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A quick note before we get started: I am not a builder; this is the best way we could solve our weird doorway size issue. If you are not confident or unsure of where your power supply/water pipes run, please do some research or check with a professional before drilling into your walls. Now let’s dive in!
Difficulty: Medium. There’s nothing difficult just lots of steps. And because walls are often uneven you need to measure every step of the way.
Tools:
Nail Gun (or hammer and nails if you’re old school)
Chisel
Materials
Wood Glue
Glass ( we used glass from picture frames)
Wide trim – DAR White Primed MDF
French doors (we found ours on Marketplace)
Instructions
Step 1: Start by using your Multi-tool to cut the existing skirting to make way for the new door frame. Then score the caulk with a knife and use a chisel to remove the piece.
Neaten it up as much as you can so your frame sits flush with the wall.
Step 2: Construct the sides of the frames. To do this we used two bits of Framing Blue Pine and a third we cut up as spacers. This created the right size posts to leave the perfect space for the doors. We nailed it all together and added a couple of screws for good luck. Then we drilled pilot holes into the long pieces ready to attach them to the wall.
Step 3: Cut another piece of Framing Blue Pine to fit the width of your space and secure it by drilling down into the tops of your support posts.
Step 4: Next we create the frame for the windows above. Use the same timber and screw it into the roof, directly centred above the lower beam.
Step 5: Now let’s fill in the side gaps, these dimensions will vary for every doorway. Measure the gap between the two horizontal pieces and make some short versions of the post in step one. We want these to be pretty snug so you might need to hammer them into place. Secure with screws.
Step 6: Time to trim out and hide all that ugly Framing Pine. For most of it, we used the wide trim (see link in materials) and a nail gun.
Step 7: Hang the doors, if you’ve never done this before watch this door hanging tutorial.
Step 8: Use some of the small trim to create a door jamb on the side of the door it swings away from.
Step 9: Creating the transom windows above the doors. We are creating four little window frames out of the small trim. The vertical pieces will be shared between them and all corners are mitred.
Step 10: Use the quarter round to make two boxes within each small trim box. The glass will be sandwiched in between. Start by wood glueing one box in place and tape it in place until dry.
Step 11: While it’s drying, cut your glass. I used this tool and watched this glass cutting video for instructions. Way easier than it seems!
Step 12: Run some clear silicon along the back of your quarter round and stick the glass to it.
Step 13: Wood glue the other half of the ‘quarter round sandwich’ frame in place and tape til dry.
Step 14: Paint everything. We used Dulux Aquanamel in the colour Casper White Quarter.
Step 15: Add an adhesive film to the windows if you like. We knew this room would sometimes function as a bedroom so added this for extra privacy. It’s a bit fiddly but with a sharp Stanley knife and some patience, it’s a cheap way to update the look of the doors.
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