I have a door that is 30" wide i need it to be 28" wide,can i take 2" off and how.?

Question

This is suppose to be a home improvement,but i want to do it cheap.

Answer 1

If it is a hollow core door YES, you can cut it down...

If you have the typical interior door, it is a hollow core... take your two inches off the hinge side.... guess the poster who said take an inch off of each side forgot about the knob hole thats most likely pre-existing. As for the ones telling you cant cut a hollow core door, YES YOU CAN. I recommend using a table saw, but you can do this with a circular saw.

Mark your cut, on the TOP side, if using a circular saw, and put some tape on the bottom face of the door, so it wont splinter out so badly, as the blade passes thru it. If you are using a table saw, go ahead and tape both faces.

Now....when you cut 2" off, youre not going to have any wood core left. Simple Fix.... a hollow core door has corrugated paper filling up the interior.... just run a utility knife along the inside edge of the door panel, as deep as it will go... then... cut a piece of lumber to fit between the panels, and about 2 inches deep. then you spread some glue, and insert the piece, and clamp it in place. Titebond is an excellent glue for this kind of project. Let it sit for 24 hours, and youre ready to hinge it. run a sander along the eges, just to break the edge, before putting the hinges on, and youre all set.

Have Fun!

Answer 2

1) If it is a modern hollow core door, you can't cut off the excess because there isn't enough frame inside the door.

2) If it is a solid wood door without any panels or design that show the door's center, use a circular saw to take 2" off the hinge side.

3) If there are panels you will have to either take an inch off each side; which will mess up how the doorknob is placed (then you will probably have to patch the current hole, flip the door, and drill a new one), or cut only the hinge side and live with the door being off-center.

Unless you have door #2, it would be easier to just buy a proper size door.

Answer 3

The hinge side needs to carry the weight of the door, so you can't slice off 2" on a hollow core door.

I'm doing this exact thing right now in a 1920s house. The trim was spaced out, so I have removed it and made different trim. Now I'm using a 29.5" wide door. I've removed the 1/2" from handle side.

Answer 4

look the answer is basically yes... if you are a professional. If you use a bowed or twisted board as a filler the door will never operate properly again. If the door is cut wavy it will sit wrong in the pocket and again it wont operate properly. There is no sawing back on a piece if you cut it wrong. Liquid Nails and Lock Tite construction glue "burns" or stains wood product that why it not used for but for first construction. Wood glue probably will not hold with that much use. So save your time and get a new door.Good Luck

Answer 5

It is more trouble than it is worth. You'll have to change the lock boring and router out for the hinges, those are the simple things. Your bevel on the latch side has to be right or the door won't close properly and of course all your cuts have to be straight so it looks decent. If this is a flat interior door you can by them at a hardware store ready to be installed for about $40 and have the thing working properly in a hour.
DON'T CUT IT!

Answer 6

Take an inch off each side but only if its a solid door. Best thing is to get the right size door & quit being so cheap.

Answer 7

HELLO I'M DEE ONE DO YOU HAVE TOOLS THERE'S NO REAL CHEAP WAY . TO SAVE MONEY IS TO TAKE 1 INCH OFF EACH SIDE OF THE DOOR FRONT AND BACK SIDES WITH A POWER SAW OR A PLAN

Answer 8

you need to check if there is enough is enough of a frame in the door to allow you to take that much off and i would take an inch off each side instead of offf one side can you take the 30 " one back?

Answer 9

Only if it's a solid wood door and not a hollow core one.

Answer 10

put a 2x4 wood stud on either side of the door and thats it.....it's ez