Measure the width and height of the door frame. Some people will tell you to score that line with a knife so you don’t get chipping. yours how to cut down a door width How To Build. Don’t throw that offcut away! Start with the top hinge and work your way down. Not in it. Deposit Means a mineralized body which has been physically delineated by sufficient drilling, trenching, and/or underground work, and found to contain a sufficient average grade of metal or metals to warrant further … You’re going to reuse it. Cutting doors down to fit. All you need are a few simple tools. When I use a circular saw I clamp a straight edge on the door. Hi Bud, When using a portable circular saw, it’s always best to place the door face down (front side down). And NO, do not ever put the blade in backwards. The interior is sort of corrugated paper/cardboard. pnewall. Ahhhh the smell of new carpeting. Most of the internal doors on the market only have about a 6mm edge, they can and should be trimmed equally but they can be cut down and the edge refitted alas not while on site, there are various unusual size doors within the internal doors categories. You can use a flashlight to see a rough estimate. With the blade teeth held just to the waste side of the scored line, mark the masking tape along the opposite edge of the base plate. Now what you want to do is measure the bottom of your circular saw. I've found a door that would need 3cm cutting off it, but on the site is says only 12mm can be cut off (a door from Wickes). STEPS TO CUT DOWN INTERIOR DOORS! Measure and mark the door from the top down along each edge, 1/4-inch shorter than the shortest measurement of your jamb. After getting your measurements and taking the door off the hinges, your ready to go to work. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the door with its center in line with the two marks. Cut down horizontal blinds that are too wide Menu. I have a non-standard opening where I need to install an interior door, and want to avoid having a custom door made. A garage door actually closes behind your opening. I am sure there are tools such as a flush cut saw, but I would still recommend removing the door. A sliding screen door repair like cutting a frame to a new width is a bit more difficult because you not only have to miter cut but also make a new rectangular mortise for the roller. Trimming the door may require reducing the door's width, a job you can do yourself and therefore save the money it would take to hire a professional. Plane the latch edge of the door with a standard woodworker's plane or a low-angle block plane. Don’t forget to sand the bottom and prime the bottom of the door before hanging it back up. This way when you make your cut, it will be straight and you will cut off 1/2″ of the door. dunc, Aug 22, 2006 #7. Both cases I cut the bottom. A good rule of thumb is there is a 1″ piece of wood in place. Good luck! Say you need to trim the door by 3/4″ because of your new shag carpeting. Cutting a door to size can be a little intimidating if you have never done it before, but no worries, it’s actually pretty simple. Who doesn’t love that smell, well besides the guys who lay carpeting everyday. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Here is exactly what I am talking about. Then, take the door down and remove the hinge parts that are affixed to it. Use the table saw to cut it to width and length. Repeat this step with the opposite side of the door. (Roxanne McRoberts / Staff) It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. I want to use that space for storage, so it needs a door. Mark the measurements on the door to determine how much width must be trimmed from the door, using a pencil. Use a chalk line or drywall square to mark the door between the two side marks. So weigh up the costs and the work and consider what's best. For most exit devices, please refer to the specific device series catalog for minimum door opening width the device can be cut down to fit. While there are a variety type of doors available, there are really two main doors, solid and hollow. Guy had installed a farmhouse type sink where the sink apron extended down over the existing cabinet door opening. How to Cut and Resize a Steel Clad Entry Door: We purchased a house in 2011. Leave the door closed forever, buy a new door or cut the door to size. You can protect it with paper, tape or something else that will stay in place when you cut. In this case, I cut the doors on the table saw using the fence as a guide. Check out the bullets below the pictures to see the steps that are involved to make a nice clean cut. The frame opening is 28 inches wide and only found a 30 inch door at the home center. These new measurements represent the necessary dimensions required by the door to fit properly into the door frame. Remove all the screws from the door and measure the height that you would need to adjust for the cabinet and door itself. Next, determine exactly how much you need to remove from the door. Now you want to take the 1″ plus the 1/2″ you want to cut off and clamp down your straight edge on both sides at 1-1/2″. Stock doors come in 2-inch width increments so, if available, it would have been more appealing to work with the next-size smaller door, but "clearance" screams price cut and it was very doable. This richly layered room by Rose Uniacke is a masterclass in using William Morris designs in a contemporary way. how to cut down a door width Make a Better. Lets assume you do have an 1″ that you can play with and only need to cut 1/2″ and lets assume the world is perfect while were at it. Step 2: Remove the panel. My door frame seems a non-standard size. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, "This Old House"; How to Hang an Interior Door; Alexandra Bandon. I missed showing that there were 2 doors leaving a tiny little space in the middle to squeeze through. I’d recommend using a carbide-tooth blade with the most teeth you can find; that’ll produce the smoothest cut. Be aware that some device options, frame conditions, and specific applications may affect this dimension. A door shop could also do all of this for you for likely a reasonable price. When cutting down the IKEA cabinet door, be careful not to cut too much. Sometimes blinds are measured incorrectly or ordered with the incorrect size. I assume you need to route in the hinge gains on site to fit the existing jamb. Good luck!–JT . (I’ll spare you the explanation.) Tape over the marked lines with painter's tape. While I would generally agree with making new doors, if you don’t have the right raised panel bit, then aren’t you going to have to buy one either way for new doors to they match. When a door sticks inside the jamb, or makes contact with the side of the jamb, it's usually because the maker hasn’t cut it properly. When we moved in, the front door wouldn't open all the way; it drug the floor at about 70 degrees from full open. Use a table saw to cut the door into two halves in perpendicular motion. To cut off a door without splintering the finish, use a guide and sharp blade in a circular saw, and deeply score the cut line with a utility knife. Say your measurement is 1″. I cut steel doors on a table saw or with a circular saw. Once you measure where you need to make the cut, draw your line. I'm replacing a hollow core door with a solid core door. Can I cut 2 inches plus the spacing I need on each side of the door without weakening it? A few key things to remember during this process: The door needs to have a gap under it – unless you’re not that keen on opening it (ever). Most manufactures have a piece of wood on the bottom of the door which allows the door to be trimmed to size. Always wear safety goggles and safety gloves when working with power tools to avoid injury. This way when you make your cut, it will be straight and you will cut off 1/2″ of the door. 3. If the door is too long, or if you wish to repurpose the cabinet door for another piece of cabinetry or project, cut the door to the proper size using a few tools. I am 1/2" short on my sink wall in order to have a 27" sink base. You can do this as it won’t hurt, but if you use a 40 tooth blade or fine blade, you shouldn’t make any chips in the door. Say your measurement is 1″. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. That way if there’s any splintering, it’ll happen on the back side or interior of the door. Can a soundproof door be cut down to size? Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about our team. Doors, Skylights and Windows - How to cut down a steel exterior door - I'm building an addition and it will create an overgown crawl space. Portable planers operate with precision to remove thin slices and portions of wood from the edge of almost any wooden object. Cut a piece of 2-by-2-by-96-inch fir to fit inside the door if you've cut more than 2 inches off the door and exposed the hollow core. OK lets get to cutting the door down to size. If you have to cut the door down you may need a trimmer router to get a decent finish. The smallest of these three measurements is the reference you need for cutting your door to size. Hollow core doors provide a lightweight, inexpensive option for interior doors in your home. That way if there’s any splintering, it’ll happen on the back side or interior of the door. IKEA doors are designed to fit properly in front of each cabinet. However, if you feel you need to do it yourself, below are the instructions for cutting down the width of horizontal window treatments. Makes an almost toolmark-free 3 degree bevel on the edges. However there are a couple things you should know first. When cutting the width of the door, cut it on the hinge side. When cutting down the IKEA cabinet door, be careful not to cut too much. This doesn't have to be exact as long as you make a good, deep cut along the line. The door is currently too wide for the frame, and I’m looking for the best way to decrease the width of the door. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Dupage in Illinois. I found the information very helpful, however is there a way of cutting off a small amount without having to remove the door. A fiberglass door is a useful type of door which lasts for a very long time. Most people tend to go with option number three, cut the door to size. Replacing a door in your home, such as a cheap hollow-core door, is a fairly simple process with the right tools and a little know-how. Cutting doors down to fit. However don’t just assume you can cut the bottom of the door and be OK. Most people tend to go with option number three, cut the door to size. What is the best way to do this, and does it severely weaken the door? How to Cut a Hollow Core Door. She has chosen ‘Brer Rabbit’ (£68 for a 10-metre roll, from Style Library) for the walls, but kept the furniture clean lined. Measure the door opening. Not sure, click on the forum link and ask in there. A storm door that is primarily glass will probably not be able to be cut down. With the machinery they have they can have the door done in 5-10mins. Mark the door, set the guide on the marks, run the saw thru. Pay attention that you have to cut them at an angle and notch them for the threshold. Then remove the door skin from your offcut and glue it into the cut section. Every homeowner encounters one from time to time: the swollen wood door that sticks to the jamb and doesn't easily open and close. A solid door is actually solid wood from top to bottom and from front to back. In this video, carpenter and former senior editor Andy Engel shows us how to disassemble a prehung exterior door; how to measure and cut the door slab to fit an existing opening; and how to shorten the jamb to match. The size of this depends upon the manufacture. In the hollow section you can have two types. Once the door is protected you now need to make sure your cut is straight. It's a solid pine wood door (not a veneer) with 15 panes of glass (but there should easily be enough wood to cut off either the top or bottom). Hold the circular saw against the edge of the door as if you’re ready to cut. OK we have the line. The closest off-the-shelf door that I can find at my box store would need about 1 inch shaved off the top and 1 inch off the bottom to fit the opening. I know, it hurts just to look at this image, but you’ll get over it. In this case, I cut the doors on the table saw using the fence as a guide. The cheaper Polish doors have chipboard strip about 40mm width along each long side for hinges and handle. The 726mm width door the others talk of here may be fine for the width you have, but this is a metric door size. A few key things to remember during this process: The door needs to have a gap under it – unless you’re not that keen on opening it (ever). Use the table saw to cut it to width and length. If the door is too long, or if you wish to repurpose the cabinet door for another piece of cabinetry or project, cut the door to the proper size using a few tools. The latter height is the more common size, and you'll have to cut the door to fit into a 6-foot-6 opening. These tend to be found more in office buildings and upscale homes. I assume you need to route in the hinge gains on site to fit the existing jamb. Take a 10" (25 cm) or wider piece of paneling, underlay plywood or other thin plywood and cut it to length, (door width + … the pros will answer, How much would a contractor charge for cutting the door down to size to fit as I had too do three which I know this is very scary for a homeowner to do is why I was hired to do this simple task…. The frame opening is 28 inches wide and only found a 30 inch door at the home center. "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." As well, if you shorten the old rails the old mortise may interfere with the new miter cut and make the frame unusable when you try to reassemble the corners back in. Installing a door may seem like a straightforward process, but if the door does not fit precisely into the door frame, then a little extra work may be involved. Measure the doorway where you’ll be installing your door. Score a line down each side of the door by running the utility knife down the edge of the tape. Most doors have a frame made of pine lumber. Where as you will likely spend a couple hours. Doors needed to be cut down about 3”. 2. Be careful not to scratch the surface. While he loves remodeling his house, his passion is spending time with his wife and two children. How to Cut a Door Narrower. Mark the measurements on the door to determine how much width must be trimmed from the door, using a pencil. 2. measure down from the top of the frame and see if you can cut 21mm off without affecting the door leaf...you should be able to ---if you can only take say 15mm off for instance then you can take 5-7mm of by cutting the ribs/fins that run around the edges of the frame-off of the bottom of the door aswell. Use long strokes to remove the desired width of the door. 2. OK the first thing you need to do is make sure you have enough room to make the cut so you do not penetrate the hollow part of the door. So that said, if you have the space on the inside to move the tracks for the new door in all reality you wouldn't need to cut the door at all. I'm replacing a hollow core door with a solid core door. Subtract 1/4 inch from both the height and width. She was a features editor for "Hallmark Magazine" and has served as newsletter editor for several nonprofit organizations. Hi Bud, When using a portable circular saw, it’s always best to place the door face down (front side down). I missed showing that there were 2 doors leaving a tiny little space in the middle to squeeze through. If you cut material away from the … You don’t have to order an expensive custom door if your rough opening is a non-standard size. For the guide you will need two clamps and a straight edge which can be a long level or a piece of straight wood. You have three options. You can trim the sides of the part you cut off and replace that back into the bottom of the door. Cut a piece of 2-by-2-by-96-inch fir to fit inside the door if you've cut more than 2 inches off the door and exposed the hollow core. You want to measure from the edge of your shoe to the blade. Most saws have a metal shoe and can scratch the door as you run it across the door to make the cut. (The horizontal width wouldn't need to … If you have to cut larger than that, you could ruin the door, but again there are tricks to that. Unfortunately in the pic, I only have one door shown hitting the rug. I know, it hurts just to look at this image, but you’ll get over it. The score line will help prevent the wood from splintering later when it is cut. Porter Cable PCC582B – 9V Alkaline Infrared Thermometer Review, DeWALT 20V MAX Hammer Drills DCD985L2 and DCD785C2 – Review, How to Setup and Use Milwaukee One-Key Tools. I use a Festool saw and guide to cut them down (and to width as well) and have had no splintering problems. Re-measure and mark the door on top of the tape. Enough to squeeze by it, and you could force it all the way open, but it was rubbing the floor pretty goo… If for some reason you do not have enough room to make the cut and will cut into the hollow part, then you can do the following. The first thing you want to do is protect the door. A door shop could also do all of this for you for likely a reasonable price. Step 1: Determine how long your door should be. Most doors have a frame made of pine lumber. A truly hollow door where there is a void inside the door. I find the easiest way to do this is have a guide. We strongly recommend sending them back in to the factory to be cut down. Door widths vary from 28 to 36 inches, and the two most common heights are 78 inches -- usually expressed as 6-foot-6 -- and 80 inches, which is 6-foot-8. If you really want to cut it and it has panels it doesn't seemnlike a good idea as it'll look off. Pop a line on the door and use a jigsaw or circular saw to cut the door blank to the needed size. Re-measure and mark the door on top of the tape. Editorial Note: Tools in Action receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. I want an undermount SS sink (Ticor 23 1/2" wide). To preserve the symmetry of the door, it's best to cut equal amounts from both ends. How to Trim a Door With a Portable Planer. Hollow doors are a lot more common in the home. I've found a door that would need 3cm cutting off it, but on the site is says only 12mm can be cut off (a door from Wickes). Cutting through fiberglass is actually very simple and easy, however, you must be careful that you don't breathe in … When a door sticks inside the jamb, or makes contact with the side of the jamb, it's usually because the maker hasn’t cut it properly.