Doors and Windows - Enlarging a door opening
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Enlarging a door opening
Peteski
12-06-05, 07:20 AM
My "home" boss has informed me that I have to install a standard height 30" door into a less than regular height and width (27") opening in a closet. I've removed the casings and jambs, and I found that I have 1X6 wood walls. Any ideas????
Peteski :wall: :wall:
Peteski :wall: :wall:
dynagirl
12-06-05, 08:42 AM
Sounds like you've got 2 choices: install a smaller door or gut the wall and enlarge the door frame.
rkoudelka
12-06-05, 01:14 PM
can you fire the "boss"?
XSleeper
12-06-05, 04:10 PM
If the opening is currently 27", you will need to make it at least 5" wider, because a 30" door needs a rough opening of 32".
Provided the wall is not load bearing, that isn't a big problem. Interior walls are cake. Just figure out if you want to keep the door centered, or if you are going to move it 5" one way or the other. Draw on the wall where the edge of the rough opening will be, making sure that you make the top level and the sides plumb, and then cut it out with a reciprocating saw. (make a small hole at first and use a flashlight to look for electrical wires!)
Once you have the rough opening cut out, you can insert some framing into the wall to make your rough opening, which for a 30" door ought to be about 32" x 81 3/4".
As far as the wall thickness goes, you'll just need to figure out how much needs to be added to the door jamb and add an extension jamb onto the door jamb to make it the correct wall thickness. This extension jamb should not go on the latch side of the jamb, it should go on the opposite side so that it does not interfere with the hinges or latch.
Provided the wall is not load bearing, that isn't a big problem. Interior walls are cake. Just figure out if you want to keep the door centered, or if you are going to move it 5" one way or the other. Draw on the wall where the edge of the rough opening will be, making sure that you make the top level and the sides plumb, and then cut it out with a reciprocating saw. (make a small hole at first and use a flashlight to look for electrical wires!)
Once you have the rough opening cut out, you can insert some framing into the wall to make your rough opening, which for a 30" door ought to be about 32" x 81 3/4".
As far as the wall thickness goes, you'll just need to figure out how much needs to be added to the door jamb and add an extension jamb onto the door jamb to make it the correct wall thickness. This extension jamb should not go on the latch side of the jamb, it should go on the opposite side so that it does not interfere with the hinges or latch.