Need a LARGE door, what's the best idea?

superstylin

Hi All

I don't have the measurements to hand, but we have a large door to replace in a new flat. It's essentially floor to ceiling height. It was a door to the cupboard where the hot water tank was but now the tank has been removed and the washer dryer will be put in there. We'd like to utilise the full height of the cupboard for storage so; what to do? I don't really want to pay lots for a mahoosiv door, will a large slab of mdf do??

Razor

If you go to Howdens or similar you can get a door blank, these are 8'x4' (2400x1200) and you cut them to size, very heavy though!!

SatanicHare

Beat me to it was about suggest the same

andrew-b

If you use MDF it will need to be thick enough for it not to flex...but thicker will be much heavier. You've also got the problem of finding suitable hinges. Or you could build a framework for the door and nail/glue thinner mdf toone side. Could you use a plain wardrobe door..if you can find one big enough? Or even just a piece of laminated furniture board (contiboard) - though i think that may look a bit cheap and nasty.

Andy

tanith

I'd split it in two and make two doors... that way it won't be so heavy .

EDIT: should of said I meant a top and bottom door.. not like a louvre split lengthwise..

angelavdavis

You can also use multiple doors and joined them using door joiners such as these. I have done this for a very tall storage cupboard we have built in the utility room. We actually used BandQ gloss doors which we picked up on offer to make up the taller cupboard height which totals 8 ft high.

We also added an extra hinge so there was more than enough support - as has been mentioned, the doors are heavy.

superstylin

Cheers for your replies!

I wasn't aware you could get such a thing as a door 'blank' so I might go have a look at those and find out their weight. It did previously have a door but it was quite light weight so maybe the frame building and adding a thin layer of mdf is the way to go like Andrew said.

One question though Andrew, what's contiboard??

The door split vertically is a possibility too (I think I'd prefer vertical split, especially since the door will open out into a tiny hallway and might obscure the bathroom door) this way I suppose hinges could be added to each side which lessens the possibility of doors being too heavy

hmmmm food for thought

superstylin

superstylin wrote: »

The door split vertically is a possibility too (I think I'd prefer vertical split, especially since the door will open out into a tiny hallway and might obscure the bathroom door) this way I suppose hinges could be added to each side which lessens the possibility of doors being too heavy

hmmm or maybe it could be made into a bi-folding door or do they need runners?

ormus

two thin doors is prob the best way to do it esp if in a small hallway.
contiboard is the laminate finished board you can buy to make shelving etc..
if its just a thin cupboard door it doesnt have to be that thick. and put at least 3 or 4 hinges on per side.
we have an under stairs cupboard door and its very thin wood.

andrew-b

superstylin wrote: »

hmmm or maybe it could be made into a bi-folding door or do they need runners?

Bi-fold door would need a runner at the top to guide the outer edge of the opening side of the door - with hinges between the two door sections and hinges to the door frame. Though not a huge problem would be more work if you have to build it yourself with the extra hinges.

Does this door really have to go right to the ceiling or could you do the standard airing cupboard type of thing and have one standard-sized door at the bottom and a small door for a seperate storage cupboard at the top which could be mdf/plywood/hardboard faced (whichever works out cheapest)?

Or the really cheap and easy way...you could just not have a door and cover the door opening with a curtain.

Andy

Burp_2

oops misspost!