A single concealed door is all about disappearing into the wall. A pair of concealed doors does the same thing on a bigger scale. When they’re closed, a wide opening reads as one clean wall. When they’re open, you get a generous route between rooms, without the heavy frames and architraves of traditional double doors.
Double concealed doors are less common than singles, and they need more planning. There are two leaves to hang, a meeting edge where they close against each other, and decisions about which leaf opens first. This guide explains what’s involved so you can decide whether a pair is right for your space.
What are double concealed doors?
Concealed doors, also called flush to wall or frameless doors, sit level with the wall surface. The frame is hidden behind the plaster, the hinges are concealed inside the door edge and frame, and there’s no architrave. You can read more in our guide to flush to wall doors.
A double concealed door uses the same principle across two leaves. Each leaf is hung on concealed hinges, and the two meet in the middle of the opening. Systems such as the Omega Flush jib door system we supply are available for single or double doors, as described on our bespoke hidden door solutions page.
When a pair works better than a single door
A pair of concealed doors makes sense when:
- The opening is wider than a single leaf can sensibly cover. A very wide single door is heavy, needs a large swing and puts a lot of load on its hinges.
- You want a wide opening between two rooms, such as a living room and dining room, but also want a seamless wall when it’s closed.
- The swing space is limited. Two narrower leaves each need a smaller arc than one wide door.
- Symmetry matters, for example on a feature wall or either side of a central fireplace.
If the opening is a standard doorway width, a single door is usually simpler and cheaper to fit.
Planning the opening
Measure the structural opening carefully
Concealed doors rely on accurate openings. The frame is fixed before plastering, and the reveal between door and wall is small, so there’s little room to hide errors. Our guide on how to measure for a concealed door explains what to measure. For a pair, take extra care that the opening is square and the floor is level across its full width, because any twist shows at the meeting edge.
Check the wall build
Concealed frames are built into stud walls or masonry and plastered in. The wall thickness and construction affect which frame you need. Our concealed door frame details guide covers the build-up. If you’re widening an opening in a load-bearing wall, get advice from a structural engineer or builder first.
Push or pull?
Like single concealed doors, a pair can be set up to sit flush on one side of the wall. The other side usually shows a small reveal. Decide which room should have the fully flush face, as that sets the opening direction of both leaves.
How the two leaves work together
Active and inactive leaves
With most double doors, one leaf is used day to day (the active leaf) and the other stays shut unless you need the full width (the inactive leaf). The inactive leaf is held closed so the active leaf has something to latch against.
On traditional doors this is often done with flush bolts. These are morticed into the edge of the inactive leaf, usually one at the top and one at the bottom, and shoot into keeps in the head of the frame and the floor. Because they sit within the door edge, they’re hidden when the doors are closed, which suits a concealed pair well.
Latching
Concealed doors often use magnetic latches, which have a recessed strike and no sprung tongue sticking out when the door is open. Our guide to magnetic latches for concealed doors explains how they work. On a pair, the latch on the active leaf engages with the inactive leaf rather than the frame, so the system has to be designed for double doors.
Hinges
Each leaf needs its own concealed hinges, sized for its weight. Check the hinge rating against the finished weight of each leaf, including any paint, wallpaper or panelling you’ll add. Our concealed door hinges guide covers the main types and adjustments, and you’ll find hinges and latches on our concealed door accessories page.
Handles
You can use slim lever handles, flush pulls or push-to-open catches. Push-to-open gives the cleanest look, but think about how the inactive leaf will be opened when you need it. Our concealed door handles guide has more on the options.
Finishing a pair of concealed doors
Most concealed doors are supplied primed so they can be painted with the wall. With a pair, the meeting edge makes any difference between the two leaves more obvious, so:
- Paint both leaves at the same time, with the same product and number of coats.
- Keep the gaps even. Use the hinge adjustment to line up both leaves before the final coat.
- Carry wallpaper or panelling with care. It can cross both leaves for a jib door effect, but it adds weight and must be cut cleanly at the meeting edge.
Our guide on how to paint a concealed door goes through the process step by step.
Fire-rated double concealed doors
If the opening is on a protected escape route, such as a hallway in a three-storey house or a loft conversion, the doors may need to be fire doors. A fire-rated pair isn’t just two fire doors hung side by side. The whole doorset, including frame, hinges, seals, latches and any other hardware, must match what was tested and certified. Some pairs also need devices that control which leaf closes first, depending on the certification.
If you need fire-rated double concealed doors, speak to us before you order and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Our guide to FD30 concealed doors explains the basics, and our fire doors range covers standard fire-rated options.
Made to measure for wider openings
Double concealed doors are often made to measure, because wide openings rarely match standard sizes. Our bespoke concealed door set is made to measure up to 3m high, and the made-to-measure concealed doors guide explains how ordering, drawings and lead times work.
Frequently asked questions
Can concealed doors be fitted as a pair?
Yes. Some concealed door systems, including the Omega Flush system we supply, are available as single or double doors. Check that the system you choose is designed for a pair, as the latch and hardware differ from a single door.
How is the second leaf held closed?
Usually with flush bolts morticed into the top and bottom of the inactive leaf, which shoot into the frame head and the floor. The active leaf then latches against it.
Do double concealed doors need a wider wall?
They need a wider structural opening, and a level floor and square opening across the full width. They don’t need clear wall either side the way pocket doors do.
Can double concealed doors be fire rated?
They can, but only as a complete tested and certified doorset. Speak to the supplier and follow the certification exactly.
Are double concealed doors harder to fit than a single?
They take more care, because the two leaves have to line up at the meeting edge. We recommend a fitter with experience of concealed doors.
Plan your concealed double doors
A pair of concealed doors can turn a wide opening into a seamless wall. Browse our concealed doors, or get in touch with your opening size and we’ll help you find the right system.
