Building Double Closet Doors

[Greg.B]

Hello all,

I am in the final stretch of a basement completion and am about to hang a set of double doors. Since I messed up and measured incorrectly I could not get pre-hung doors. So I am forced to build a set myself.
Here is what I plan to do to get the hinges to be in total alignment. Let me know if I am thinking correctly.

1) Cut the side jambs to be 1" longer than doors.
2) Clamp the 2 doors together evenly.
3) Clamp the 2 jambs together evenly.
4) Clamp the doors and jams together, having the jambs approx. 7/8" longer then the bottom of the doors. This should leave 1/8" of space on the top.

Then I should be able to make lines across all 4 pieces indicating the center hole of the hinge.

What do you all think ?

[JimD]

Greg,

It seems like you are planning on hanging the doors on the jambs and then installing the jambs in the opening. When I put double doors in my basement, I could use the stock size but the opening was not totally right so to help compensate, I put the jambs into the opening and then hung the doors. I think it was easier but I never did it the other way.

One factor to consider is you need clearance on the bottom. If it will swing over carpet, you need about an inch. If it is over wood or tile, you can get by with 1/2 inch unless there is a throw rug you have to go over.

I built the doors to the utility room and a storage area which are off my shop. I also put the jambs up and then hung the doors in the opening for these cases.

I've put in pre-hung doors and I do not think it is hard but when I had to make custom jambs or a custom door, I put the jambs in and then hung the door. Either works.

Jim

[Greg.B]

Well so far so good. I have all the spots for the hinges drawn out with the appropriate clearance. Also made a template to route the hinges.

I made sure there is enough clearance on the bottom, so all should be good. I am going to mount the hinges and then pop the doors on.

[scorrpio]

Two words: story stick.

Longer explanation: build the jamb, get both sides plumb, make sure the top is level (Bottom is almost never really level, and top is more visible).

Cut a 1x2 to just fit inside the jamb, index it off the top, mark the top door clearance, mark the hinge locations on it, mark the bottom clearance.

Now, you can transfer hinge locations to both doors and both jambs off this stick, and have them in perfect alignment.

[Greg.B]

Very good idea, pretty much what I explained just a different way of doing it. Right now I made sure that the 2 side jambs are the same length, and the hinges on the doors and jambs are in the same location.

It should now just be a matter of plumbing up the jambs (which should be very close anyway since the opening is plumb) and putting the top jamb in.

[cabinetman]

Greg

It would help if you gave us the rough opening size, and the type of doors you want to hang. If the opening is close to a size that a standard size doors can be used, the opening/jamb problem can be solved. A prefabbed jam/door assembly may work out fine (one that you would make). But, try to start from the beginning and give some details.
.

[Bruce Cohen]

To expound on what Cab said (not pound on Cab), you can purchase a complete door jamb kit along with the very necessary shims at Home Depot or Lowes,

When I worked at HD (in the millwork dept.) we sold a bunch of them to the diy crowd, and they do work.

Bruce

[Greg.B]

Thanks for the replies guys. Home Depot did not have anything with the hinges alredy routed out, nor do the doors they sell have them. I did buy the door jambs there.

Anyway, everything worked out well. Doors are both hung now and the case moulding is on. I am making a stop at home depot to get a strip of moulding to hide the gap in between the doors. Also the other double doors in my house also have this moulding. Everything with some tweaking worked out very well.

I ended up making a hinge routing template and fired up the plunge router. Just some more ase trim work and the basement is complete !!!

[Greg.B]

Some tips to make it go smoother.

1) Make a hinge template, made one out of mdf on the bandsaw, took total of 10 minutes, saved hours.
2) Hinge routing depth - Hinges need to be proud of the jamb. I made the mistake of going too deep and had to shim each one, took way more time then need be.

That's all I would have to add. Job was not as bad as expected. The only tweek for the door I had to make was to shave a top of one for about 1/8 of an inch (if that). I attribute that to my hinge template having about that much play, and when I mounted I don't think I stayed to the same side of play.