Hi all,

Looking for some advice from anyone who has retrofitted interior doors into walkway cutouts.

We’re looking to install double french doors into two existing openings on the main floor to create a guest room/office. (I’m not 100% married to the french door idea if there’s better/easier options, but I am not a sliding barn door fan).

Entryway opening: 44 ³⁄₈” W × 81 ³⁄₄” H × 4 ³⁄₄” D

Dining room opening: 40 ³⁄₄” W × 81 ³⁄₄” H × 4 ³⁄₄” D

For those who have tackled something similar:

Would you recommend ordering custom-sized pre hung units as those might be easier to install without a contractor AND to fit these exact dimensions?

Or, hire a contractor to trim the drywall to a more standard size?

We’re tackling this from a beginner-to-intermediate standpoint with a fair amount of tools but no drywall experience.

Appreciate any tips, lessons learned, or photos of similar setups! Thank you.

Sad_Split_9983

2 | 6 hours ago

Both of those openings are far too narrow for French doors. You also need to remove the drywall from the opening, can’t install a door jamb to drywall. Increasing the opening is more than likely more involved than just cutting back drywall. If the walls are not load bearing it’s probably a bit easier to remove the stubs and reframe a larger opening. The smallest French doors I’ve seen are 48 inches wide, that will need a rough opening of 50 inches. Even then I find those to be pretty narrow, 24 inch opening is very small so you end up just having both open.

parkbelly

1 | 5 hours ago

Door guy here. You will definitely want to stick with standard size doors. Special ordering something will be 3x the cost of stock doors and take 10+ weeks. Cased or drywall opening are usually not framed for doors so some demo and reframing will be required. Do it the right way.

You will also need to decide if you want to do a ball catch pair (no astragal) but then you will have a small gap between the doors when they are closed. You can do a flush-bolt and astragal pair and will have to designate a primary/active door. Depends on how you want to use the rooms and how much privacy you will need/want.

I get this type of call all the time. It’s not easy adding doors where there weren’t previously. It’s more involved than most people would assume.

parkbelly

1 | 5 hours ago

Other commenter is right - the openings are narrow so something will have to give. Single swing doors are more convenient anyway but max out at 36”. I hate barn doors but have you considered a barn door? Lol feel free to dm if you have questions

Need advice: Retrofitting Interior French doors to two awkwardly sized cutouts