How to Fix a Door That Is Too Long

Measure the door frame with a tape measure to determine how long the door should be. Include the height of the carpet in your measurement -- so the door will skim over the carpet instead of getting caught in the fibers.

Lay the door on two sawhorses. Protect the door from scratches by first placing towels over the sawhorses.

Measure and mark the height you want the door with a pencil, so you can see how much to cut off.

Lay a long level on the pencil mark to get a straight cut line. Score along the bottom of the level with a utility knife. Pass the knife along the cut line several times to make the line deeper.

Clamp a metal straight edge above the score line to work as a guide when you make your cut.

Cut through the wood along the cut line with a circular saw and a fine saw blade. Use a light pressure and the metal straight edge as a guide, so the cut is even.

Sand along the edge of the door with 100-grit sandpaper to smooth the cut edge. Dust with a tack cloth.

Seal the cut edge with a finish that matches the door's finish. For example, if the door is painted, use an oil-based primer and oil-based paint to finish the door. If the door is stained, use an oil-based stain and two top coats of polyurethane.