I have a door opening right under the steel I-beam in my basement. The opening is 2" shorter than a normal rough opening. I'm installing 6 panel pine doors. If I simply cut off 2" from the bottom of the door and frame then the doorknob will be 2" lower than the others. I could cut 2" off the top and redo the hinges, but it will make the top rail look very narrow. Or should I split it-- 1" off the top and 1" off the bottom? Has anyone else ever had to deal with this problem?

 

I'm assuming that this is a hollow core door. The 'best' solution would be to order a 78" door for the opening. (Go to a lumberyard that has a door shop, or to a door and window shop to do that -- the big box stores will make it difficult!)

If you DO decide to try cutting the door instead, first drill a hole into the bottom of the frame and determine how thick the bottom edge of the frame is. Many are only 3/4", and I have yet to find one over 2" thick. Regardless of whether you cut the top, the bottom, or both, you'll probably have to make and install new pieces to fill the void in the frame.

 

I cut two inches off the bottom of a couple of my molded 6 panels in my basement--no problem. Took it off the bottom, the "skin" came off the blocker fine and I just re-glued it. I never even thought about the knob being lower, and my wife (who, trust me, would notice if it was something noticable) never noticed it. of course now that yuou've mentioned it I'll have to go look. Thanks alot!

if you think it would really bug you you could buy a door slab, casings and stop moulding and build your own.

lefty's right though, it's only a 3/4 inch stop so you'd have to repair both top & bottom if you split it.

Check what lefty said about ordering it and see if it doesn't cost too much and if you can get it to match well.

Me, I'd do it the way I did it the first time--2" off the bottom, noone will ever see it.