Cutting A Steel Door To Fit

Cut metal with your circular saw.

Cutting a steel door to fit.

Steel used for a door is the same as steel used in any other application. The easiest way to do do this if the old door was a good fit is to lay the new door on top of the old door so the edges are flush. So generally the best way to cut the door to fit your space is to work with the bottom first. It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool.

Once you start cutting any door there s no turning back. Following your door s instructions use a pencil and a straight edge to lay out all of the cut lines on the door. You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in. Then line up a combination square with the old door s hinge mortises and transfer their locations to the new door marking the edges with a utility knife.

Using a table saw with a fine blade is one method of getting your outside metal door cut to size. Cutting metal clad doors can be done with a metal blade on a circular saw. The exterior metal cladding typically is only 1 16 inch thick. Cutting the top off a steel door depends on one thing.

When doors are installed to fit hardwood tile linoleum or any other flat floor covering clearance height from the bottom may be 1 2 inch or. In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter. You can cut the top of the door to make it shorter but then you will have to reposition the hinges to move the door up on the jamb. Trimming the door may require reducing the door s width a job you can do yourself and therefore save the money it would take to hire a professional.

Always double even triple check your measurements. The interior of the door is made up of solid wood framing with fillers and some void space. Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade. The type of blade that is chosen.

So make sure you re accurate and take your time. Hot metal chips will fly. Mark out your hinges on the door. How to cut the top off a steel door.