How to Cut a Door Lengthwise to Make French Doors

French doors typically have a large pane of glass inset in the door, often with a grid of muntins. A solid wood door is required for this project so that the french doors can be solid and stable. To make the two door halves functional as french doors, after cutting the door in half lengthwise, it is necessary to add hinges and hardware to the side of the door and jamb that didn't originally have hinges.

Solid wood door
Table saw
Safety goggles
Measuring tape
Level
Marker
2-inch painter's tape
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the door. Most interior doors measure between 23 and 36 inches. For this example, we will be using a 36-inch door.
- 2
  Find the middle of the door. For our 36-inch door, the mid-point of the door is 18 inches in from each side. Mark the middle of the door at regular intervals, from top to bottom.
- 3
  Put the painter's tape along the middle of the door, from top to bottom on both sides. Be sure to place the tape so that its middle is at the door's 18-inch mid-point. The tape will help to ensure a clean cut.
- 4
  Re-mark the mid-point of the door on the tape. Make the marks at regular intervals and then use a level or straightedge to draw a straight line down the length of the door. This will show you where the door should be cut.
- 5
  Set up the table saw to cut along the middle of the door. Before turning the saw on, remember to put on safety goggles.
- 6
  Turn the saw on and cut the door in half, lengthwise, along the line you drew on the tape.
- 7
  Remove the tape and lightly sand the cut edges on each door half.

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