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Carpentry & Joinery
Trimming a standard size door to fit a non standard door frame
Anonymous user 27 September 2020 - 6.22 PM
Hi all, We are looking to get our internal doors replaced. However I am finding that we will have to trim off quite a bit off the new doors height to ensure it fits our door frame. One of our bedroom door frames has a height of 1924 mm. The closest height I have found in off the shelf doors is 1981 mm. The door in particular we are looking at allows 20 mm to be trimmed from the top and 20 mm from the bottom. However in our case, we'd need to trim off 57 mm in total which is more than the 40 mm. As a result this would expose the semi solid core of the door. The door has an MDF face. Is there anyway we could seal the exposed core? Or is this not doable/advised for the specified door?
7 answers from MyBuilder tradespeople
Cut the door to required size. Take care to score opposite side of cut to eliminate shattering on opposite side. Use the offcut after removing the mdf from both sides and glue and clamp until set.
Answered
28 September 2020
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Anonymous user
Take out the wooden brace from the bottom of the door and reinstall the brace after cutting to desired length. Glue and pin back into position sand and paint.
Answered
27 September 2020
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Anonymous user
Hi, My advice to you, is to cut the bottom of the door off slightly longer than required. Either plane off the door finish from the off cut and re glue the stock piece back into the bottom of the door and then trim to size. If you leave the core of the door exposed the moisture will be drawn in and the door will swell. Good luck, Mike Braund.
Answered
27 September 2020
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Anonymous user
Hi I have come across this before. Some may have a different answer but this is how I solved it in the past. Once you have trimmed the top take the remainder from the bottom, as the core will not be seen. Cut and trim a piece of timber (37x 18 from B&Q) then glue and clamp the wood in place to fill the gap. Again it won’t be seen but it does add strength back into the door. Hope this helps.
Answered
28 September 2020
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Anonymous user
When the door is cut down, re use the bottom bit of wood and re glue it back in to strengthen the door. 👍
Answered
28 September 2020
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KnebworthAssuming the door is a plain. It is is more work, but you can cut the door to the length you want, then remove the solid core from the cut piece and glue and refit into the bottom of the door. If the door is not plain then the above procedure may have to be performed both ends
Answered
28 September 2020
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Hi, If the door is flush faced you may cut the bottom section and refill the void by removing the mdf skin from the off cut. Replace in void of door with glue and pin. If door is flush and pre finished use same procedure but glue and clamp the off cut filler piece. Alternatively you make up a new piece of support to place in bottom of door and glue in place. If doors are panelled and hollow core, use the same procedure. You could however reduce the amount taken off the bottom by using self raising butt hinges that will clear the carpet when opening. Also be aware of the lock block on one side of the door. The height of the door handles may have to be reconsidered depending on how much has been removed from the door. A gap of 10mm is recommended for ventilation under door which also needs to be considered.
Answered
29 September 2020
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