replacing interior doors
#1
05-02-12, 11:57 AM
replacing interior doors
I just bought a home in So Cal, built in the late 50s. I want to replace the interior doors. I'm looking at Home Depot online and I see doors with sizes like 30" x 80". When I measure one of the doors I want to replace, it measures 29.5 x 79.25. Is that going to be a problem? Can I simply buy the door from HD and hang it? Or will it need to be cut to fit? I have not made the trip down to HD to measure the doors they have on the sales floor. Just thought I'd look online first. Thanks for the feedback.
#2
05-02-12, 12:09 PM
Super Moderator
If you just plan to replace the door and leave the old frame in place....yes....stock doors will need to be cut down, mortised for hinges and the holes for the handle and latch drilled. They sell slab door blanks un-cut and full size dimensions. A 30 x 80 will measure a true 30 x 80.
If you buy a door pre-hung in a frame with trim attached..the job might be much easier...but you may still need to trim them to clear flooring/carpet. The doors in pre-hung frames normally measure 1/4" smaller in width...but full size in height
If you buy a door pre-hung in a frame with trim attached..the job might be much easier...but you may still need to trim them to clear flooring/carpet. The doors in pre-hung frames normally measure 1/4" smaller in width...but full size in height
#3
05-02-12, 12:33 PM
Group Moderator
We gave up buying door blanks many years ago and just buy new pre-hungs when we have to replace a door - it's a lot easier that way.
That said, we know all of ours are going to fit ahead of time.
That said, we know all of ours are going to fit ahead of time.
#4
05-04-12, 03:50 PM
Thanks for the feedback, from what it sounds like, going prehung is the way to go. So, to verify, (please forgive me if i use the wrong terminology) I need to pull off the molding around the door frame. Then the old frame can be removed and the new prehung door can be slid into its place. The molding replaced and patched up. Sounds too simple...
#5
05-04-12, 04:49 PM
Super Moderator
Depending on where you live (different regions...different products)..the doors may have split jambs.....where the moldings are already attached on each side. You pull out some big staples or cut some straps...pull the jambs apart...install one side using standard shimming and fastening techniques, then install the other side.
Of course...if the molding doesn't match what you have...well...that won't work very well.
You may also have to pull/adjust/trim any base molding you have to get them to look right.
Of course...if the molding doesn't match what you have...well...that won't work very well.
You may also have to pull/adjust/trim any base molding you have to get them to look right.
