How to Make a Door Smaller

Side or Top of Door

• 1

  Gently shut the door and watch as the door enters the door frame. As soon as the door needs to be forced into place, stop shutting the door.

• 2

  Find the area on the door that is causing the door to stop. Open the door enough to mark the top and bottom of the problem area.

• 3

  Remove a small shaving of wood using a wood plane in the same direction as the wood grain.

• 4

  Test the door by shutting and opening the door. Repeat the process again until the door shuts normally.

• 5

  Smooth rough wood using medium-grit sandpaper and prime and paint the wood.

Bottom of Door

• 6

  Examine the bottom of the door and mark the area that causes the door to stick.

• 7

  Remove the door from the hinges. Insert the tip of a screwdriver at the bottom of the hinge pin and tap the top of the screwdriver handle with a hammer. Continue to tap the screwdriver until the hinge pin can be pulled from the hinge.

• 8

  Lay the door across an elevated surface and plane the door until the high spot is removed. Shave in the direction from the corners to the center, rather than shaving across the depth of the door.

• 9

  Reattach the door to the hinges by lining the door hinges to the frame hinges and inserting the hinge pin. Tap the hinge gently into place using the hammer.

Fitting a New Door

• 10

  Measure the width and height of the door frame and subtract 1/4 inch from the width and height. Transfer the measurement to the door. Place a temporary mark to the top and bottom of the door to ensure the door is cut at the correct end.

• 11

  Plane the door if 1/8 inch or less needs to be trimmed. Plane small amounts from the sides and continue to measure the door to ensure the door doesn’t become too small for the opening. Plane the door from the bottom to remove wood from the height.

• 12

  Trim off thicknesses larger the 1/8 inch using a circular saw. Draw a guideline on the door and score the line using a utility knife.

• 13

  Place the door over a pair of sawhorses and cut off the excess with a circular saw.

• 14

  Sand the cut edges using medium-grit sandpaper. Prime and paint the wood.