Interior Doors Changeover Project

By
©1993-2012 Tim Carter

        
Summary: Installing interior doors can be a great job for the DIY'r. Interior door changes from hollow core to solid is simpler now. Interior door manufacturers have door styles that will allow you to match any home. Follow my tips for a flawless project.

Related Articles: pre-hung doors, door manufacturers, installation tips

DEAR TIM: My house was constructed in the early 1960's. The interior is quite plain looking. All of the interior doors are smooth hollow core painted slabs. I was thinking of installing new decorative paneled pre hung doors. However, I hesitate to do this because the frames and door trim are in excellent condition. My doors fit perfectly in each frame. Is there an easy way to simply change out each door? How would you do it? S. T.

DEAR S. T.: Talk about an excellent indoor project for a serious do-it-yourselfer, this is it! The simple process of changing out interior doors can make a dramatic difference on the inside appearance of your home. Many of my past clients were delighted with the look and feel of their new doors.

During the past five years, interior door manufacturers have expanded the styles and options of interior doors. Numerous styles are available that allow you to match virtually any architectural style or time period. Many of the doors can be purchased as solid or hollow core units. Some home center stores have specialized door machines that will actually machine a new door of any style to match your existing doors. If you can locate such a machine, you can change all of your doors in less than a day!

If not, you will need a router, drill, hole saw, spade bit, wood chisel, and various screwdrivers in order to tackle this project. The hard work has already been done by the carpenter or mill that hung your original doors. You simply need to create hinge mortises (recessed slots) and door knob holes in precise locations on the new door. To accomplish this, you are going to use the old door as a template.

Using a pencil, write lightly on each new door its intended location. Now, go through the house and do the same thing on the existing doors. While you are at each existing door, write in bold letters the word TOP on each side of the door. Don't guess where doors go or came from, you will get confused!

Remove an existing door from its frame. Strip the door of its hinges, doorknob, and latch. Stand this door on edge with the old hinge locations pointing up. Slide the new replacement door next to the old door being careful that the top of both doors are pointing in the same direction and flush with one another! Using a square and a sharp pencil, transfer the old hinge locations onto the edge of the new door. Use the hinge to create the shape of the mortise. Adjust the router depth and get to work.

After the hinges are complete, recreate the door knob holes using the same transfer process. However, if you intend to purchase new decorative door knobs let me share a secret. Consider purchasing knobs that have a two and three-quarter inch back set. This is three-eighths of an inch larger than most standard knobs. Your knuckles are less likely to rub against the door frame with this measurement.



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Comments:

Welcome! I, Tim Carter, don't answer questions here. If you post a question here in the Comments Area, perhaps another visitor will help you. You need to go to the Ask Tim page if you want a question answered. Once there, look closely at how many weeks behind we are. Please be patient as you use this free service. If you have an emergency and need to talk to me, there is an option there for you.
margo
24 Mar 2008, 18:44
I am replacing my interior doors (which is going slow but O.K) and I bought the lever type handles. I love the look of them and ease of opening even with an albow! but I'm dissapointed with how far down you have to push the handle down/up on the locking side especially - it has to be almost vertical in order for the doors to open quietly. On the side without the lock the handle does not have to be pushed down quite as far. Is it common to all lever handles or did I just select not the best type of make/brand?
AsktheBuilder
24 Mar 2008, 18:45
Margo,
That is pretty normal.
Michael
06 Jul 2008, 11:15
In this article of "Interior Doors Changeover" you state: "Some home center stores have specialized door machines that will actually machine a new door of any style to match your existing doors. If you can locate such a machine, you can change all of your doors in less than a day!" What a great timesaver! How do I find such a machine/place? I haven't a clue where to look--my old standbys Home Depot and Lowe's don't have them. Thanks.
Patrick
29 Aug 2008, 20:31
Any luck finding that door machine. I am very interested myself in finding someone with this device,
leah tsao
01 Oct 2008, 15:26
If you live in the San Diego area, then Dixieline lumber will cut a slab door for you for $60/door.
Kirk
19 Feb 2009, 23:38
Is it possible to stain hollow core doors and come out with a honey/medium oak wood, to include grain appearance? I've been told that with the use of gel stain it can be done, yes or no?
Roy Baker
17 Jul 2009, 09:51
I looking at replacing my hollow core interior doors. Currently all my doors and windows are trimmed out in white. molding, baseborads etc.

My question is if I replace my doors should I stay with white or can I stain them instead? Is there some sort of standard?

Thanks
Roy Baker
Patricia Gerhardt
15 Jun 2010, 19:44
After purchasing a new door knob, we discovered that they are to large for the hole in the door. The hardware departments have "hole makers" for doors that do not have any hole, but what do we do when we just want to increase the size of the hole? The center is an empty space, so we can't put something there to center the bit.
Pat Higgins
24 Jul 2010, 12:40
Hi -
I have the IDENTICAL problem as Patricia's above. I'm trying to change my mom's house over to levers and after purchasing a new door knob, I discovered that it's too large for the hole in the door. I have an electric drill along with the "kit" to fdrill a hole in a door -- bu -- I think that's for a new hole. Any idea how to use it to make a smaller hole larger? Thanks
interior doors
10 Aug 2010, 20:13
Doors can create just as much of an impression as an expensive piece of furniture. They are touched and seen close up every day, so don't just go for the cheapest replacements - try to match the style to the rest of your home's features as much as possible.

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