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.

Can you trim doors more than recommended?

External doors can be trimmed dependent again on manufacturer recommendations. XL Joinery external doors can be trimmed by up to 10mm on each side whereas LPD external doors can only be trimmed by 3mm on each side.

How much can you trim off a solid wood door?





Any more and just whip the botttom off take the frame out of the offcut and glue it back in, in terms of solid doors just take a look at the top of the door, better quality should have around 18-22mm lipping as long as you leave 5mm of the lipping on either side you will be fine, top and bottom of a solid dowelled door …

How much can you trim the width of a door?

To determine the door size, subtract ¼ inch from the width and height of the door opening. Measure the door to see if it needs trimming. If the amount to be trimmed is less than ⅛ inch, plane it down.

Can you trim the length of a door?

Trimming the length of an exterior door is not difficult, but you must take care not to accidentally split the edges or splinter the wood. For cuts greater than 3/16 inch, use a circular saw equipped with a blade for fine woodworking.

How do you fix a door that has been cut too short?

To fix the bottom or side of a hollow core door that is cut too short, you need to:

  1. Clear out the excess cardboard and glue within the opening.
  2. Cut a new door block out of MDF or wood.
  3. Glue & clamp the new door block into the opening.
  4. Caulk any gaps and paint the new block.





Can you trim a solid wood door?

Exterior wooden doors can have a core of either chipboard or solid wood with veneer on both sides, or they can have solid multiple panels inside a solid wood frame. Either way, they have a perimeter that can be cut down on either side or on the ends.

Can you cut 2 inches off a door?

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.

How much can you trim an exterior door?

Manufacturers typically allow wood doors to be trimmed by 1⁄2 in. at the top and 1-1⁄2 in. at the bottom. You can cut more away from the bottom without hitting one of the dowels that hold the door together.

What do you do if your door is too wide?



If a door is just a little bit too wide, remove the hinges and trim the hinge-side stile only. But if you have to trim off both sides, you’ll have to reposition the latching hardware. Remember to leave a 1/8-inch gap at the top and each side of the door, and a 1/4-inch gap at the bottom.

How do you make a door smaller?

Can You Make a Door Frame Smaller?

  1. Using a pry bar, remove the door casing and the top door jamb.
  2. Using a hammer and wood block, remove the shims from behind the jamb.
  3. Use furring pieces to pad out the gap. …
  4. Using a drill with a ¼-inch drill bit, screw the furring onto the frame.

How do you shorten a door?


Quote from Youtube video: I do this by laying the saw on the top side of the door with the blade hanging down. And I adjust the depth until the blade extends about a quarter-inch past the underside to prep.

How much can you sand off the bottom of a door?



If you have a hollow door you can’t saw too much off the bottom. These doors are no more than a wooden frame with two hardboard sheets over it, and can’t be shortened by more than about 1 cm. If you have an MDF or laminated door you can remove slightly more than that.

Can you sand down a door to fit?

To sand the bottom of a door without removing it, put the sandpaper on the floor, grit side up, and pull the door back and forth across it. Planing is usually the last resort, since it will mean touching up the planed area with a sealer or finish to match the door. A rasp-type plane will often do the best job.

How do you shave the bottom of a door without removing it?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: We need to use a clamp which is a quick release clamp. And we need to use a square. And they work together because there's a slot in. It. If we use the two together which slide this one in first.

Can you trim the bottom of a door?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: That so the first thing we're going to need here is a skill saw we want to set the depth of the blade. So that it just goes through the thickness of the door.

What gap should be under a door?



The gap at the bottom of an interior door should be 2 inches from an unfinished floor. Over a finished floor, the gap should be between ¾ to ½ of an inch, depending on the type of floor you have. The gap at the bottom of an exterior door should be almost nonexistent.