How much can you realistically trim off a door?

JadeHighland

I'm looking to replace my living room door, which currently measures 193.5cm x 75.5cm. I’ve found a pre-finished glazed door I really like (linked below), but the height is 1981mm, which means I’d need to trim about 5cm off the bottom to make it fit.

Link to door:
LPD Internal Carini Clear Glazed Long Light Pre-Finished Oak Door – 762 x 1981mm

From what I’ve read, that sounds like it might be too much to trim, especially since it’s pre-finished and has a glazed panel. Has anyone successfully trimmed this much off a similar door without damaging it or voiding the warranty?

If not, what alternative solutions would you recommend? (e.g., different suppliers, custom sizing, or modifications to the frame, etc.)

teaselMay

https://www.expressdoorsdirect.co.uk/internal-doors/glazed-internal-doors/oak-carini-long-light-prefinished-internal-doors/762x1981x35mm-30-oak-carini-long-light-prefinished-internal-doors

Same door says up to 8mm, I think from top and bottom so 16mm but not enough

grumpy_codger

Don't take my word for it, but I think for a hollow door the 'frame' is normally made from timber with about square cross-section, i.e. you can safely trim up to about half of the door thickness. Your door 35mm, but  'solid core'. Without knowing what this actually means even trimming 25mm (both top and the bottom), IMO can be risky.

teaselMay

It's got "20mm thick solid timber lippings on its edges" and so taking 25mm off will lose an important bit of the structure

flashg67

I have once overtrimmed a framed door and re-inserted the frame piece back in and it looked ok. Ideally do top and bottom evenly or it might look odd

stuart45

JadeHighland said:

I'm looking to replace my living room door, which currently measures 193.5cm x 75.5cm. I’ve found a pre-finished glazed door I really like (linked below), but the height is 1981mm, which means I’d need to trim about 5cm off the bottom to make it fit.

Link to door:
LPD Internal Carini Clear Glazed Long Light Pre-Finished Oak Door – 762 x 1981mm

From what I’ve read, that sounds like it might be too much to trim, especially since it’s pre-finished and has a glazed panel. Has anyone successfully trimmed this much off a similar door without damaging it or voiding the warranty?

If not, what alternative solutions would you recommend? (e.g., different suppliers, custom sizing, or modifications to the frame, etc.)

It will void the warranty, as you would be removing more than the recommended amount and exposing the core to moisture.
I've known plenty of chippies who've cut down solid core doors down though.
Some of them cut off the lipping first and glue it back later. Others just seal the core, as you would with a sink cut out in a worktop.
Custom built door would be expensive. Modifying the frame would be too, as you'd probably have to raise the lintel.

Bigphil1474

OP, unless it says they can be trimmed by the 46mm required, I wouldn't be buying them. You could always ring LPD as they say they are trimmable, just not by how much.

stuart45

It says trimmable up to 8mm on the link put on by teaselMay. The long edges are more important for fixing hinges etc. The top and bottom are more for stopping moisture getting to the core. 

HHarry

I’d happily trim that down. One word od warning is that it’ll leave the edge of the oak veneer exposed on the cut edges which may make it susceptible to chipping.

JadeHighland

HHarry said:

I’d happily trim that down. One word od warning is that it’ll leave the edge of the oak veneer exposed on the cut edges which may make it susceptible to chipping.

Thanks. Can I ask, are you a carpenter? I am thinking just to go for it but want to hear from someone who has overcut the bottom and tops before. 

stuart45

You can cut the lipping off the top and bottom accurately, cut another 25mm off top and bottom, and then glue the lippings back. 
Or, as it's not the sides which take the fixings, some carpenters would just seal the ends.