The Big Event! Offers on Paint, Flooring, Doors & more
Skip to content Skip to navigation menu
Basket
0

Planning & preparation

  • Here we will show you how to replace a standard internal door, including how to trim the door to size and how to find the perfect hanging position
  • When replacing an internal door, the job is made much easier if you can use the same-sized door hinges and the same hinge positions as the original door. Alternatively, you’ll need to make new hinge positions; these tend to be 150mm from the top of the door and 225mm from the bottom, with an optional third hinge in the centre of the door frame
  • Internal doors come in a range of sizes, materials and finishes, so be sure to look at the range and choose a design that best suits your needs
  • Bear in mind that even if you purchase a standard internal door, some door frames, especially those in older houses, may not be a standard size. Therefore, you may still need to trim your new door to fit the existing frame
  • If you do need to trim your door, check the manufacturer’s instructions as the maximum amount that can be removed from the top, bottom and sides of a door varies between products
  • To allow your new door to acclimatise, lay it on a flat and even surface for three days prior to hanging
  • If you are planning to paint your internal door, see our online guides on how to prepare interior woodwork for painting and how to paint interior woodwork for further information
  • For advice on fitting door handles, see our online guide on how to fit door & window furniture

Do it right

  • If you need to trim your door to size, make sure that all reductions are made equally to opposite sides
  • If you are chiselling with the grain, then it can be easy to split the wood. Avoid this by making sure the chisel you are using is sharp and that you make lots of small cuts rather than a few large ones
  • It’s best to drill pilot holes to reduce the chance of the wood splitting

Staying safe

Aftercare

  • Internal doors need little maintenance but it’s a good idea to keep them clean and free from dirt and dust
  • Be sure to only use products that are suitable for your surface and take extra care when maintaining internal wooden doors

Step by step

Step 1

Carefully remove the old door, making sure the weight of the door is supported when you remove the final screws.

1.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 2

Stand the new door up in the doorway to check whether it needs trimming. If it does, use a pencil to mark the top of the door opening onto the new door.

2.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 3

Secure the door to your workbench with clamps. Measure the distance that needs trimming and divide that measurement equally across the top and bottom of the door. Then, add an additional 3mm to both ends to allow for clearance.

3.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 4

Carefully mark a cutting guideline on the bottom of the door. If you are only removing a small amount of excess wood, trim using a plane. Alternatively, use a panel saw or circular saw to remove larger amounts. Ensure that you cut in a completely straight line.

4.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 5

Now that the door is cut to height, hold it up against the door frame to check whether the width of the door fits. If it doesn’t, hold the door so one side is in position and then mark the overhanging distance onto the door.

5.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 6

Measure the overhang and divide the measurement equally across both sides. Then add an extra 3mm onto each side to allow for clearance.

6.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 7

Draw a cutting guideline then remove the excess wood with a plane or handsaw.

7.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 8

Put the internal door into position and place small wedges underneath it to lift it off the ground. Position the door so there is a consistent 3mm gap between the door and the door frame on all sides.

8.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 9

Once the door is in position, use a carpenters pencil to mark the position of the existing door hinges onto the door.

9.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 10

Lay the door onto your workbench and align the hinges you will be using with the marks you made. Carefully draw around the hinges to mark their outline onto the door.

10.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door-Internal-Door-Step-10.jpeg

Step 11

Measure the thickness of the hinge plate then mark a line of the same thickness onto the edge of the door.

11.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 12

Using a sharp chisel, cut around your pencil lines to clearly mark where the door hinges will be situated.

12.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door-.jpeg

Step 13

Then, position the chisel at a 45-degree angle to the door and, using your pencil mark as a guide, make small cuts at 5mm intervals to the same depth as the door hinge plate.

13.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 14

Next, turn the flat side of the chisel towards the door and chisel out the recess for the door hinge plate.

14.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 15

Put the door hinges back into position and drill pilot holes. Then, carefully screw the hinge plates to the door using the provided screws.

15.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 16

Place the door against the door frame and position it so that it is open to 90-degrees.

16.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 17

Put the first screw through the lowest hole of the top door hinge plate and secure it in place.

17.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 18

Then, put a screw through the lowest hole of the bottom hinge plate and secure.

18.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 19

Put the third screw into the top hole of the top door hinge. Once these three screws are in place, check that the door opens and closes without catching.

19.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 20

If the door does catch, simply mark the area that needs trimming, remove the door and then trim down the area with a plane, or with sandpaper and a sanding block.

20.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door.jpeg

Step 21

Once the door opens and closes cleanly, carry out finishing touches such as painting the door or making cut-outs for door handles or latches. Finally, screw in the remaining screws to secure the door in place.

21.How-To-Hang-An-Internal-Door-Internal-Door-Step-21.jpeg