Interior Door Replacement

jerome8283 · 01-12-2007, 10:24 PM

I purchased a 6-Panel Pine Interior Door, just a door no frame. My upstairs bedroom door frame is only 75" tall. My intent was to cut 5" off the new door. The previous door was a flat door. The problem is if I install the 6-Panel Pine Interior Door in line with the old door latch the door knob location would be too high. Is there an easy solution to this or do I have to remove the existing frame and make a new cutout for the latch?

redline · 01-13-2007, 11:09 AM

You need to cut off 5".
Cut 2.5" off of the bottom and cut 2.5" off of the top.

jerome8283 · 01-13-2007, 11:29 AM

Thanks for the suggestion Redline. Would this solve the problem with the door knob being too high? I guess it would. The old door is flat, the new is 6 panel. The door knob being too high with the new door doesn't look right, you know what I mean?

MinConst · 01-13-2007, 11:35 AM

jerome,
latches are going to be measured from the floor. IE: 36" from the floor as an example. If you cut a door off at the bottom it is to allow space for carpeting etc. In other words placed back on the hinges it will be shorter and more off the floor. In your case 5" is allot to take off a door. You need to figure out if the height from the latch to the top will work if you take off 5" from the bottom. Or possibly 5" from the top, or possibly 2.5 from both top and bottom like redline mentioned. You don't want to change the height of the latch as it will look bad. So figure it out the best way to keep the knob in the same place or within an inch or so. Also most doors at the box stores will be hollow core which means there is a solid piece of wood or other filler that will be 2-3" around the perimeter. So if you cut past this you will need to replace the inside frame with the filler. You can reuse the existing filler by cleaning of the door skin and re-gluing it in place in the door. clamps and glue are needed.
Good luck and take your time.

jerome8283 · 01-13-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinConst

jerome,
latches are going to be measured from the floor. IE: 36" from the floor as an example. If you cut a door off at the bottom it is to allow space for carpeting etc. In other words placed back on the hinges it will be shorter and more off the floor. In your case 5" is allot to take off a door. You need to figure out if the height from the latch to the top will work if you take off 5" from the bottom. Or possibly 5" from the top, or possibly 2.5 from both top and bottom like redline mentioned. You don't want to change the height of the latch as it will look bad. So figure it out the best way to keep the knob in the same place or within an inch or so. Also most doors at the box stores will be hollow core which means there is a solid piece of wood or other filler that will be 2-3" around the perimeter. So if you cut past this you will need to replace the inside frame with the filler. You can reuse the existing filler by cleaning of the door skin and re-gluing it in place in the door. clamps and glue are needed.
Good luck and take your time.

I have the old door so I'm using it by laying it on top of the new door to get my mesurements for the hole. If I take 2.5 from the top and 2.5 from the bottom the knob does come down. Everything else should line up. It does mention to cut only from the bottom though. The door is solid wood, bought from Lowes, http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...498&lpage=none

MinConst · 01-13-2007, 11:59 AM

Just remember that everything probably will not line up perfectly. You may have to make some slight modifications to the placement of the catch and possibly hinges. You say "it does mention to cut only from the bottom" is this from the door manufacturer? Think it through well. And just be prepared to make adjustments to the finished product.

jerome8283 · 01-13-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinConst

Just remember that everything probably will not line up perfectly. You may have to make some slight modifications to the placement of the catch and possibly hinges. You say "it does mention to cut only from the bottom" is this from the door manufacturer? Think it through well. And just be prepared to make adjustments to the finished product.

Yes, on the label it says, cut 1" only from the bottom.

MinConst · 01-13-2007, 01:09 PM

Yea that is because there is probably only 1.5-2" of filler in there.

jerome8283 · 01-13-2007, 02:56 PM

I called Lowes just to see what they would say. The guy told me I can cut as much as I want off that the door is solid wood. The instructions on the door say cut no more than 1" off the bottom only.

I decided to return the door and order a custom cut door.

jerome8283 · 01-28-2007, 08:30 PM

Hey guys,

I ended up buying a door from Home Depot. It is basically the same 6 panel door I originally purchased at Lowes which I returned. It too mentioned that I could cut 1" only from the bottom of the door. I took a chance and when with cutting 5" as needed. Everything worked out well. I didn't have to make any modifications after cutting it and my hinge cuts lined up perfectly with the existing. The knob placement turned out great as well. Thanks!

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 01-28-2007, 09:24 PM

Glad it all worked out for you.

Good luck in any future projects.