I'm a tactical systems analyst, retired naval officer. I do restore and deal in straight razors and related antiquities, but I'm not "handy" when it comes to stuff around the house.

I fell and I broke my fall with my hand and elbow crashing though the bathroom door. It is one of these fiber/particle wood affairs, that evidently has a cardboard superstructure inside (because now I can see in there).

I think I could dope it back together for the most part, plane-n-fill, and paint. The problem is, I don't know what to do about the actual holes that were made by hand and elbow... I do have the chunks, but there's no real purchase for them because cheesy doors are pretty hallow.

The alternative is to get another cheesy door and hang it, but I have no idea what's involved. I would think that these tract home doors are universally standard - is that not the case? I mean, it seems to me that all I'd need is a right hand, inward opening cheesy door and some paint: that it would come with a knob and hinges where they need to be!

However, I'm not finding any indication of that online here. So, what do I need to do, and how much is this going to hurt my non-house handy head and wallet?

 

Measure the width and height of the existing door. With your back to the hinges, if it swings to the right, it's a "right hand" door (or vice versa, of course).
Go to a building supply and get a same-type door the same width and "hand" swing. It will not have the hardware on it, but after you prime and paint the new door, you can transfer the hinges and doorknob to it from the old one. The doorknob hole should be cut and pre-drilled, and maybe the hinge mortises, on the new door.
If you need any help, just come back on this same thread and ask.
Good luck!
Mike

 

Hi Mike! Thanks for the reply. Do they have that type door at a Home Depot?

 

Hi, Sounds like you know how to use a tape measure. Why not make a drawing of the door with all the measurments taking from the top, include the distance to both hinges the center line of the lock set and the backset of the lock set. You may find a replacement in the pre hung doors. These measurments are pretty standard. The price difference between a slab door and a pre hung isn't too much.You can just dispose of the extra parts. I only suggest this because it doesn't sound like you have the tools for the job and this may be an easy way out.
Good Luck Woodbutcher

 

You're right about that Woodbutcher. I have jewler's tools for working on razors and I have tools to work on my car. I have all kinds of screwdrivers, hammers... - that's about it. I measured it this morning. The weird thing is that the bottom hinge is an odd distance up the door, whereas the top hing is 8". The door is 7' x 27 6/8". 6/8... that's a great size for a razor, but 27 6/8" seems odd to me for a width. I probably have to have it custom made, that would be my luck... I'll follow up. Thanks for the help.

 

This is my first time posting on this site, so don't consider anything I say to be gospel. I haven't a clue what I'm doing either. Anyhoo, a friends dog ate the bottom third of my bedroom door while I was pet sitting. I did the measurements and took them to Home Depot. They said standard door size was 80inches tall. Mine is 79.5. The guy said that the door was probably installed in the 70's when high pile carpet was popular and the door was offsized to compensate. Funny thing is that the guy at Home depot told me that they couldn't resize the door for me at the store. Couldn't believe it. You're supposed to be able to almost build a new house with what they sell there, but they don't cut doors? Guy said it was too much trouble in the past, which makes me wonder if I should have anything to do with it. They said you'd have to take 1/4 inch off top and bottom, then plug the door top and bottom with something. The hinge hight on mine was an odd size too.

Anyhoo, good luck with your door. If you need help resizing it, get an overly hyper dog. They love to help, but do a rough job of it.