How to Expand a Doorway

For a Wheelchair

• 1

  Remove the door from the doorway. Measure to determine if the wheelchair passes through the doorway. The doorway should be 32- to 36-inches wide, depending on the angle of approach, to accommodate most wheelchairs. A straight approach requires a narrower doorway. If you need room for turning the wheelchair, use the wider measurement.

• 2

  Remove the standard hinges from the door by removing all the screws. Replace the hinges with offset hinges. These special hinges let the door swing back all the way out of the way, as if the door wasn't there. This is a good solution if simply removing the door provides enough clearance for the wheelchair.

• 3

  Remove the facings around the door. Slip a wide-bladed putty knife under the edge of one door facing. Slide a curved pry bar next to the putty knife. Pry the facings and moldings from around the door with the pry bar and the putty knife. Start at the bottom and work up until the facings and moldings are free. If this leaves enough clearance, finish the door surround with thin veneer cut to size. Install a tension rod at the door’s top and hang a curtain for privacy. If this still doesn't give you the needed clearance, demolition is necessary.

Demolition Method

• 4

  Decide how much you want the doorway expanded. Mark this in pencil on the wall.

• 5

  Cut an inspection hole 6-inches square midway up the wall with a handheld saber saw. Hold the saw at an angle as you cut, so that the sheetrock square o you remove from the wall has beveled edges. Remove this square, and look inside the wall with a flashlight. Note the location of any water or electrical lines. A single water or electrical line isn't difficult to work around, but a nest of wires is problematic.

• 6

  Shut off the electricity to that wall by tripping the breaker for that area. Cut off any water if you found water pipes behind the wall.

• 7

  Cut away the sheetrock within the section of wall you want to remove with a reciprocating saw. Cut away the sheetrock on one side of the wall, and then move to the other side.

• 8

  Remove the old doorframe. Cut through any nails with the reciprocating saw, and then cut through the wood and remove the old frame.

• 9

  Have an electrician or plumber move any existing water lines or electrical wires. If you decide you don't need the electrical or water lines, cap them off yourself, but only if you have previous experience working with electricity or plumbing.

• 10

  Install a new doorframe in the expanded door opening. Cut 2-by-4-inch studs to the correct door height and nail them in place at the sides of your door opening. Nailing two 2-by-4s together creates a new door header. Nail the header in place. Install short sections of 2-by-4s between the header and the ceiling for extra support.

• 11

  Cut a piece of sheetrock that fills in between the top of the new door opening and the ceiling. Nail this in place. Apply drywall mud to the joint between the new and old sheetrock. Smooth the mud with a putty knife, and then place drywall tape over it and smooth it into place.

• 12

  Cut new door trim that fits both sides of the door and nail into place.

• 13

  Paint or stain your new door trim and facings. Paint the new drywall around the door. Let the stain dry overnight.