept open, or kept closed. Ones that see frequent use are best as standard swing doors.

One of my childhood homes -- a tract house built in 1970 -- had a pocket door in the wall opposite the shower head. I last used that shower after the house was about 36 years old but at that time there were no problems with the shower.

We have a pocket door to an ensuite bath in one of our guest rooms. We did have to add extra framing to support the tile, so the bath entry looks a bit more like an exterior door jamb than interior, but it's not that noticeable, as there are wardrobes on each side. the bath is imo too small for a swing door. The pocket door was the best solution.
It's an ensuite, in a little used guest room, that's usually occupied by one person, three or four weeks a year. The door is rarely used. The tile is well supported by the beefed up 2 x 4 wall.