I want to put french doors in my bathroom. At the moment my 30" door opens on to my toilet. So therefore I would like 2 15" doors that would open fully. I can't find french doors that small, so I was considering getting a bifold, removing the hinges and hanging them as french doors. Has anyone ever done this, or do you think it would work?
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[B]I've been trying to find a solution for my bathroom when I came across this post.
I have a 28 in. wide door to my bathroom which opens into the sink and eats up a lot of space in the small room. Did you use the bifold doors as double doors? How does it work?
Does anyone have other good ideas for this problem? Unfortunately, the doorway is on an angle so I can't use a pocket door either. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks. [/B]
Have you considered having the door swing out instead of in? Not a difficult thing to do or have done. just a thought:D-
as far as the new hinges, basically
-place the hinge and trace its outline with a pencil, mark the holes too
-drill pilot holes for the screws
-using a chisel and hammer perpendicular to the jamb (or sometimes a utility xacto knife is good enough if it's very soft pine) score the line to break the fibres where the final cut needs to stop, then delicately chisel out enough of the jamb so the hinge can fit flush
-if you've never done this it's worth practicing on a scrap of wood, you'll only be happier with the results
step-by-step with drawings (on the HGTV-USA site) here:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_door_window_installing/article/0,1797,HGTV_3...
good luck and post some before/after pics, always fun to see improvements ;)
Paul, I want to split the bifolds on my bedroom closet door and this is a perfect choice (I think) for the room and my style. The magnetic closure will work perfectly. Now to learn how to install the hinge thing on the closet....and I will!
to keep them closed (but not locked)
plate portion gets mortised on jamb (first drill a shallow large hole for the indented portion to fit) , roller cylinder gets installed in the door (drill large hole for the cylinder then mortise with a chisel for the rectangular plate portion)
pretty much impossible to lock for privacy, so not a practical idea for a bathroom (other than an ensuite situation perhaps)...
basically take a set of bifolds, the doors will have holes etc... from the hinges in the middle - remove those hinges, flip the doors (left becomes right etc) and mortise "regular" door hinges where the wood is already damaged by the bifold hinges... mortise the door jamb as well
you also need some sort of catch to keep them closed (simplest is a pair of magnetic kitchen cabinet catches, mounted in the middle of the upper jamb, you can also get "invisible" versions that get installed in a hole in the top of the doors, with matching small metal plate that goes in the upper jamb
bump (I think that means bring a topic to the top).
I don't have the 2004 issue but I don't think this sounds too hard to do.
I have the same problem as I want French doors for my living room but because I've got this stupid air exchanger thing in the way I can't have the opening as big as I'd like. However, I found out at Home Depot last week that they will make them down to 12" each I think.
Cameron from H&H used bifold doors and hinged them from the side to make french doors in the December 2004 issue. It looks really good & you can't tell that they're not real french doors. These ones were painted black - not sure if this would work in your space.
I've been trying to find a solution for my bathroom when I came across this post.
I have a 28 in. wide door to my bathroom which opens into the sink and eats up a lot of space in the small room. Did you use the bifold doors as double doors? How does it work?
Does anyone have other good ideas for this problem? Unfortunately, the doorway is on an angle so I can't use a pocket door either. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi Jags. I heard Brian suggest the bi-fold solution several times. I find it looks nice. I think you'll have a hard time to find french doors smaller than 24". If you use the bi-fold as 2 singles with them opening in the middle....