Renovopedia

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvments.

    What's Hot

    Spring Swaps: Freshen Up Your Home With These Simple Updates

    March 20, 2023

    Before & After: A Soulless Apartment Gets the ‘More Is More’ Treatment

    March 20, 2023

    Looking Back, Looking Forward: 15 Years of Remodelista

    March 19, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    RenovopediaRenovopedia
    Demo
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Ideas

      7 Master Bedroom Designs With Stylish Style And Functional Features

      January 27, 2023

      Why is Garage Door maintenance essential?

      January 17, 2023

      5 Ways To Improve Your Flooring

      December 22, 2022

      Ideas to revamp and reorganise your garage

      December 22, 2022

      The Benefits Of Cleaning Your Windows Regularly

      November 30, 2022
    • Videos

      Water In Electrical Panel! Easy Fix? #Short

      March 30, 2022

      Working on My House LIVE! | Framing Door Openings

      March 23, 2022

      Framing a Wall With Angles Over Stair Bulkhead

      March 22, 2022

      Framing Bedroom/Hall Closet | Adding Basement Stair Headroom

      March 17, 2022

      Fixing Hacked Floor Framing | Straightening Kitchen Floor… Kinda

      March 8, 2022
    • Interior Remodel
    • Painting
    • Kitchen
    • More
      • Skills & Specialties
      • Exterior Remodel
      • Bathroom
      • Outdoor Building
      • Green Improvements
      • Home Services
    Renovopedia
    Home » Can You Replace an Interior Door With an Exterior Door?

    Can You Replace an Interior Door With an Exterior Door?

    November 28, 2021No Comments Interior Remodel
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Tumblr Reddit Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Exterior doors often have loads of character, especially when it comes to truly antique doors. This may prompt some homeowners to wonder if it makes sense to install an exterior door on an interior door frame.

    Additionally, exterior doors are always solid (though not made from a solid piece of wood), which makes them better for soundproofing than hollow-core interior doors.

    Demo

    Is it ever advisable to put an exterior door on an interior door frame? If so, what is the basic process behind doing this and how much work is involved?

    Pros

    • Solid door, not thin or hollow-core

    • Unique appearance

    • Recycles building products instead of landfilling them

    Cons

    • Size doesn’t match interior door frame

    • May need extensive cutting

    • Symmetry may be lost with cutting

    7 Considerations For Using an Exterior Door on the Inside

    It is possible to use an exterior door on the interior, though there are few practical reasons for doing this. As noted, exterior doors are always solid—not exactly carved from a solid tree trunk but at least more solid than interior doors.

    Solid core interior doors are available, though they are significantly more expensive than hollow core doors.

    Many factors make transferring an exterior door to an interior door frame difficult and labor-intensive:

    • Inward swing: Exterior doors always open inward, while your current interior door might swing outward and necessitate different hinge mortises.
    • Size: Exterior doors typically run 36 inches wide, while interior doors are rarely as wide (about 30 inches).
    • Symmetry: If the door is paneled, the panels will no longer be symmetrical if you trim off one end. Both ends would need to be trimmed to maintain symmetry.
    • Trimming: Precise cutting with a professional-quality table saw or radial saw is needed to accommodate the entire door. If the cut extends too far into the door, it may impinge on some of the inner panels and cause the door to come apart.
    • Condition: The intended exterior door might have more than just surface damage; it might be warped or buckled from weathering, making it difficult to install on the interior door frame.
    • Slabs: Pre-hung doors are easier to install because the door is already hung by hinges to the door frame. For novices, the exterior slab door can be touchy to hang and the swing may be compromised.
    • Composition: Most slab doors are not a single slab but are like a jigsaw puzzle with various pieces such as rails, stiles, panels, and mullions that combine to form the slab. If you cut in too far from the sides, the door loses its stability and may fall apart.

    Tips For Hanging an Exterior Door on the Inside

    Work Safely

    Dangerous lead-based paint may have been removed from the house interior over the years. Yet the exterior side of the exterior door may have escaped attention.

    If the door does have lead-based paint, the safest route is to completely strip away the paint and re-paint the door. This often includes metal parts, such as hinges, that have been coated in lead-based paint.

    Always follow safe procedures for removing lead-based paint, as laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Trim Door Width

    Since you likely will need to trim the door width, do so by cutting both sides equally. So, to fit a 36-inch exterior door in a 30-inch interior door frame, cut off 3 inches on the left side and 3 inches on the right side.

    This maintains the visual symmetry of the door. On the hinge side, you would then need to cut new mortises for the hinges. On the doorknob side, the trim would excise the doorknob and door latch set holes, and you would need to create new holes.

    Trim Door Height

    If you need to make horizontal trims to accommodate door height in the new door frame, cut along the bottom.

    Exterior doors receive most of their weathering on the bottom edge. Cutting off even 1/2-inch usually will expose the fresh wood.

    If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, be sure to cut off an appropriate amount from the bottom so that the door will be able to swing over the carpeting.

    Protect Cut Edges

    Even though the door will be protected from the weather, all cut edges should be protected with paint or other coatings.

    Be sure to factor in the added thickness of any coatings that will be applied to edges when trimming the door: usually, 1/32-inch to no more than 1/16-inch.

    Remove all weatherstripping before cutting. Clean up and remove any nails or screws.

    Prepare Interior Door Frame

    After removing the old interior door, you may need to make a few adjustments to the interior door frame so that it can accommodate the exterior door.

    Unfortunately, you will not be able to hang the exterior door on the existing hinges. Hinge positioning will be different with the new door.

    Patch old screw holes with wood putty, sand, and re-paint the entire door frame. Also, use this as your opportunity to repair or replace door stops and trim.

    Source: The Spruce

    Demo
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit VKontakte Telegram WhatsApp

    Related Posts

    6 Great Home Projects for Summer

    December 7, 2022 Interior Remodel

    How to Install DIY Closet Shelves

    December 7, 2022 Interior Remodel

    5 Nightmare Home Renovation Stories (And How They Finally Got Fixed)

    December 7, 2022 Interior Remodel

    Upstairs vs. Basement Laundry Room: Pros and Cons

    December 7, 2022 Interior Remodel

    The 9 Best Home Renovations That Cost $5,000 or Less

    December 7, 2022 Interior Remodel

    Common Home Updates People End Up Regretting Big Time

    December 7, 2022 Interior Remodel
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Demo
    Don't Miss

    Removing a Load Bearing Wall / Building Bedroom Wall With Door Opening

    Videos February 10, 2022

    Watch full video on Youtube

    Remodelista Reconnaissance: A Deconstructed DIY Mirror in a Tokyo Bath

    January 27, 2023

    Bathroom Remodel Cost Estimates

    November 29, 2021

    Classic Venetian Plaster Finishes Are Easy With Modern Products

    November 29, 2021
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Latest Articles

    Spring Swaps: Freshen Up Your Home With These Simple Updates

    March 20, 2023

    Before & After: A Soulless Apartment Gets the ‘More Is More’ Treatment

    March 20, 2023

    Looking Back, Looking Forward: 15 Years of Remodelista

    March 19, 2023

    A Day in Khaki Muromachi

    March 18, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvements.

    Demo
    Our Picks

    Spring Swaps: Freshen Up Your Home With These Simple Updates

    March 20, 2023

    Before & After: A Soulless Apartment Gets the ‘More Is More’ Treatment

    March 20, 2023

    Looking Back, Looking Forward: 15 Years of Remodelista

    March 19, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    Renovopedia is the premier source for home improvement news and articles. We provide the latest news and articles for homeowners looking to find inspiration, solutions, tips, and ideas to prepare your home for sale or turn it into your dream home.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: hello@renovopedia.com
    Contact: +1-320-0123-451

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn
    Popular

    Is Your Bedroom Secretly Sabotaging Your Sleep

    November 26, 2021

    Building a Mountain Shelf Out of Reclaimed Wood!

    May 5, 2021

    How to Cut Small Bolts With Wire Strippers – EASY!

    July 5, 2018
    © 2023 Renovopedia. All Rights Reserved.
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Videos
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.