Sliding Wardrobe Door Framing Kits Guide

Installing made-to-measure sliding wardrobe doors wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling can create a clean, fitted appearance that maximises bedroom storage while giving the room a more bespoke look. However, many wardrobe openings are not perfectly straight, plumb or level, which can make direct installation onto the walls, floor or ceiling more difficult.

Sliding wardrobe door framing kits help create a straight, level and professionally finished opening for the wardrobe tracks and doors to be fitted against. They can also help compensate for uneven walls, sloping floors and irregular ceilings while improving the overall finish around the wardrobe opening.

This guide explains how sliding wardrobe door framing kits work, when they are useful, the different framing components available, and the practical considerations when preparing an opening for sliding wardrobe doors.

When Is a Framing Kit Recommended?

A sliding wardrobe door framing kit is commonly recommended when:

walls are uneven or out of plumb
floors or ceilings are not level
installing wall-to-wall wardrobes
fitting onto carpet
adding wardrobe end panels
plasterwork is unsuitable for direct fixing
a cleaner fitted appearance is required

Typical framing kit components include:

strike plates
floor liners
ceiling liners
wardrobe end panels

These components help create straighter fixing surfaces for the sliding wardrobe door tracks while improving the finished appearance around the wardrobe opening.

What Components Make Up a Framing Kit?

A sliding wardrobe door framing kit is typically made from melamine-faced chipboard (MFC) and is designed to create a straight and level opening for sliding wardrobe doors.

The main components are:

strike plates
floor liners
ceiling liners
wardrobe end panels

These framing components provide suitable fixing surfaces for the wardrobe tracks while helping create a cleaner transition between the wardrobe and the surrounding room.

DESIGN YOUR MADE-TO-MEASURE SLIDING WARDROBE DOORS

Softwood Frames vs MFC Framing Kits

Wardrobe framing can be constructed using planed timber or softwood before being painted, stained or finished on site. However, many customers prefer MFC framing kits because they provide a cleaner and more colour-coordinated finish.

Softwood Wardrobe Framing

Advantages:

flexible sizing
suitable for bespoke joinery work
widely available materials

Considerations:

requires painting or finishing
more preparation on site
harder to achieve a factory-style finish
timber movement may occur over time

MFC Sliding Wardrobe Framing Kits

Advantages:

professional finished appearance
wipe-clean surfaces
colour-coordinated finish
faster installation
consistent thickness and sizing

MFC framing kits are available in a range of colours and finishes to coordinate with sliding wardrobe doors, interiors and room décor.

Related guide:
What is melamine-faced chipboard?

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White framing kits often work well because they coordinate naturally with skirting boards, ceilings, architraves and many wardrobe styles.

Strike Plates and Liners Explained

Strike plates are vertical framing panels fitted to the side walls of the wardrobe opening. They create a straight closing surface for the sliding wardrobe doors while also acting as a protective ‘buffer’ between the doors and the surrounding walls.

Without strike plates, the leading edge of the sliding wardrobe door may come into direct contact with plaster, wallpaper, paintwork or the metal door stile itself. Over time this repeated contact can damage both the wall finish and the door edge.

Liners are horizontal framing panels fitted to the floor and ceiling to create level fixing surfaces for the sliding wardrobe door tracks.

Typical strike plate and liner dimensions:

Component	Length	Width	Thickness
Strike plates / liners	2800mm	87mm	18mm

Framing kits are also available for wider openings. A 5600mm width kit is supplied as 2 x 2800mm liners, which are cut and butt-jointed together to suit the overall aperture width.

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Floor liners are especially useful if you are fitting directly onto carpet or fitting carpet afterwards, because they provide a straight edge for the carpet fitter to work up to.

Measuring When Using a Framing Kit

If there is already an existing wardrobe framework in place and it will remain as part of the installation, measurements should be taken from framework-to-framework.

In this situation, you do not normally require a new framing kit because the existing framework already defines the finished wardrobe opening.

However, if there is no existing framework and you are ordering strike plates and liners with your sliding wardrobe doors, measurements should be taken from wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling.

You do not need to deduct the framing thickness yourself.

If strike plates and liners are included in your order, we will automatically deduct:

2 x 18mm from the width
2 x 18mm from the height

This accounts for the thickness of the strike plates and liners.

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If you are ordering strike plates and liners, the framing kit must be installed before fitting the tracks and doors because the wardrobe doors will be manufactured to suit the framed opening.

Measuring Around Carpet, Tiles and Flooring

Flooring height can affect the finished wardrobe opening size, so measurements should always be taken from the correct floor level.

If installing directly onto carpet:

measure from the top of the carpet while pushing the pile down firmly

If carpet or flooring will be fitted afterwards:

measure from the sub-floor

Floor liners are recommended when fitting onto carpet or carpeting afterwards because they:

provide a stable fixing surface for the bottom track
create a straight edge for carpet fitting
help support long-term track alignment

Sliding wardrobe door measuring guide.

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Decide whether flooring will be fitted before or after the wardrobe installation before taking final measurements.

Do You Need a Wardrobe End Panel?

If the wardrobe is not being installed wall-to-wall, you may require one or more wardrobe end panels.

This commonly applies to:

wall-to-end-panel wardrobes
end-panel-to-end-panel wardrobes
wardrobes that finish part-way along a wall
walk-in wardrobe layouts

Typical end panel dimensions:

Component	Length	Width	Thickness
End panel	2800mm	640mm / 900mm	18mm

In a wall-to-end-panel installation, a strike plate is normally only required on the wall side. The wardrobe end panel itself provides the closing surface on the opposite side.

Installing Framing Kits Around Skirting Boards and Coving

One of the most common installation questions is whether skirting boards or ceiling coving need to be removed.

Removing Sections of Skirting or Coving

This generally creates the neatest finished result because the strike plates can sit flush against the wall.

Fitting Above Existing Skirting Boards

This may work if the skirting projection closely matches the framing thickness. However, mismatched depths can leave visible gaps or prevent the doors from closing neatly against the strike plate.

For example, if the skirting projects further than the 18mm strike plate thickness, the door may never fully contact the strike plate itself. Alternatively, if the strike plate projects further than the skirting, a visible gap can appear near the bottom corner of the door.

TIP

Removing sections of skirting board usually creates a cleaner and more professional finished appearance than trying to work around deep mouldings.

Scribing Panels Around Existing Profiles

Strike plates or wardrobe end panels can sometimes be cut and scribed around skirting boards, coving or uneven wall surfaces.

This approach is particularly useful in older homes where decorative mouldings are being retained.

Framing Uneven Walls, Floors and Ceilings

Most rooms are not perfectly square, especially in older properties, loft rooms and alcoves. Sliding wardrobe door framing kits help compensate for these imperfections and create straighter fixing surfaces for the tracks and doors.

Uneven Walls

If walls are bowed, twisted or out of plumb, strike plates can be packed away from the wall to create a straighter vertical closing surface.

Packers can be positioned behind the strike plates at fixing points to compensate for uneven plaster or bowed wall surfaces.

For more severe irregularities, additional framing or scribed infill sections may be required.

Sloping Floors

Floor liners can be packed or levelled before the bottom track is installed.

Uneven Ceilings

Ceiling liners help create a level fixing point for the top track.

If the ceiling varies significantly, an infill panel or lightweight bulkhead can help create a cleaner and straighter visual line above the wardrobe.

TIP

Always check the opening with a long spirit level before taking final measurements.

Fixing Strike Plates and Liners

Strike plates are commonly fixed using either:

screws and wall plugs
strong grab adhesive
or a combination of both

Screw fixing usually provides the strongest mechanical fixing but may leave visible screw caps depending on the installation method used.

Grab adhesive can create a cleaner finished appearance because no visible fixings are required on the face of the strike plate. It can also be useful where fixing directly into plasterboard or difficult wall surfaces.

To fix the ceiling liner, it can be drilled and screwed into the ceiling or fixed using a strong grab adhesive, depending on the ceiling construction and fixing points available.

As the top track is only a guide track and not load bearing, adhesive fixing methods are often suitable where ceiling joists cannot easily be located.

TIP

If using grab adhesive, ensure the wall surface is clean, dry and stable before fixing the strike plates or liners. Excess adhesive squeeze-out can also be used as a gap filler. Allow the adhesive to dry fully before trimming neatly with a flat blade.

Cutting and Joining MFC Framing Panels

If the wardrobe opening exceeds 2800mm wide, multiple liners may need to be joined together.

The panels are typically:

cut to size
butt-jointed together
glued and temporarily supported during installation

Because a butt joint is not a fully structural joint on its own, additional temporary support may be required until the liner is fixed into position.

Once the tracks are installed, the joints are generally far less noticeable.

Coming soon:

How to join melamine wardrobe framing panels
Sliding wardrobe door strike plates and liners explained

TIP

To help minimise chipping when cutting melamine-faced chipboard, apply masking tape over the cut area, mark the cut line with pencil and carefully score along the line with a sharp blade before cutting.

Decorative Frames vs Structural Framing

It is important to distinguish between:

structural wardrobe framing kits
decorative wardrobe frames and architraves

This article focuses on the structural preparation of the wardrobe opening itself.

Decorative architraves and visible outer framing are covered separately here:

Sliding wardrobe door frames and architrave ideas

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Structural framing helps the wardrobe function correctly, while decorative framing helps complete the finished appearance visually.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Measuring the Framed Opening Incorrectly

If the framework already exists and will remain, measure from framework-to-framework.

If there is no framework and strike plates and liners are being ordered, measure wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling.

Wardrobe Doors Direct will automatically deduct the framing thickness.

Installing Directly Onto Thick Carpet

Fixing tracks directly onto soft carpet can affect long-term alignment and performance.

Floor liners provide a more stable fixing surface.

Assuming Walls Are Straight

Many walls appear straight visually but vary significantly when checked with a spirit level.

Always measure:

top width
middle width
bottom width
left height
centre height
right height

Trying to Work Around Deep Skirting Profiles

In many cases, removing sections of skirting board creates a neater and easier installation.

Related Sliding Wardrobe Installation Guides

Measuring and Planning

Uneven Walls and Floors

Framing and Structural Preparation

How to install a wardrobe end panel
How to remove skirting board sections for sliding wardrobe framing
How to cut melamine wardrobe panels without chipping
How to join melamine wardrobe framing panels — coming soon
Sliding wardrobe door strike plates and liners explained — coming soon

Ceiling and Bulkhead Solutions

How to fit infill panels above sliding wardrobe doors
How to build a bulkhead above sliding wardrobe doors — coming soon

Decorative Finishing

Sliding wardrobe door frames and architrave ideas
Frame design ideas to complete the look of your wardrobe doors — coming soon

FAQs: About Sliding Wardrobe Door Framing Kits

Do I need a framing kit for sliding wardrobe doors?

Not always. However, framing kits are recommended when the walls, floor or ceiling are uneven or unsuitable for direct fixing.

What are strike plates used for?

Strike plates provide a vertical closing surface for the sliding wardrobe doors while protecting walls and plasterwork from repeated door contact.

Can sliding wardrobe doors be fitted directly onto carpet?

They can, but floor liners are generally recommended because they create a more stable fixing surface and provide a straight edge for carpet fitting.

Do I deduct the framing thickness myself?

No. If strike plates and liners are included in your order, Wardrobe Doors Direct will automatically deduct the necessary allowances from the wardrobe door sizes.

Do I need a strike plate next to a wardrobe end panel?

No. In a wall-to-end-panel installation, the wardrobe end panel itself normally acts as the closing surface.

Can framing kits help with uneven walls?

Yes. Strike plates, liners and packers can help create straighter fixing surfaces when walls or floors are uneven.

Prepare Your Sliding Wardrobe Opening Properly

Preparing the wardrobe opening correctly is one of the most important parts of a successful sliding wardrobe installation. Framing kits help create straighter fixing surfaces, improve track installation, compensate for uneven rooms and provide a cleaner finished appearance.

Whether you are fitting wall-to-wall sliding wardrobe doors, installing wardrobes into an alcove or creating a bespoke floor-to-ceiling storage solution, careful framing preparation can improve both the appearance and long-term performance of the wardrobe system.

Design your sliding wardrobe doors online today.

Practical Next Steps

Seeing finishes in your own space makes it easier to choose. You can:

Request FREE samples of sliding wardrobe door finishes and MFC framing colours to compare colours and textures firsthand.
Design your own made-to-measure sliding wardrobe doors online to experiment with panel layouts frame finishes and wardrobe configurations before ordering.
Call our Design Team on freephone 0800 035 1730 for personalised advice on wardrobe framing uneven openings layouts and installation guidance.

Sliding Wardrobe Door Experts

Our guides are written by the Wardrobe Doors Direct design and technical team, specialists in made-to-measure sliding wardrobe doors across the UK.

Need advice for your project?

Call our team on 0800 035 1730.

Built-in sliding wardrobe doors with an end panel

Attaching a frame with screws to a wall to create built-in wardrobe

Drill and screw the strike plate (frame) to the wall and attach adhesive decor caps or plastic cover caps to hide the screw heads.

Attaching a frame to a wall to create built-in wardrobes

Using a Stanley knife blade to 'key' the wall surface between the two lines you have marked for the position of the strike plate..

Attaching a frame with adhesive and then cutting off the excess to install wardrobe doors

Once the adhesive is dry run a sharp Stanley knife blade down the front facing edge of the strike plate to leave a neat join.

Removing part of the skirting board to install a wardrobe frame

When constructing a wardrobe frame the strike plates can be installed most securely and flush against the wall if the equivalent width of skirting board or ceiling coving/ cornice is first removed.

Installing a wardrobe frame above the skirting board

A strike plate can be attached to the wall with its bottom edge butted up to the top of edge of a skirting board. But an effective contact buffer for the sliding door to close against is created only if the strike plate is the same depth as the skirting board, as shown in (a); whereas an ineffective buffer is created if the strike plate is deeper than the skirting board (b); or the strike plate is shallower than the skirting board (c).

Installing a wardrobe infill panel or fillet

The vertical element of the frame can be attached to the wall to create a flush infill panel, with its bottom edge cut to match the profile of the top edge of the skirting board, as shown above in (a) and (b); or, if deeper than the skirting board, a fillet can be cut out from the bottom of the frame so that it covers the skirting entirely.

After glueing the two cut ends together a ‘splint’ of timber can be temporarily screwed across the butt joint to provide stability until the glue has fully dried and the wardrobe liner has been fixed in place against the ceiling, either with a grab adhesive or with screws. Remove the batten when the liner is secured in place.

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