Basement Doors

[3rcm]

Planning my basement project and trying to figure out the best way to deal with doors. I will have several rooms and was planning on dividing the basement down the middle beam. My intent is to match the same construction as the rest of the house, so Masonite, 6 panel doors. The RO is 82" high, but the bottom of my I beam is only 80 inches. I could keep working at the design and see if I can get the doors in main areas, but this seemed like a good way to keep the beam out of the rooms. Can you get shorter doors? Good or Bad Idea?

Thanks

[caleyg]

I had the same issue. I think you can order shorter doors, but I used stock doors and cut 2" off the bottom--some doors were shortened others were not and it's not noticable at all.

When you cut the doors the bottom will be hollow. Take the block out of the part you've cut out (I had good luck with a hammer and then used a belt sander to clean it off) and glue it back in the bottom of the door.

Don't forget you need almost 1 1/2 clearance between the actual size of the door and the rough opening. You may decide you'd like to take part of it off the top of the door to make it look even--although the bottom panel is much wider for this very purpose.

On one door I just let the side casing run straight to the ceiling. On another (under my steel beam) simply left a drywall framed opening double door sized and put drapes across--it really looks great and adds a window feel to a room without windows. If you have two rooms that aren't bedrooms and don't absolutely need a door, i highly reccomend this approach

[StephenS]

3r.
A Standard size 6'6" door will fit and work fine without cutting...From what I've read, it seems the door is standard in the northeast where I'm from and not in most other parts of the Country....though most likely it is available..