Framing Openings for Sliding and Folding Doors

Sliding and folding doors will use the same basic framing techniques as a prehung door, with just a few variations. If you are considering hanging a sliding or folding door, there are some tips that will help you along the way.

Step 1 - Plan for the Right Size

Most folding style doors are made to fit with in an 80 inch high opening. Prehung doors may not need as much header room, so you want to make sure you trim out any existing frame. If you don't want to do this, you may trim most folding doors down to size, but this involves about the same amount of work.

Step 2 - Create Wider Opening

When you start to plan to frame, you want to make sure you understand that the frame width for a sliding and folding door will be almost 3 times wider than that of a prehung door. The type of door you choose will have a lot to do with this, and most door manufacturers will include suggestions for the dimensions required for the opening.