New Doors – Existing Liners Too Small

paperclap

Hi all,

So we were about to order some new solid core doors. But prior to ordering, thought I would double-check the internal measurements of our existing door liners. And guess what, they are 1960mm.

Solid core doors are 1981mm, usually with a maximum total trim amount of 10mm... taking the height of the door down to 1971mm.

Unless I'm missing something, we can't have solid core doors.

We've solid brick walls, so not an easy case of removing the existing liner and replacing, moving stud work, etc. We would need to mess with the lintel. Don't fancy doing that, especially at this stage of our renovation!

This means we'll need to get solid doors.

We had planned to get cottage doors in white. Feels almost criminal to paint a solid door!

Anyone had experience with solid pine or oak doors? Any suggestions on good places to look at and get solid doors?

Thanks!

Norman_Castle

From experience of needing an odd size Selco had doors in sizes other than those normally available.

fenwick458

it's 10mm max from each side. so you will probably be ok.
if you read the reviews for the doors you're looking at, it might say in there how much you can take off. some of them may say 5mm in the specs but people will often comment you can take off much more

EssexExile

What happens if you take too much off? I've not used solid core doors so I don't know what's inside but if it is solid then why does it matter if you take too much off the height? No one is going to see the top or bottom.

travis-powers

Take 20mm off the bottom, I never cut the top of a door unless frame is out of square, you’ll probably will expose core but it’s not seen.

paperclap

Thanks EssexExile and travis-powers.

The "cores" of solid core doors are usually fibreboard, or the like. The wood veneer is glued over the top. That wood veneer is usually thin, hence the restriction of trim amounts. If you trim too much, you'll reveal the core. In turn, leaving the door to have moisture ingress over time.

I'd rather trim an even amount off the top and bottom (rather than just one), as then the pattern / profiling remains centred to the door, rather than offset.

scottishblondie

We had some doors in our house that had been overtrimmed on the sides and the core was exposed. We bought some matching veneer and glued it on to repair them. 

rob7475

The wood at the bottom of the door will probably be around 25mm so you'll be OK to trim 20mm off. If you need to, you can remove some of the "core" and replace with a length of wood to give the door it's strength back.

paperclap

Think I've found a good solution...

https://www.ukoakdoors.co.uk/mexicana-ely-internal-oak-door

These solid core doors have larger (than most) lippings, so they can be trimmed by up to 36mm in height. 18mm at the top, 18mm at the bottom.

EssexExile

That door says 16mm can be taken off each end so it should be fine but, as I said earlier, it doesn't really matter, no one looks at the ends. Just remember that if you take too much off one end the ratio of top and bottom rails will look odd.

paperclap

EssexExile said:

That door says 16mm can be taken off each end so it should be fine but, as I said earlier, it doesn't really matter, no one looks at the ends. Just remember that if you take too much off one end the ratio of top and bottom rails will look odd.

Nobody looks at the ends, but you certainly can’t leave the ends “open”… as moisture will surely creep in?