{"id":1751,"date":"2021-01-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=1751"},"modified":"2024-02-29T17:23:38","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T22:23:38","slug":"how-to-trim-bifold-door-width","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/how-to-trim-bifold-door-width\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Trim A Bifold Door To Width: Picture Tutorial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having trouble fitting your new bifold door into the rough opening and wondering if you can cut the width of a bifold door to fit better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You certainly can! Here\u2019s how to cut the bifold door width:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The width of a bifold door can be cut up to \u00bc inch on each side to fit better into a door rough opening. Tape off the side to be cut with painter\u2019s tape then use a circular saw or planer to trim the width of the bifold door. Lightly sand the edges to remove burrs and paint the sides to reseal the door.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s pretty straightforward, but there are some mistakes you\u2019ll want to avoid while you\u2019re trimming your bifold door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read through this before you cut, and you\u2019ll save yourself some heartache (and money). Then you will be able to cut the width of a bifold door with confidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Quick Navigation: How To Cut A Bifold Door To Fit The Opening Width<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Measure The Rough Opening & Bifold Door Width<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Tape Off The Bifold Door With Painter\u2019s Tape<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Trim The Bifold Door To Width<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Paint The Trimmed Bifold Doors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Other FAQs About Cutting The Width Of A Bifold Door<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

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

    Level Of Difficulty<\/strong><\/th>Time To Complete<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Easy<\/td>15 Minutes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Material List<\/strong><\/th>Tool List<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Painter\u2019s tape<\/a><\/td>Circular saw<\/td><\/tr>
    Contractor pencil<\/a><\/td>Square tool<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>Straight edge (yardstick, etc)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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

    Step One: Measure The Rough Opening & Bifold Door Width<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The first step to trim a bifold door to width is to get some measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First, measure the width and height of the rough opening of your doorway using a tape measure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The standard finished rough opening dimensions for bifold doors are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Single Bifold Door Finished Rough Openings<\/th>Double Bifold Door Finished Rough Openings<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    24\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td>48\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
    30\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td>60\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
    32\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td>64\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
    36\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td>72\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Your doorway rough opening should equal one of these dimensions. If either dimension is a little bigger, then you will need to frame out the doorway with wood. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, if your finished rough opening is 73\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d, then an extra piece of wood that is 1 inch thick will need to be added to one side of the opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, if either dimension is more than \u00bd\u201d smaller, then you\u2019ll need to cut back the rough opening to fit a standard door.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, if your finished rough opening is 71\u201d x 80-\u00be\u201d, then \u00bd\u201d  to 1 inch will need to be cut back. (Be sure to do the same if the height dimension is off as well.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"how
    Whip out your tape measure and measure your rough opening.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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

    Like I prefaced in the beginning, bifold doors can be cut, but it is recommended that \u00bc\u201d or less be cut off of each side. This is because you run the risk of weakening or cutting out the block inside the door (hollow core bifold doors).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To see what the inside of a hollow-core bifold door looks like when you cut too much off during the trimming process and how much damage you can cause to the door, check out my article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    How Much Smaller Should A Bifold Door Be Than The Opening?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Once the rough opening is confirmed or fixed, it\u2019s time to measure the width of the bifold door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The width of a bifold door should be \u00bd\u201d smaller than the rough opening (\u00bc\u201d gap on each side). For a double bifold door installation, the total width should be \u00bd\u201d inch smaller than the rough opening (\u00bc\u201d on each side of the total width)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, if your closet rough opening is 72 inches wide, then the total width of your two bifold doors combined should be 71-\u00bd inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If your closet rough opening is 24 inches wide, then the width of your single bifold door should be 23-\u00bd inches.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"how
    Measure the width of your door with a tape measure.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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

    Once you have all of your dimensions figured out, it\u2019s time to move onto the next step!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    Step Two: Tape Off The Bifold Door With Painter\u2019s Tape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The next step to trim a bifold door to width is to tape off the bifold door with painter\u2019s tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This step is important because the painter\u2019s tape protects the door from chip-outs created by a circular saw while cutting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"how
    Put painter’s tape down before marking your new measurement and cutting!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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

    If you tape around the door before marking your measurements and cutting, you\u2019ll have a much nicer finish on your door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s a cheap way to get a professional, clean finish in my opinion haha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just remember to tape off the door THEN mark your measurements with a pencil. After installing 8 bifold closet doors in our house, I\u2019m sad to say that we accidentally marked the door before taping on at least 4 of them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Talk about a waste of time haha! It doesn\u2019t damage the door, but it does make you have to re-measure and mark everything for a second time on top of the tape.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"how
    As you can see, this is one of the times we marked the door before taping… so we had to tape and measure again. Oops haha!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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

    Use a square and a yardstick to make a straight line down the entire length of the door. This is the line you will be cutting with a circular saw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once the door is taped and the measurements are marked, it\u2019s time to move onto the next step!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    Step Three: Cut The Bifold Door<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The next step to trim a bifold door to width is to actually cut the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s time to take your circular saw and cut that line! Take your time to keep a straight line.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or you can build your own guide using a 2×4 and strong clamps to run the circular saw along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We just took our time and cut as straight as possible, but the cutting guide is an excellent way to do it as well.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"how
    The face of the door turns out much smoother when you cut through painter’s tape.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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

    After the door is cut, I recommend test fitting it into the rough opening to confirm you\u2019ve trimmed enough off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t even take the painter\u2019s tape off yet until you confirm. If it\u2019s still a little tight, then go back and re-cut or use a planer to shave a few layers off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are the recommended gap sizes around each side of a bifold door:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n