Replace 32" interior door with 28" w/o removing frame?

cabbage

Hi All,

Just found this great forum and was wondering if anyone could help out with advice. I'm hoping to replace an existing 32" hollow core door with a 28" door. What would be the easiest way to go about this? I've searched the net and forums and some say I'd need to remove the whole frame, add studs to close opening and install a new 28" prehung w/frame. I was just thinking of taking out the door alone, then nail the studs onto the existing frame (without having to take it out), then patch with a bit of sheetrock and hang the new door in. Would this work or am I over-simplifying stuff. Thanks!!

GBrackins

why are you replacing the door?

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Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

DannyT

be much easier to replace it with a 32 inch door. would prob look batter too. why using the smaller door? you can nail studs to the existing frame but if it isn't plumb your studs won't be either. adding drywall won't work unless you trim the edges of the existing jamb a 1/2 inch off of each side. i think you would make better use of your time and effort to remove the complete frame and door and replace with the one you want to use. a prehung door would make everything easier.

mae-ling

your existing jamb is probably flush with the surface of the drywall, not the back of the drywall,hard to patch drywall your way.

You could use wider casing to cover things in.
As asked above WHY?

joecaption

I can remove a whole frame door and all in less then 2, min. with just a sawsall to cut oof the nails, No clue why you would even think about leaving it in place, makes no since.

cabbage

OK - I guess I'll just tear down the whole thing and get a prehung then. This wall area is small relative to the size of a 32" door. I only had it as a 32" to ensure larger items could move through, but proportion-wise it's not aesthetically pleasing. I just opened a 32" door on a wall perpendicular to this so I don't really need such a big door here. I do already have a 28" door slab without frame which I like handy.

GBrackins

I've been checking the building code so I could quote the section to you. I remember something about bathrooms being allowed a new 28" wide door (unless existing at 24") and other interior doors are to be 30" (28" if existing). when I find the section I'll post it on here

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Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

joecaption

Have you ever had to mortis and bore a slab door before? It's not that easy.

ddawg16

Or, to put this in relative terms.....you could yank out, trim out, and nail in 2 new doors in about the time it would take to do what joe is saying above....assuming you also have the right tools.....

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ddawg16

double post....

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cabbage

the door is an existing door that I removed from another part of the house, although some adjustments might be needed. Danny has a good pt about the frame and the strip studs as I do have 5 inches for both so no drywall needed. I know it's a bit unconventional but was just interested to know if anyone has done it this way and how much time/efforts was involved....

woodworkbykirk

passage doors cant be any less than 28" be it bathroom or bedroom, this is for fire code reasons to allow egress. if it were a closet door it could be as small as 12"

mae-ling

Never done it that way, doesn't work, to much time/effort.

mae-ling

Sorry if that sounds rude or smart, din't mean it that way.

cabbage

No problem. We've decided to just leave it as is and keep it closed so it'll just be like part of the wall, ha! It won't be used much if at all anyway so why go through with the trouble.....Thanks for everyone's advice.