Planning Bottom Edge of Internal Doors

soundslive

Ive just had new carpets fitted and a few of my internal doors are rubbing on the carpet. Is planning the bottom of these the best way to solve this, if so is there a right and a wrong way to go about it? thanks

evoke

1. Scribe a line showing how much needs to be removed and take the door off;

2. Secure the door on one of its long edges;

3. Plane the bottom edge of the door slightly (you won't be able to get to the very end of the edge);

4. Flip the door over and secure it again on the opposite long edge;

5. Plane the remaining bottom edge;

6. Hang door again.

Be careful not to plane off too much! It's best to have someone help you do this. You will generate a LOT of mess so do this outside if you can or cover everything in the room with dust sheets.

It really isn't worth trying to do this in-situ. It'll end in tears if you do. If you do plane off too much then you can get a draught-excluder brush strip that you can screw to the bottom of the door.

If your doors are fire-check doors then they are going to be extremely heavy and you will need two strong people.

PasturesNew

If it's not much, just sticks a bit, then leave the door on ... get lots of rough sandpaper and stand there opening and closing the door repeatedly.

You might like to think also about how to protect the carpet area and gather the dust as you're doing it.... e.g. sturdy plastic sheeting

soundslive

Thanks all, i had heard about the sandpaper under the door idea but think these are a bit more involved than that... delicate planning it is then, thanks evoke

cyclonebri1

Post from evoke, just about says it all really. And as he says, don't try to plan indoors, even if bedroom doors.

Just to add, don't forget to take a 45deg chamfer x 3mm off all 4 edges of the bottom of the door to prevent any chance of snagging.

DaftyDuck

Only thing I'd add to evoke (and that's 'cos i'm a bleeding amateur and can't get things right first time - ever)...

I use a thin sheet of ply (3mm I think) on the carpet to scribe my line, and I do it for the door closed, half and fully open, just to be sure it clears the lot.

Also, note the wood grain. If planing, plane from edge to centre so's to not split the wood on the edges. I'm sure a good plane, and good craftsman can get it right without sanding smooth as well. I have a cheap plane, and no skill, so always sand smooth as well.

keystone

If its more than about 0.25 inch to come off then trim with a circular saw (pref 40 tooth or higher blade in preference to the standard 24 they come with) using a piece of timber clamped to the door as a fence and with the door horizontal. With a 40 tooth blade a light sand is all thats needed to finish. A single door should take max 10/15 minutes including removal and rehanging.

Alternatively just fit rising butts. Its what they were designed for.

Cheers

cyclonebri1

keystone wrote: »

Alternatively just fit rising butts. Its what they were designed for.

Cheers

I could get along with those things if they didn't act as automatic door closers:D

evoke

I had this work done to all the doors in my previous home. It was part of the snagging as it was a new-build flat. The carpenter did it indoors. Never again!!! Sawdust goes everywhere and it will actually stick to your walls and virtually any surface it comes into contact with.

Take the doors outside to get them planed! Clean them outside before you bring them back in.

A.Penny.Saved

This Weekend, Sunday especially, might be the ideal time to do it because it is meant to be fairly warm and dry.

Gastines2

As a retired carpet fitter I think I can safely say the comment about rising butts is useless as they don't actually "rise" until the door is open about 18".Having fitted a carpet in a bathroom for a "Lady" and advising that I needed to ease the door,I used to get £2.50 per door,Saw through butt and plane centre,she wouldn't let me take door off as it might mark paintwork by hinges and said she would get her maid to sandpaper the tight bit 'orf'. Having driven back 30+miles to the store I was told by the manager that the irate lady had been on the phone saying I refused to ease the door and would I return to ease it. No apology from the 'Lady' but a grateful smile from the maid.One of only 2 complaints in 35 years. A decent carpet fitter would deal with doors,no problem,the extra earnings always useful.