Replacing room doors

I have some doors I want to replace. How easy is this to do myself? Just basic doors.. nothing special. Are the sizes are cut to standard so I can just go bunnings and get the door, paint it and put it on the latches?

Are the holes for the knobs precut if I get it from bunnings? I don't have the tools to do it myself and do the holes appear at the same place on every door or is it something that i have measure?

 

Yea. Bunnings $30 ones are usually to size and holes cut. These are all a standard size, but the doorway might not be (eg building movement over time).

Paint with gloss paint. Screw to hinges, install handles.

 

Okay thanks. Thats great, will measure the door first.

If it doesn't fit, or the plate is not in line, can i get this cut at the right level at bunnings?

 

Thanks. Maybe i need to take the damn thing down to bunnings and ask.

 

Wear and tear over the years.

 

No, neither are the recesses for hinges, can look like crap if you don't get it right.
I've only seen this available when purchasing complete ready to go door and frame together, usually used for new builds/additions etc.

I do the odd one myself, suggest watching some youtubes then see if your confident.

If you want to have a crack at it yourself;
Grab yourself one of these for the handle/latch cuts - Irwin Door Lock Installation Kit
It comes with a template for hinges but its crap, throw it in the bin.

Have a practice with an old door first till you get the hang of it.
Use the door that comes off each frame as a template to measure up the correct width, height, and hinge cuts for the replacing door.
You'll need a drill, hammer, chisel, screw driver, hole punch, plane (preferably power) to trim the sides down where required. If a large cut, take an even amount off each end.
Make sure you get the screws centred otherwise the head sticks out on one side, can cause issues.

Regardless which way you go, apply silicon to bottom edge of wet area doors, first place they go if they get wet, moister etc.

 

Okay will have a look. Thanks for the heads up. I may have to get a handy man in then.

 

Doors at Bunnings are standard sizes: 520mm, 620mm, 720mm and 820mm. You will need to measure your existing doors to see if they match. I have an old house and none of the door sizes are standard

You can't adjust the standard door sizes very much. From memory, taking 5mm off each side would be pushing it. I have installed doors from Bunnings before. I didn't love it. Now I have 6 to install for a reno. Yay!

 

measure the door that's on there and copy that to the new door before you take the old ones off.

re use the old hinges to save $$ you can paint over them if you want to be a bit fancy

Take old door off and lay next to new door. copy hinge cut outs from old to new. that way you have an exact copy of the old door

hang the door and do you business with the handle and bob's your auntie

 

that's all fine when you say it like that, but rebating hinges is not fun.

 

Give this guy a call if you want, his down Roco way so maybe too far for him to travel but did ~10 for me a couple of months back in Mandurah, $80 for internals, $120 externals, plus gear which he picked up for me from Bunnies at trade cost (which I get anyway but saved me the hassle).

https://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/connect/protrade/carpentry/carpentry

 

Bunnings sells two types of doors. The first is doors with no rebates for hinges and no hole for latch or handle. These have to be made during installation.

The second have hinges attached and holes cut in the door. They are designed to fit with jambs sold separately (in Vic at least). So they are not really right for you since you have jambs.

Bunnings can direct you to an installer who will rebate hinges and fit door handles and fit and adjust the door for $165 per door. They use the Grey Army in Melbourne.

You may be able to get a cheap bulk deal. S/ he will set the door handle height so that the existing strike plate can be used.

Some posts above mentioned how easy it is to plane a door down. Actually, there is a technique so that you don't split the ends and you need to practice.

Whatever you do, don't go to Doors Plus - pricey and they have some below par installers apparently.

 

Get a multi tool! Not technically ofay but does the job!

 

I usually trace around the hinge, rout out the section I need to rebate then square it up with a hammer and chisel. It's the hammer and chisel bit I don't like doing.

And I am not allowed to buy more power tools. I have been told.

 

Buy tool, go out to car, take tool out of packaging, put packaging in bin, wipe some dirt, grease, oil, whatever on tool, go home, mrs says where did u get that? Mate lent it to me so I can get ....... done

 

If it's 1940's or prior and the doors are solid timber with cracks in the panels, I would get the panels replaced with either new timber or mdf. It does cost a bit but the doors are not always standard in the old houses and a solid timber door is a nice thing to have.

 

the more i think about this job, the more I think i need a handy man. I went bunnings today, doors do not have holes pre cut. I also asked whether they offer the service of installing doors. Yes, but they won't take the old door down nor will they get rid of the old door. boo hoo.

I need to also find a way to transport of the new doors and dispose of the old ones

Didn't really think it through at the beginning.

Have to see how bad the wear and tear is before I decide what to do.