Adjusting French Doors

I am in the process of installing interior french doors and need a little help in the fine adjustments. I installed the frame, levelled the left and top portions and then did the same for the right. The left door looks perfect in that its level and the spacing around the door vs. frame is consistent. The right door however is rubbing against the other because it is not level and also hitting the top frame. It is also racked a little and the door does not line up parallel to the other. The latter problem I assume is because the inside and o/s of the frame must be racked a little. The top adjustment is what's confusing me. I tried loosening the top screws on the side frame and then adjusting the top frame but I can't seem to coordinate them lining uo so everything is straight and fitting like the other doors. Any suggestions?

 

It sounds to me like the sill is not level. Perhaps the right side of the jamb is dropping off and needs to be shimmed up.

As far as the doors lining up (being racked), you'll have to forget about your levels and knock one or more corners of the door in or out until they line up correctly. Yes you want it level, and yes you want it flush with the drywall, but when the door does not seal properly you have to adjust it until it does.

When you install 3" screws through the top hinges into the framing, that will pull the doors apart on top and raise them slightly, so keep that in mind as you make your adjustments.

 

like xsleeper said forget level and look at your reveals. In other words shim all sides of the doors so that it closes properly. If the jam ends up sticking out past the drywall a little so be it. You can hide that later with the casement and caulk. The leveling has to be done in the wall itself and they are usually a little off. You pretty much have to install the doors by eye especially the french ones.

 

If the right door is hitting the top of the frame, the right side is too high, or the right side of the frame is not plumb.

 

If the right door is hitting the top of the frame, the right side is too high, or the right side of the frame is not plumb.

If the floor is not level, install the side where the floor is highest first, then shim up the other side to level the top of the frame.

 

Wirepuller is correct, I pictured it incorrectly and misspoke myself.

I'd suspect that half the adjustment needs to be done on bottom, and half by plumbing the sides. Raising the left side by perhaps an 1/8" (since the right side likely won't go down) and then shim the top of the door frame either left or right until the doors line up across the top.

Theoretically, when the sill is straight, if one door is 1/8" too high, the other will be 1/8" too low. Since one of your doors seems perfect while the other is 1/8" too high in the middle, that's why I'd suspect the sill was not level.