Prehung Smaller Door for Attic Access?


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Old 12-09-15, 07:43 AM
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Question Prehung Smaller Door for Attic Access?

I could use help trying to figure something out. There are a couple attic access points inside of closets in my house. The doors are small - 24" W x 57" H, appear to not be hollow, and from the looks of it, are part of a prehung kit.

What I'd like to know is can I buy this size door in a prehung frame from Home Depot, Lowes, or somewhere else? Or do people tend to buy a 24"x80" prehung door and then just cut down both the door and the frame?

For reference, Pictures below show you the door, the frame from inside the attic, and the threshold.

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Old 12-09-15, 08:03 AM
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I'm a painter, not a carpenter but on every job [new construction] I've been on when a short door like that was needed the carpenter cut down a full size prehung door/jamb to fit. What is it you want to do?
 
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Old 12-09-15, 08:42 AM
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There have been a few cases where we have had the door dept at our supplier actually make us a custom sized door like tgat, but it's more likely to be as marksr said... either a standard prehung that has been cut down, or the carpenters got the individual parts and cut their own.
 
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Old 12-09-15, 09:47 AM
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Maybe I'm just lucky but I have a lumber yard nearby that specializes in making odd-sized pre-hung doors. Very good prices as well.

You might try looking in the Yellow Pages under doors. (Yes, I still use telephone books. )
 
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Old 12-09-15, 09:47 AM
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Thanks for the info. So when you walk through one of those doors, it's a huge attic space. I'm going to frame in part of that attic to add some additional closet/storage space. But, I do want to retain access to the rest of the attic, and I figured doing a door similar to what's already there would look the best.

I don't have enough clearance to put in a full size door, so I'm just trying to figure out the simplest (and cheapest) way to add a smaller door without getting into custom jambs, etc. Any ideas?
 
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Old 12-09-15, 09:54 AM
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Other than what has already been said?
 
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Old 12-09-15, 10:04 AM
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Custom built costs extra so the cheapest is to either cut down a prefab door to fit or you could just build one out of plywood if looks isn't a big concern.
 
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Old 12-09-15, 10:06 AM
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Well, I guess I'm just wondering if there is some other non-door solution that I should be considering to give attic access through a closet?
 
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Old 12-09-15, 10:10 AM
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You can make a face frame and use cabinet doors but then you would have to weatherstrip it... attics are both cold and hot so a real door cut to size is really the best option. Otherwise you have an air leak. If you get a prehung and cut it down you are stuck with the premortised hinge locations.
 
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Old 12-09-15, 10:12 AM
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How often do you need access to the attic? you could just screw plywood/paneling over an access hole.
 
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Old 12-09-15, 10:26 AM
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Custom built costs extra...
When I stated the cost was reasonable I meant it was only a few dollars more than a stock size door. Now to be fair I have to state that it WAS a hollow-core door with flat sides. I have no idea of what it might be for a solid door or one that had fancy paneling.
 
 

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