How do I cut the length of a solid wood exterior door? Do I just cut it straight across the bottom?

Question

I'm just wanting to trim some off the bottom to allow clearance for new ceramic tile.

Answer 1

Yes, use a circular saw or a table saw.

Answer 2

No.  You need to match up the hinges on the door and match up where the lockset meets the strike place(Opposite of Hinge Side).  It may be the case that you will have to take a little off of the top and the bottom.  good luck.

Answer 3

Lots of helpful answers so far, heheheh

Ok.... one problem here with trimming your door -- ENTRY doors have a THRESHHOLD.  If you cut the door itself, you're going to end up with a GAP between the door and threshhold hehehehe.

If this were an interior door, then yes, you could just cut right across the bottom, and a circular saw would be the easiest tool to do that with, but a variety of saws would work.

If this is a typical pre-hung door assembly, you can remove all the trim, locate the screws holding it to the wall, and remove those.  This may include the center screws in the hinges, the screws holding a door closer in place, and on the exterior, the screws thru the casing into the wall studs.  When it was installed it should have been caulked in place, so expect some resistance, but if it absolutely will not budge... look for more screws, hehehe.

To shim the door assembly up, I would start with a piece of tile backer, or plywood, to get an even support across the threshhold.  If youre using plywood I would suggest sealing it, or painting it first, to help protect it against moisture damage.

The door would be re-hung just as if it were a new install, using a level to plumb and square it up, with shims at the appropriate locations (corners, hinges, behind lockplate, etc).

Do a 'dry fit' check first to see that the door sits square and plumb in the opening, and swings/shuts properly.  THEN caulk behind the exterior casing with a good silicone caulk, and secure the door assembly in place.  Trim it out, and you're done.

Again.. because this is an entry/exterior door, you cannot just cut the bottom of the door off, hehehe, you have to maintain the weather seal between the door and the threshhold.

If youve the patience and like doing things yourself, most folks can do this type of DIY project.  I could rehang an entry door in about an hour, by myself, from start to finish.  Call in a carpenter if you don't want to mess with it yourself.

Now... if this is an OLD door, that is not a 'pre-hung' assembly, chances are, your threshhold runs BETWEEN the door jambs, and not UNDER them (as on a prehung).  IF THIS IS THE CASE, then yes, you can trim the door itself off, and raise the threshhold.  These old style threshholds usually have some screws/nails thru the face, sometimes underneath a gasket/weather seal.  Remove those, and again use a piece of cement board, or plywood, to raise the threshhold, recaulk it, and resecure it.

Have Fun

Answer 4

It would be nice to know why you want to do this, is it because you have carpet in the hall way?  If so just change the hinges to rising butt hinges(sounds a bit rude doesnt it}?

                                   As it's an exterior door dont forget the weather strip at the bottom of the door.

                                      Now I am no expert, but I can hadle a circular saw and I could do that simple job.

                                         There is no way I would attempt to change my present door for a different one.

                                            If that is what you are doing, I suggest you dont even try, get a carpenter in.

Answer 5

go to www.diy.com

Answer 6

I might suggest to use some tape along your cut line to help prevent splinters from chipping off the face of the door.

Answer 7

If it's an existing door and you need to make extra room for flooring, you cut a strip off the bottom of the door. Then the k**b and hinges will still line up they way they need to. You can rent either a circular saw (can be heavy and awkward) or a power planer, depending on how much wood you need to remove. The planer will take off about 1/8 to 3/16 inches at a time, and you can make several passes. Whichever one you use, slow down when you get to the far end, or stop short of the end and finish the cut by going in the opposite direction to prevent splintering when you finish the cut. If you use the saw, either draw a pencil line with a straight-edge or place a strip of tape to guide you in a straight line.

If it's a new door and it hasn't yet had a k**b or hinges, you can cut a strip off the bottom or the top or both.

Lorenzo's suggestion to clamp a 2x4 to the door as a guide is excellent.

Answer 8

You can usually cut straight across the bottom. Before you do don't cut to much off, because you can't put it back. It's better to cut twice than cut to much off. Also make sure if there is an angle to help it seal to the threshold cut it at that same angle. Use a fine cut circular saw blade to help to keep it from splintering. If you cut it close and a little more needs to come off you may need to use a belt sander to finish it off. If you should accidentally cut to much off then you can buy a taller threshold. Be careful and good luck.

Answer 9

first off, do you want to cut the length of the door, which is actually the width, from top to bottom, or do you really want to cut the bottom off because it is too long? Let's make sure we're tlaking on the same terms before you start cutting.

If the door is too long, and it is an interior door, chances are good that even a hollow core door has a panel about 12" high which runs along the bottom. If want to cut this, measure carefully on both edges and place a piece of 2X4 on your line, and clamp both ends of the wood onto the door with C clamps. Slowly, with a circular saw cut on your line. You might have to take a rasp or wood file afterward and clean the edges. Now if you want to cut the length side because the door is too wide, you have two choices, but neither is simple. You can put another 2X4 along either edge of the door, clamp it and follow the line, but you are going to have to cut in another lock set, if you use the leading edge of the door, or chisel out for the hinge places, if you cut off the back of the door. The only thing in common will be that there is a 2X4 running along each edge instead of a 2X12 as across the bottom. If you don't need to take much off, say less than a 1/2", I consider getting a hand planner instead and just taking it off that way.