{"id":1697,"date":"2020-12-23T16:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T21:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=1697"},"modified":"2024-02-29T17:25:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T22:25:25","slug":"how-much-cut-hollow-core-door-sides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/how-much-cut-hollow-core-door-sides\/","title":{"rendered":"Cutting A Hollow Core Door: How Much You Can Cut Off A Side"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wondering how much you can cut off the sides of a hollow core door before you completely cut away the block inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, I found out the hard way to answer this question by cutting out the block and needing to repair our hollow-core bifold door. Hopefully, you can avoid this problem before it happens to you! Here\u2019s what I found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recommended amount to cut a hollow core door is up to \u00bc inch on each side. However, the actual block size is close to 1 inch on each side. If the block is cut too thin or cut off completely, then a new block should be installed to add structure and prevent moisture damage to the door.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that fiasco, we had to find a solution to repair the door\u2026 or risk losing out on $100 and a whole lot of our time. That wasn\u2019t happening in my book, so we stuck our heads together and figured out a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below you\u2019ll find out exactly what happens if you cut a hollow core door too short, and how to fix it if you\u2019ve already done it like I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive on in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Navigation: How Much You Can Cut Off A Hollow Core Door<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. What Happens If You Cut The Sides Of A Hollow Core Door Too Short?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. How To Fix A Hollow Core Door That Is Cut Too Short & Other Door Installation Solutions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Other FAQ\u2019s About Trimming Hollow Core Doors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Happens If You Cut The Sides Of A Hollow Core Door Too Short? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you didn\u2019t already know, hollow core doors get their name because they literally have a hollow center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s what it looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"cut
    Apparently, this door was named appropriately. It’s definitely hollow in the center haha!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Along the top, bottom, and sides of the door, there is roughly a 1-inch block (made out of MDF) that supports the frame of the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are also little cardboard supports throughout the hollowed center to give the door more support as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hollow core doors are nice because they\u2019re lighter and cheaper than solid core doors. However, two problems occur if you cut the sides or bottom of the hollow core door too short:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Lost structural support<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Moisture damage (warping)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Lost Structural Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The problem with cutting the sides (or bottom) of a hollow core door too short is the lost structural support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      With the center being mostly supported by small cardboard pieces, the door needs the outer MDF block to help keep its structural integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Otherwise, the door will cave in and potentially break over time from being so flimsy.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"cut
      Without its block (or a new one installed), the door becomes super flimsy.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Moisture Damage (Warping)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The other less obvious problem with cutting the sides or bottom of a hollow core door too short is the moisture damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If you actually read the warranty on these types of doors, they require the door to have the supportive block in place and all cut edges painted<\/em> to be considered under warranty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Why would the door manufacturer care about these two things? Because both of these items protect the door from moisture damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If the block is in place, then moisture from the air cannot get inside the door and warp or decay the cardboard and other structures within the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And if the edges of the block are painted, then the block itself cannot fill up with water from the moisture in the air and warp the door either.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"cut
      If you over cut the door, you need to fill the gap with a new block and seal any other openings to fully protect it from moisture damage.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Even if you don\u2019t care about the warranty on the door (as I often don\u2019t care about these types of things), I\u2019m sure you still want your door to last as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      So making sure to keep the adequate thickness of the block in place on all sides (including the top and bottom) of the door is crucial for the long-term care of your new door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How To Fix A Hollow Core Door That Is Cut Too Short & Other Door Installation Solutions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Now, if this information reached you too late, and you already cut your hollow core door too short like I did, then you\u2019ve got to check out my article on how to fix a hollow core door that is cut too short<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I\u2019ll show you how to install a new block on the side or bottom of the door that you cut so that it\u2019s structurally sound and sealed off from moisture again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Then, when your door is finally installed, you should check out my full tutorial on how to paint an interior 6-panel door to avoid brush marks<\/a>. (This tutorial will help you save lots of money because you can buy the cheaper primed doors and paint them to perfection!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And lastly, when you\u2019re ready to install new door trim with mitered corners, you\u2019ll want to check out my tutorial on how to fix gaps in mitered corners for flawless trim<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      While that tutorial IS meant to help you fix the gaps in badly cut mitered corners, it also shows you how to cut perfect mitered corners from the getgo! Save yourself some time and check it out now! (This tutorial is for window trim, but fixing the gaps in mitered joints on door trim works the same way!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Other FAQ\u2019s About Trimming Hollow Core Doors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Here are some other frequently asked questions about trimming hollow core doors so you can have the easiest door installation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Can you plane the side of a hollow core door?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Hollow core doors can be planed to better fit a rough opening. Plane the side of the door when less than \u215b\u201d of the door needs to be removed. If more than \u215b\u201d needs to be removed from the sides or bottom of a hollow core door, then use a circular saw to cut first, and plane the door further if necessary.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How much should I cut off the bottom of a door for carpet?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The recommended gap between the bottom of a door and carpet is  \u00bc\u201d to \u215c\u201d. Use a circular saw or planer to cut off the bottom of the door and leave the recommended gap above the carpet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Final Thoughts On How Much You Can Cut Off The Sides Of A Hollow Core Door<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      There you have it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Hollow core doors can be trimmed to fit a rough opening better, but it\u2019s important to avoid over-trimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Nothing\u2019s more frustrating than having to fix a door that should only take 30 minutes to install! (Haha, too bad I learned that the hard way!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Catch you in my next post!<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
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      Love this post? Share it with others so they can avoid this hollow core door cutting mistake!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
      \n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n

      By Christine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Christine is a blogger and DIYer who tackles home renovation and decorating projects alongside her husband, Adam, for their personal residence and rental properties. Although she successfully tackles large renovation projects to avoid expensive contractor fees and bring her vision to life now, her path to success was not easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Go here to read her story,\u00a0\u00a0“<\/strong>From a Clueless First-Time Homebuyer To A Confident DIYer Creating Her Dream Home One Project At A Time“<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Wondering how much you can cut off the sides of a hollow core door before you completely cut away the block inside? Unfortunately, I found out the hard way to answer this question by cutting out the block and needing to repair our hollow-core bifold door. Hopefully, you can avoid this problem before it happens … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[106,108],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1697"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6361,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions\/6361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}