How Much Can You Plane Off an Internal Door?
How Much Can You Plane Off an Internal Door?
Trimming an interior door may sound like a simple project, but it is a delicate operation. The door's construction, material, and design features all impact how much you can trim without affecting its safe operation. In this guide, we will consider best practices for trimming doors and alternative solutions when trimming is not possible. Let's explore everything you need to know about adjusting your doors to fit your space.
How Construction Impacts Trimming
The construction of your door plays a significant role in how much you can trim. Here’s why:
Solid Wood Doors
These are the easiest to trim because they’re made from solid materials like oak doors. You can safely trim them, but always check the manufacturer’s guidelines on trimming and lipping, as certain brands have different tolerances and the last thing you want to do is over-trim and cause irreparable damage.
Hollow Core Doors
A hollow core door or flush door has a solid frame at the top, bottom, and sides, but the inside is either a void or filled with lightweight material. You can trim a quarter-inch off the sides or the top and bottom without compromising the structure. Cutting too much could expose the hollow centre, making the door unusable.
Oak Veneer Doors have a thin layer of oak veneer over a solid or semi-solid core. Trimming too much may damage the veneer, affecting the door's appearance and durability. Always follow the product's trimming guidelines.
Design Considerations
Trimming isn’t just about ensuring a door fits—it’s also about maintaining its appearance. Many interior doors have design features, such as door panels or decorative mouldings, that could be affected by excessive trimming. For example, if you trim too much off the bottom of the door, you might lose symmetry in the design, impacting the overall aesthetic.
Can You Trim Fire Doors?
Fire doors are specially designed and tested to specific dimensions to provide 30 or 60 minutes of fire protection. Trimming a fire door can compromise its integrity, as it may no longer meet the rigorous standards it was tested for. If you’re installing fire doors as a legal requirement, trimming them could result in non-compliance with safety regulations.
What You Can Do Instead of Trimming Doors
There is more than just trimming to do with non-fire doors. Some alternatives include:
- Adjust the Door Frame: It's less invasive to adjust the frame than the door itself.
- Custom Doors: If your budget allows, ordering one custom-sized door guarantees it will fit perfectly without compromising on design or structure.
How Much Can You Trim Off a Door?
When it comes to planning and trimming internal doors, the tolerances can differ quite a lot depending on the brand. Deanta comes in with a rather unique selling point: all their internal doors feature an amazing 18mm edging. This strong construction allows for up to 16mm to be taken off from each edge, adding up to 32mm adjustability in width and height. This makes Deanta doors very practical where precise adjustments are needed for a space. Other brands like XL Joinery and LPD Doors have varying trimming tolerances depending on the design and style; these can be found under the Trimming and Lipping section on each product page.
Tips for Measuring and Trimming Doors
- Measure the Door Frame: Measure the width and height of the door frame at three points—top, middle, and bottom —to get the greatest width and height.
- Using a Tape Measure: This tool precisely measures the door's top, bottom, and sides.
- Manufacturer's Guidelines: Always determine how much you can trim off on your door type, so you do not structurally damage it.
How to Trim Internal Doors
Adjusting internal doors to suit your space requires accuracy and knowledge of the door's material and construction. Solid wood, oak veneer, and hollow core doors have different trimming tolerances. Trimming fire doors is not recommended as it can seriously compromise safety compliance.
By following these guidelines and considering all factors, you can get a perfect fit without impairing the door's functionality or design. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions, or for the best results, hire professional carpenters. Whether adjusting interior doors, standard-size doors, or non-standard frames, a little care and planning go a long way.
Different manufacturers and suppliers have set specific trimming tolerances for their doors, especially fire ones.
This means internal and external doors from the same manufacturer might have different trimming allowances. We strongly advise consulting or hiring a professional joiner if you need to trim a door. Trimming could be quite a delicate process, and mistakes could mean costly replacements!
