Closets and Home Organization - closet laundry door problem
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hudsongirl
08-08-08, 10:00 AM
We have a washer and dryer in a closet that has two wooden bifold doors. This closet is in a small hallway that is next to the entryway into our garage. When anyone comes in from the garage and the bifolds are open, the garage door slams into the bifold and knocks it off the track.This has happened hundreds of times. The bifold even has a hole in it from the other door knob going through it. I cannot change the opening of the garage door to the other side and need another closet door option for my laundry area. It's on the main floor of my home, so it has to look nice. A curtain or even the accordian doors wouldn't look as nice, but I need another door option other than bifold doors. Can anyone offer me some advice? This problem is driving me nuts.
kestrel
08-08-08, 11:44 AM
Hi Hudson Girl,
If you keep the doors closed over the washer/dryer all the time then there are two options I can think of right away.
To prevent the garage door from hitting the laundry room doors you can buy a door stop that mounts to the hinges of your garage door. I am not sure what you call it but it is similar to a regular door stop that is mounted to the baseboard behind a door. The big difference is that it mounts to the top hinge and keeps the door from opening fully against a wall 90º to the door. We have these in our twins bedroom and has worked well for several years.
Another option would be to replace the laundry room door hardware. We sell Johnson hardware and their 111FD series bi-fold hardware has tricycle wheels that ride inside an enclosed track. The doors then have hardware at the top that latches on to the tricycle wheels. This way even if you bang the doors hard they will not fall off. Instead you need to reach up and release a catch to remove the doors.
I hope this helps.
Jim
If you keep the doors closed over the washer/dryer all the time then there are two options I can think of right away.
To prevent the garage door from hitting the laundry room doors you can buy a door stop that mounts to the hinges of your garage door. I am not sure what you call it but it is similar to a regular door stop that is mounted to the baseboard behind a door. The big difference is that it mounts to the top hinge and keeps the door from opening fully against a wall 90º to the door. We have these in our twins bedroom and has worked well for several years.
Another option would be to replace the laundry room door hardware. We sell Johnson hardware and their 111FD series bi-fold hardware has tricycle wheels that ride inside an enclosed track. The doors then have hardware at the top that latches on to the tricycle wheels. This way even if you bang the doors hard they will not fall off. Instead you need to reach up and release a catch to remove the doors.
I hope this helps.
Jim
Wirepuller38
08-09-08, 05:32 AM
Install pocket doors. A major project, but a possible solution.
chris8796
08-10-08, 04:50 PM
I have a couple of suggestions:
You didn't mention how much room you had to work with. But if you have space you may be able to use a full access hinge on the bifold door so it doesn't protrude so much into the hallway. You can combine this with a hinge mounted door stop on the garage door.
http://www.johnsonhardware.com/1601.htm
Another possibility is have the garage door swing out instead of in.
You can also replace the garage door with a half glass door, so you can easily see inside before you open the door. I have a small window in mine so I can tell if the garage door is open or the lights are on without opening the door.
Another possibility, I always put automatic lightswitches on closets doors, so your inclined to shut them when not in immediate use.
You didn't mention how much room you had to work with. But if you have space you may be able to use a full access hinge on the bifold door so it doesn't protrude so much into the hallway. You can combine this with a hinge mounted door stop on the garage door.
http://www.johnsonhardware.com/1601.htm
Another possibility is have the garage door swing out instead of in.
You can also replace the garage door with a half glass door, so you can easily see inside before you open the door. I have a small window in mine so I can tell if the garage door is open or the lights are on without opening the door.
Another possibility, I always put automatic lightswitches on closets doors, so your inclined to shut them when not in immediate use.
Michael Thomas
08-10-08, 06:39 PM
You can also replace the garage door with a half glass door, so you can easily see inside before you open the door. I have a small window in mine so I can tell if the garage door is open or the lights are on without opening the door.
Windows, pet doors and the like compromise the required fire rating of a door between a garage and a dwelling unit - there are doors with "fire protective glazing", but your are very unlikely to see one in residential construction.
Windows, pet doors and the like compromise the required fire rating of a door between a garage and a dwelling unit - there are doors with "fire protective glazing", but your are very unlikely to see one in residential construction.
Shandy
08-12-08, 07:25 AM
I know you may not have the space or want a major project but I HATE BI FOLD doors...LOUVERED ONES the most...they get nasty and are always causing problems...sticking out or falling apart.
I have replaced all but one of BI-Fold door in my 47 year old home with Johnson Pocket doors and LOVE them. Once the framing is done the kit goes up in about 30 minutes. Sure there is some drywall and trim work to do but I like doing that kinda of stuff.
Double pockets would look nice and never be in your way.:D
Good luck!
I have replaced all but one of BI-Fold door in my 47 year old home with Johnson Pocket doors and LOVE them. Once the framing is done the kit goes up in about 30 minutes. Sure there is some drywall and trim work to do but I like doing that kinda of stuff.
Double pockets would look nice and never be in your way.:D
Good luck!
MitchA
09-02-08, 09:27 AM
Why don't you just put a cortain instead of a door, where the closet laundry door is.. is easier and probably MUCH cheaper than the other solutions.
sharChmeil
09-05-08, 08:34 PM
Any way you can install slider doors on tracks? I know it would be a lot more work, but they'd look nicer than a curtain.
Daviduch
02-03-09, 07:18 AM
I don't know if you're set on using a "hard" door, but we recently got blinds installed in our house, and over our patio door we had a one-piece roller blind installed. It has no valence, and the gear mechanism is really sturdy. It fits perfectly in the frame. It hides the door perfectly, and rolls all the way to the floor when you're not using your washer/dryer. Might be a good option.