I am trying to find a door to replace one of my bedroom doors. The problem I have is that all the interior doors in my house measure 29-1/2" x 80". They are all hollow core 6 panel doors and look very much like a pre fab product with no signs of any custom sizing. Yet I am unable to find any doors to replace them at any store or online. Am I crazy or just that ignorant when it comes to this area home maintenance? Any advice will be appreciated. Not what you were looking for ? Hello and thank you for joining our How to Community. Is 29-1/2 “x80” slab or a door measurement? Slab is the operating part of the unit only and a door is the slab + the side jambs (frame). 29 1-2”slab would be matched to a 30” door (unit)... I've purchased both the 28" and 30"sizes, in hopes that one would work...no luck. Am I going to have to buy a comlete prehung door? No you don’t HAVE to buy one. However, considering tools needed and work involved, fitting a new slab, it might be EASIER if you were to buy one and replace a complete unit.
Right now you have a “non standard” 30” door/slab. To replace a non standard slab you would need to purchase a standard replacement non-mortised 30” slab. Non- mortised means that there is no bore (hole) for the lock and no slots for the hinges – so basically it’s a plain slab. This new replacement slab (non-mortised) it’s going to be slightly bigger than your existing slab, actually to be precise it’s going to be 5/8” of an inch wider and ½” an inch taller. This said you would need to rip a new slab for 5/8” of an inch and cut it down for ½” an inch to match your old slab. But it’s not that simple. You can cut ½” an inch from the bottom or top of the slab but you should not rip all 5/8” from one side of the slab. With hollow doors, side rails – section that it’s getting ripped down, its only 1-1/4” wide and if you were to cut 5/8” of one side of the door you would structurally weaken it. So to get this slab to last, 5/8” should be taken from both sides of the slab.
Once the door is cut to match the old door, next step would be to cut the hinge slots. For the hinge slots you can use existing hinges or the old door as a template. Once the hinge slots are cut next step would be to hang a door, test to see if it closes right, scribing a lock hole (with the door closed) ,taking it down ,boring a lock hole and hanging it back up with the lock installed. To make this all easier to grasp I’ve attached two videos in this post. One video demonstrates how to cut hinge slots and the other one how to cut a hole for the lockset. I know this can be overwhelming for an inexperienced DIY-er ,but if you’re comfortable using power tools (saw and drill) we'll be here to help with every step along the way. Or like mentioned at the beginning of this post, you can buy a prehung door and replace the old completely. This still may require use of some power tools but it would not entail as much work as changing the slab would. Just in case if you decide to replace the complete door, here's the How-to-Video that you can refer to;
Thanks for all the information. I am now armed with all the information I need. Now I'm off to Home Depot to buy my third and final door! The ideas and video which are shared are all informative. Thank you for sharing such useful ideas. My views said that to install door we should hire an experience contractor who can give you full ideas about replacement. As there are various door collection which you can view on line like storm proof doors, impact doors , sliding doors, double-hung doors etc. With the renovation of doors and windows which are really important to be impact and safe which belongs to the comfortability of secured ambiance which have proper resistant asset. This doors collection will definitely help you. Wood for door - pine 1.5 inch wood screws Three 1 inch casters 4 inch black steel track - length may vary 2 inch black steel track Flat 4 inch screws - amount will vary 2 1/4 anchor bolts 1/4 inch steel tube 1/2 inch steel tube
Washers for all larger bolts and screws 1/2 inch wood piece- for wheels 1/4 inch bolt for wheel x 2 length 4 inches Lock nuts for all bolts Metal circular saw blade Metal file to smooth out edges of cut metal 4 inch circular drill bit 2 inch circular drill bitYour browser is out of date This website will not look or function as originally intended in your current browser We recommend upgrading to the latest version of Which choice is right for you? Discover the best possible hardware for the job.A lot of us do undercover work for the copsWe make keys for them and get them into places at 3 a.m. so they can set up surveillance equipment or put the bugs in place. It's part of the thrill of doing what we do. Contractors stink at installing dead boltsI can't tell you how many times I go out to rekey one or let someone in, and I find problems. If it's not installed right, it won't protect you. Here's what to know before hiring a handyman.
The best lock is a dead bolt that’s properly installedIt should have at least a one-inch “throw,” and on the “strike side,” there should be a security plate with screws at least three inches long that go all the way into the door’s wood frame. These are signs your house is vulnerable to burglars. Use a double cylinder lock to avoid break-insIf you have a window on or near your door, a thumb-turn dead bolt won’t do much good. They knock out the glass, stick a hand in, and turn. Get a double cylinder lock that needs a key on the inside. Think twice before you buy a locked safe at a flea market, estate sale, or auctionIt's probably going to cost you $300 or more to open it, and chances are, all you're going to find is mouse poop. When you buy a new house, always have your locks rekeyedOtherwise there's probably a master key out there that can easily open your home. Keys stamped “Do not duplicate” are duplicated all the timeAsk me about high-security locks with keys that can’t be replicated at the hardware store.
You're supposed to check ID before you open anythingBut half the time when someone is locked out of their house or car, where do you think their ID is? These are the biggest mistakes people make with their safe:Spinning the dial too fast, trying to open it before it's unlocked, and forcing it closed when there's obviously a problem. It’s easy to defeat the cheapo locks from big-box storesMost are mass-produced by reputable manufacturers but to very low standards. Look for at least a grade 2. Here are other things you should never buy at big-box stores. I've seen my share of dead bodiesIt's always a bad sign when the landlord calls to get into an apartment, and nobody's seen the tenant for ten days. Divorce lock-outs are a challengeThe soon-to-be-ex wife will call and say she’s locked out, so I get her in and change the locks. Then the husband calls with the same request. I refer him to a competitor. Don't feel bad if you have to call me twice in a short span of timeI once had a guy lock himself out of his house three times in one day.
If you’re locked out, please call just one of usMore than once, I arrived at a lock-out to find two competitors’ trucks already there. At that point, we all agreed to leave and abandon the inconsiderate victim. Never tell me, "Don't worry. It's an easy lock."Every time someone says that, it takes an extra 10 minutes to get it open. It's the kiss of death. If you call at 2 a.m., bewawareIf some guy calls me because he’s locked out of his car at a strip club, a service call that’s normally $55 is automatically $100. If he’s got money for strip clubs, he’s got money for me. Don’t believe a car dealer who says only he can duplicate keysIn most cases, a locksmith who specializes in automotive work can make you a key—usually cheaper. Try the doorI’ve gone to houses and found it open. (I’m still going to charge you for the service call.) If your key won’t turn, try WD-40 or silicone spraySometimes the pins get jammed up, and 25 to 40 percent of the time, that solves the problem.