You can easily enhance your home’s appearance and functionality by replacing an interior door within an existing frame. It is great for upgrading your style or fixing a damaged door. To install an interior door in an existing frame, start by measuring the frame. Then, fit the new door, secure the hinges, install the locks, and hang the door in place.
Working with an existing frame makes the installation quicker and more affordable, making it perfect for DIY enthusiasts. With the right tools and precise measurements, the task becomes even simpler. By following each step in this guide, you’ll achieve a perfect fit and smooth operation.
| Project difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate Estimated time to complete: 2 to 3 hours Project cost: $411 |
I asked Alex Bolt, the owner of Friendly Neighborhood Handyman, how difficult it is to hang an interior door in an existing frame. He explained that the process can be quite simple, saying, “An existing doorway without removing the frame is as easy as just removing old hinges and replacing new ones.”
He added, “So easy a baby gnome could do it. If it’s removing all the trim and hanging a prehung, it just takes knowledge of a level and speed square to ensure the door isn’t twisted.” With the right tools and a careful approach, even a DIYer can tackle the job successfully.
Supplies Needed
Materials Needed
- New slab door
- Hinges
- Lockset
- Strike plate
- Screws
Tools Needed
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Hole saw bit
- Spade bit
- Self-centering bit
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Square
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Electric planer
Steps to Install a Slab Interior Door
Step 1: Remove the Old Door
Before measuring the frame, you need to remove the old door. Start by opening the door and securing it in place. Use a screwdriver or drill to remove the hinge pins, starting from the bottom hinge and working your way up.
Carefully lift the door off the hinges and set it aside. Next, remove any remaining hardware, such as the hinges and strike plate, from the frame. Check the frame for any damage or debris and make necessary repairs to ensure a smooth installation of the new door.
Related: How to Take a Door off its Hinges
Step 2: Measure the Frame
The next step in installing an interior door is to measure the frame opening. Use a measuring tape to check the height from the floor to the top of the frame and the width from side to side. Take measurements at multiple points and record the smallest ones to ensure a proper fit.
Then, measure the door thickness and leave a small gap at the bottom. When choosing a new door, select one that closely matches your measurements to avoid fitting issues.
| Pro Tip: “The rough open (space between the studs) isn’t the door size. A standard interior door rough-in would be 32×82. However, your door measurement would be 30×80 when purchasing.” – Alex Bolt |
Step 3: Fit the New Door
Place the new door into the frame opening to check its fit. If the door barely fits or feels tight, you may have trouble opening and closing it properly. In that case, you’ll need to trim it for a better fit.
For proper clearance, leave a 1/8-inch gap on both the hinge and latch (striker) sides. The top and bottom of the door should have a 5/16-inch gap. If you need to make adjustments, use an electric planer to carefully trim the sides and bottom of the door.
After trimming the door, place it back into the frame opening to check the fit again. The door should now fit properly without being too tight. If it opens and closes smoothly, you can move on to marking the hinge locations. Align the door with the old hinge placements, then use a pencil to mark where you will install the new hinges in the new door.
| Pro Tip: “Make sure you’re reasonable on your door material. Don’t put an MDF door in a bathroom due to swelling.” – Alex Bolt |
Step 4: Prepare the Door for Hinge Installation
Start by extending the hinge location marks across the door using a square and a pencil. Then, position the hinge between the two lines at the door’s edge and trace its outline with a pencil.
Next, determine how much material you need to remove for the hinge to sit flush. Set a 2mm depth on a square, place it against the edge of the door, and draw a guideline along the bottom of the square with a pencil.
Now, use a hammer and chisel to score the wood. First, make shallow cuts (about 2mm deep) along the perimeter of the hinge outline. Then, create additional cuts within the outline, following the hinge’s length.
Carefully remove the wood using the chisel. Apply light pressure with your thumb to guide the tool and carve away small amounts at a time. Check the hinge fit frequently to avoid over-removal. Repeat this process for the other hinge locations.
Step 5: Install the Hinge and the Door
Now, position the hinge in its designated spot on the door. Use a self-centering drill bit to create pilot holes for the screws, preventing them from shifting. After you drill the pilot holes, secure the hinge to the door with screws. Repeat this process for the remaining hinges.
Next, place the door back into the frame opening. Partially secure it by inserting one screw per hinge into the frame. This allows room for adjustments before fully securing the door. You may need to realign the hinges if the new screw holes don’t match the old ones or if the cutout requires slight modifications to fit the hinges properly.
If you need to make adjustments, make the necessary changes. Once everything is aligned correctly, insert all the screws to attach the door in place.
| Pro Tip: “Take your time measuring and squaring up the hinge side first. Put shims behind the hinges first. Keep your reveal even.” – Alex Bolt |
Read more: How to Hang a Door
Step 6: Install the Locks
To install the lockset, start by marking the placement of the handle and latch. If your door doesn’t have pre-drilled holes, use the template provided with your lockset to determine where to drill.
Use a drill with a hole saw bit to create the hole for the handle or lock mechanism. To prevent splintering, drill halfway from one side, then finish drilling from the other side. Next, use a spade bit to drill a hole into the door edge for the latch.
Insert the latch mechanism and trace the latch plate outline on the door edge with a pencil. Use a chisel and hammer to carve a shallow recess so the plate sits flush. Secure it in place with screws using a screwdriver.
Align the exterior and interior handles with the latch spindle, which is the rod that connects both handles through the latch mechanism, ensuring they fit properly. Insert and tighten the mounting screws. Finally, install the strike plate on the door frame, adjusting its position if needed for smooth lock operation. Test the handle and lock to ensure they function correctly.
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Read more articles:
- How to Hang a Prehung Exterior Door
- How to Hang an Exterior Door in an Existing Frame
- How to Hang a Prehung Interior Door
Main Photo Credit: Greg Barber / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
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