How big is two inches anyway?

SugarShane88

Before you ask, no I do not have the wrong sub forum.

I'm in the market for an interior door, which I have measured in at approximately 30 x 78. I have checked Woodies and the door that I want - the cheapest one available - is two inches wider than my current door. It is 32 x 80, so it also two inches longer.

Is this going to matter when it comes time to hanging the thing?

Thanks.

chillywilly

It's all about the motion in the ocean.

Cogsy88

Just cut an inch off either side and the same for top an bottom

longhalloween

SugarShane88 wrote: »

Before you ask, no I do not have the wrong sub forum.

I'm in the market for an interior door, which I have measured in at approximately 30 x 78. I have checked Woodies and the door that I want - the cheapest one available - is two inches wider than my current door. It is 32 x 80, so it also two inches longer.

Is this going to matter when it comes time to hanging the thing?

Thanks.

Try Homebase. Their doors are 2 inches narrower than standard so they should fit your door

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Browse?storeId=10151&langId=110&c_1=1%7Ccategory_root%7CDIY%2C+Tools+and+Hardware%7C16849207&c_2=2%7Ccat_16849207%7CDoors+and+Door+furniture%7C14418922&c_3=3%7Ccat_14418922%7CInternal+Doors%7C15802352

1981 x 762mm is 30 x 78 inches.

Job done.

SugarShane88

Cogsy88 wrote: »

Just cut an inch off either side and the same for top an bottom

I'm not a builder so I have no idea how this is done.

I am also not English, or a resident of England so Homebase is no good. It needs to be Irish.

chris445

2 inches is quite a bit to be taking off a door. When hanging it you will have to rip a little less than an inch off either side and then plane it down to a nice finish. You may also come into problems when fitting the lock if there is glass in the door. Most factory made doors with glass will have 4 inch stiles and when your drilling out for the lock you will come fairly close to the glass with the tip of your auger/spade bit. If you reduce the stile down to 3 inches you're very likely to come through to the glass cutout and crack the glass. Did you ask in woodies if the door is available in 30x78. It is a very common size. Alternatively check the local builders providers. You may pick up a better door for the same price there.

longhalloween

SugarShane88 wrote: »

I'm not a builder so I have no idea how this is done.

I am also not English, or a resident of England so Homebase is no good. It needs to be Irish.

Plenty of Homebases in Ireland. There's 4 in Dublin.

KK4SAM

You'll not have enough meat if you cut an inch of either side from a budget door.
Best to go with the correct size as Longhalloween said.

Is it an en suit or bathroom ?

Boston Collection in Brooks have that size.

SugarShane88

longhalloween wrote: »

Plenty of Homebases in Ireland.

I think this sums up how much of a non-DIY person I am.

Thanks to man above who suggested checking out builders providers though, I have come across the ideal length and width for just two quid more expensive - http://www.goodwins.ie/p-1070-regency-6-panel-door-78x30-inch-smooth-.aspx

I'd have never thought to check a builders providers really.

Thanks all.

SugarShane88

Incidentally, what size chisel is recommended for carving out the necessary parts of the door for hinges and the lock and whatnot?

jameshayes

SugarShane88 wrote: »

Incidentally, what size chisel is recommended for carving out the necessary parts of the door for hinges and the lock and whatnot?

this is a really delicate job, one slip with a drill and you'll need a new door. I'd ask a chippy to do it for you, wouldn't be more than an hours work.

jack of all

jameshayes wrote: »

this is a really delicate job, one slip with a drill and you'll need a new door. I'd ask a chippy to do it for you, wouldn't be more than an hours work.

+1

Door hanging is a skill that's best left to a carpenter or a very competent handyman/ DIYer. Skill aside you need the proper tools for the job- auger bit(s), drill/ driver, square, marking gauge, sharp chisels, rip saw and smoothing plane. I've seen plenty of badly fitted doors- hinges badly located or sunk, locks placed badly and weakening the door stile, inadequate or too much clearance at the bottom rail or worse yet hinge-bound.

SugarShane88

I realise it is a skill, but exactly how should anyone expect to become mildly competent at DIY-related stuff if they palm the problem off to a professional every time something needs doing?

This may be a viable option if I was a 79-year-old, who would find the physical aspect of such a job quite demanding, but he's also not going to need to learn because how many more times will he need to know how to perform the hanging of a door at his age? Very few, but I'm 25 so the chances are I will be alive long enough to need to do this again at some stage, and I refuse to go running to a professional every time I do.

Besides, it would potentially be more expensive for me to hire a carpenter than it would be to buy another new door at €40 quid a pop if I manage to f*ck up the initial replacement.

jack of all

I didn't mean to dampen your enthusiasm OP, I'm an avid DIYer myself! It all depends on your attitude and confidence- if you are a competent DIYer and enjoy a challenge- go for it! But there are certain fine details you may not read about in a book or find in an online tutorial in any detail- how to set hinges properly (otherwise door may be hinge-bound), how to plane leading edge (with the slightest bevel) so that door won't catch etc etc. Nothing that can't be learned but best not to try it out on an expensive door for the first time.

All that said I'd be the last to get a pro in to do a job if I thought I could tackle it myself and do a good a job. I've done plenty of domestic plumbing repairs for example, but I had the benefit of watching professional plumbers (good and bloody awful) in the past and I was motivated by the fact that it was a skill that would be called upon again and again in the maintenance and upkeep of my home over the years.

hesker

OP give it a go. I've hung plenty of doors and never had to re-hang one yet. Think things through carefully, double-check every step and then check again before doing any cutting.

SugarShane88

Thanks lads.

I've ordered the right size door anyways. I got it from a different place than the website I linked because they charged €40 quid delivery, so f*ck that.

I'll upload pictures regardless how it pans out.

SugarShane88

I have got the door hung but I am encountering issues with drilling when it comes to installing the lock.

The bloke who does the 'How To' videos on the Woodies website suggested a 16mm bit, so I bought that but it does not penetrate the wood when I drill in. Instead, I have used one of the skinnier bits that came with the drill - a €30 piece of sh*t - but, although that gets through the wood, I would have to spend half the day drilling a space big enough for a mortice lock.

Despite the drill being cheap, it appears to be the same model that the bloke in the videos is using so I must be overlooking something quite simple, maybe there is a setting on the drill that increases power?

Any ideas?

5T3PH3N

Are you sure it's a wood bit, not a masonry or steel bit?

Cogsy88

I think an auger bit is what your looking for.

SugarShane88

This is a f*cking disaster.

I didn't know there was a difference in the 'bits' so I just punted for any 16mm part. However, I made do with a chisel and managed to fit the lock inside the door, only to realise that the handles I purchased are missing the little bar which connects both handles, which is a disgrace in my view. It's like buying a hamburger only to find there's no meat between the buns.

Anyway, the door doesn't close anyway so maybe I did not hang it right. Back to the drawing board I think, but it's experience, right?

Cogsy88

The frame might not be square. Did u only measure d width and height at one point? Keep at it and don't let the door beat ya.

SugarShane88

The door won the battle but it.......actually it most probably will in the war. I'm out of my depth here. I have lived quite a sheltered existence thus far to the point where drills and auger bits were a far cry from what I am familiar with.

I was half tempted to leave it as it is and accept having a door which does not close, but it's unacceptable so I removed it from its hinges and going back for round two soon.

hesker

SugarShane88 wrote: »

going back for round two soon.

That's the spirit!

Keep a cool head and you'll be grand.

SugarShane88

That ship has sailed, I'm afraid. I've lost my temper enough times for one day. I don't know if my frustration stems from not being able to do it properly or the realisation that I'm a woman in a man's body, incapable of performing masculine tasks.

Round five tomorrow.

wildefalcon

Deep breath, relax. Sleep on it.

The first time you do it it will probably be rubbish and take forever, but you get better. Applies to most things, driving, using a digger, posting on Boards.ie.

Don't give in, don't get angry and don't be afraid to walk away and think about something else - this allows the subconscious mind to get into gear and it will solve the problem while your main brain is freewheeling.

Tomorrow, post up what exactly is wrong and we'll all chip in (sorry) and give you as much conflicting advice as we can!

chris445

Stick with it OP. To be honest you picked a fairly difficult job for starting out with but you will get there. Just a few quick questions. You say the door isn't closing. Why is this? Close the door over slowly and look for a reason why it won't close. Is it hitting the frame on the handle side of the door? If this is the case it might need to be planed to get a snug fit. Is it hitting the doorstop in the hinge side? This means your hinges are in too close to the doorstop and need to be unscrewed and moved out. Is it closing and springing open again? The door is hingebound because the hinges have been sunk too deep. The hinges should finish flush with the door and frame. Packers made from thin cardboard(cereal box) are your friend for packing the hinge out.

As for there being no spindle with the handle. Check with the suppliers. Maybe someone took it out of the packaging in the shop before you bought it.

SugarShane88

7th round knockout - View My Video

It's upside down, but it opens and shuts normally so f*ck it. I'm really quite pleased with myself.

Well done all. We've gotten there in the end. It's been emotional, lads.

Carpenter

I would just like to say thank you reading this was great ( Fair play) Jesus what a laugh
So how much has it cost you up to now ?? for the upside down door.

SugarShane88

I couldn't give you an exact figure, but for everything; the drill, door - including delivery - drill-bit, screws, handles and chisel, I'd say it's in the region of €110 quid.

The feeling of being a man - priceless.

Carpenter

Pure class

mervifwdc

Fair play!

I hung one of our doors (6 panel pine) upside down as well, and left it that way. In 15 years 2 of our friends/family have spotted it. Bit of a standing joke at this stage.

Merv.