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Wooden doors come in three types:
As you would expect, solid wood doors are made from thick slabs of wood. They are strong, secure and are good insulators. A solid door is also rather costly which makes them a natural choice for external doors.
Solid core doors have a thin veneer of high-quality natural wood fixed over a core of engineered wood, such as HDF.
Hollow core doors, contrary to their name, do not have an empty void at their centre. Instead, they have a thick solid frame and a core made of plastic or cardboard. This core is usually constructed in a hexagonal ‘honeycomb’ pattern; one of the strongest structures found in nature. This makes the doors more solid, robust, and soundproof than if it was truly hollow.
Hollow core doors are lightweight, easy to fit and inexpensive, which makes them a popular choice for internal doors. They are also very versatile. This honeycomb core can be contained within a variety of veneers that can be matched to any decor. They can even be made to resemble far more expensive solid wood doors.
There are loads of reasons you might want to trim the door. There may be too much wood in the way of the carpet, or you may need to fit an old door into a new frame. Many doors may need to be slightly trimmed in order to fit in your home.
Some of the most common reasons for trimming doors are:
Additionally, you may have an awkward door frame in a non-standard size that makes purchasing a new door incredibly difficult. You could estimate the size or even misread your tape measure. Mistakes occasionally happen, and can mean that when your new door turns up it’s an inch too tall for its frame.
You may even need to resize old doors.
Because of the “hollow” nature of these doors, there are some precautions to take when trimming; But hollow core doors can, in fact, be trimmed!
Hollow core doors have a strong block outer frame, which leaves a couple of inches of solid wood at the top, bottom and sides of the door. When it comes to allowing for alterations, this frame makes them a lot more forgiving than you might think. This counts for the sides as well as the bottom and top of the door.
This answer does come with a ‘but’ though. If you cut off too much of the door’s top, bottom or sides you could damage it’s structural integrity.
Removing an inch or so from a hollow core door to allow for a thicker carpet, misread tape measure or wonky doorframe will be fine.
However, cut off too much – roughly over 2 inches – and you may notice that the edge of the door is no longer solid. As such, while it is possible to trim hollow core doors, it isn’t always advisable to cut them down if serious alterations are needed.
If you’re unsure of how much your door can be trimmed, ask your supplier for its trimming allowances
If too much is cut off the edge of a hollow core door, the structural integrity of the door can be compromised. This can be fixed by reinserting a block from the bottom of the door inside the veneer using glue.
Though this may sound simple, it can be fiddly. There is a lot of potential for it to go wrong, leaving you with a door that is even more unsuitable than it was before. In general, it’s advisable to avoid going to these extremes.
That said, if all you’re looking to lose is a thin layer from your door, then read on for a quick guide on how to trim hollow core doors.
What you need to trim hollow core doors:
The first step is to remove the door from the frame. This can be done by removing the hinge pins, beginning at the bottom, then working your way up. Then we can move on the the main attraction: Trimming the door!
Measure how much you want to shave off the door.
Measure the door frame in three places: along both sides and the middle. This will give you the truest possible reading and minimise the risk of mistakes.
Remember, you only have about an inch and a half available to lose from the average hollow core door.
If you need to take off more than that, think about replacing the door instead.
Start by drawing a pencil line to show where you’re cutting. Use something with a straight edge like a ruler or tape measure.
Use a knife and a guide to create a cutting line. This helps stop the door from splintering when you start sawing it and helps you adhere to a straight edge.
Wrapping masking or painter’s tape around the bottom of the door will also help prevent chipping or splintering. Another tip is to wrap the foot of a circular saw with tape, as this can protect the surface of the door from damage while the saw blade does its thing.
The big moment. You can use a hand saw or a circular saw here. Use the cut line as a guide and keep the saw steady to ensure a clean straight edge.
Use fine-grit paper to lightly sand off any rough patches on the cut edge. A hand sander will obviously make this job quicker and easier but try to be gentle and restrained, or you may wind up losing more height on the door.
Obviously, what you do here will depend on the door’s appearance. You may need to make some additional minor adjustments, such as repainting the bottom of the door. Ensure they are completely dry before you re-hang them. This will benefit your door and your carpet.
Rehanging an internal door is a simple task with two people. Take the door and very carefully fit the hinge side of the door into the frame. Have one person hold the door in place, while the other person hammers in the hinges. Begin with the top hinge, then move to the bottom and middle hinge. This will keep the weight of the door from bending the hinges.
Trimming hollow core doors is possible, but not always easy. It can take a seasoned DIYer, particularly if you’re trying to lose a lot of width or height, and it can be intimidating if you don’t have the right tools.
Hopefully, this post will have helped you trim internal doors on your own!
Interested in learning more about internal doors? We have a wealth of knowledge on our site. Check out some of our favourite informational articles here:
Aspire Doors offers a wide variety of internal and external doors. From stylish external bifold doors to simple single internal doors, we have something to suit all needs. Browse our selection and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.