Doors and Windows - Shortening Door

I have a hollow core door that has to be shortened. How much can safely be cut off?

I believe that there is either a 2X6 or 2X8 across the bottom of hollow-core doors, which means that there should be 5.5-7.5 inches of solid wood at the bottom. Obviously you don't want to cutoff that much, but you can safely trim them off some. Use a fine-tooth paneling blade and move the skilsaw slowly so that you don't create burn marks on the wood. Those blades overheat pretty quickly. Good Luck!

Mark a line where you want to cut the door. Then take a straight edge and a utility knife and score the line. Keep your saw blade on the waste side of the scored line and the door will not splinter.

It's not often that Old Guy is mistaken, but I'm pretty sure he is this time! I have never come across a hollow core door that has more than an 1-1/4" of solid wood across the bottom. If you need to take more than 3/4" off of this door, take 3/4" first, then drill a 1/4" hole into the bottom to see how much more solid wood you can safely remove. You don't want to leave the bottom edge hollow -- you want a solid piece of wood across the bottom.

:eek: As much as I hated to do it, once I had to cut above the solid piece. I took it out of the cut off piece and attached it into the core of the door with some VERY small brads.

Normal doors are 6'8" +/- Mobile homes have shorter doorways. We were putting in a pre-hung unit into a room that was using mobile home doors. Yuck!

Sometimes, taking a little off both ends works too.

More than a Carpenter

http://www.carpenter.cjb.net

Yes, I have had to cut above the solid portion on occasion also. And, like MTAC, you need to take the time to cut the cut-off to a size that it can be reinstalled in the bottom of the door. That part is easy. It's the cleaning out of the fill in a hollow core door to make room for that cut-off that is a pain!

You can only take between 1 1/2 to 2 inches off of each end before you have problems.
It might be cheaper and less trouble just to buy a new shorter door. If you take it all off the bottom of a hollow core door, your door knob will be too low, and your hidges will not fit right. You will also have to cap the bottom of the door in addition to putting is a filler. Good Luck

Sunshine7, et al:
Yep, blew another one. Sorry about that. That's what the pros are in here for. To keep us jakelegs straight. Tis a wonder my house is still standing. lol

Old guy -- You make a mistake, you stand corrected, and you go on with life. If anybody gives you any 'crud' about it, then you remind them -- the only person who never made a mistake, NEVER DID ANYTHING!! <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OldGuy:
Sunshine7, et al:
Yep, blew another one. Sorry about that. That's what the pros are in here for. To keep us jakelegs straight. Tis a wonder my house is still standing. lol<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

He did lots, but He could also make the winds and waves obey His will and then walked on the water.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lefty:
Old guy -- You make a mistake, you stand corrected, and you go on with life. If anybody gives you any 'crud' about it, then you remind them -- the only person who never made a mistake, NEVER DID ANYTHING!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sunshine7:
I have a hollow core door that has to be shortened. How much can safely be cut off?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Depends on the type of hollow door you have.

If its the plain 'flush' type and you end up sawing off the bottom rail, then it can be re-istalled. If your taking a lot off then you have to consider the lock block and keeping it central. In that case you may have to think about taking an equal amount off the top.

With embossed doors your limited.

Regards

Dcr2
www.thediyworld.co.uk (http://www.thediyworld.co.uk)