doors
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Discussion

Edt

Original Poster:

5,239 posts

313 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2005
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Having failed to find a local carpenter that has any spare time to supply & fit a pair of interior french doors, I'm wondering how difficult this is? I've found some at the local DIY gaff that are about 1" too wide & too high for the wooden door frame (which is already there). Is it 'simply' a matter of trimmimg to size, knocking bit of the frame out for hinges, and bobs my uncle?
ED

z4monster

1,442 posts

289 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2005
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If your reasonably DIY able then have a go. I fitted new doors to my previous house but I did learn as I went. Measure twice and cut once! Are they solid wood doors (ie the edges?) If not then you are going to struggle to cut them down by that amount. If they're hollow core doors then the max you can remove is about 1/4" on any edge. Make sure that you cut the same amount of all edges to keep them centred. Otherwise they look odd. Cut the rebate for the hinges from the door rather than the door surround. I used a scredriver/chisel and hammer to lift the door while you position the hinges and mark them out. This allows a gap under the door for the flooring/carpet. It's a two man job in reality to get things correct.

jolley

465 posts

264 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2005
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What Z4Monster says.

I repeat the warning about trying to cut the same from both doors, and checking if the doors are hollow or not (you can cut more than the outer frame of a hollow door off, but it means cutting and fitting a new bit of timber into the hollow you have exposed). Also, door frames are generally not at all square.

Basically, if you take your time and check everything twice you should be ok.