How to Cut Down a Steel Door

Using steel doors as replacement entry doors sometimes requires trimming the door to fit the opening. As your home settles, the door opening might be shorter than the original door by a fraction of an inch. Steel door blanks and even pre-hung doors come in stock sizes. Cutting down a steel door requires a special carbide-tipped blade that cuts through the steel and the wood core. Carbide-tipped blades are available at home improvement centers.

Pair of saw horses
Towels
Tape measure
Straightedge
Carbide-tipped saw blade
Circular saw
Helper
Fine file
Door sweep
Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Set up a pair of saw horses. Place towels across each saw horse to protect the door finish. Lay the steel door flat across the saw horses.
- 2
  Mark off the amount necessary to cut from the bottom of the door with a tape measure. Make a straight line across the door using a straightedge. Cutting from the bottom of the door prevents the need to tap new hinge holes.
- 3
  Install a carbide-tipped circular saw blade into your circular saw. Cut the door at the cut line while your helper holds the door steady, preventing it from sliding across the saw horses while you cut.
- 4
  File the bottom edges of the door with a fine file, removing all burrs left behind from cutting. File toward the inside of the door.
- 5
  Place a non-drip threshold door sweep across the bottom of the door. Mark the mounting holes onto the door with a pencil.
- 6
  Drill pilot holes into the door with a bit slightly smaller in diameter than the mounting screws. Install the door sweep with the retaining screws and Phillips screwdriver.

How to Adjust an Atrium Window Slide

Remedy for a Frozen Glass Window

Window & Door Repair