Whether you’re too cheap to buy a curtain rod or you just want the ability to close off the area around your washer and dryer, sometimes it’s necessary to put a door in a wall. The good news is that this isn’t as difficult as it sounds. While making a new door in a wall is definitely more involved than putting one into an existing frame, with some careful planning and basic carpentry skills, you can take on this project yourself.
Make a Small Door in a Wall
- Use a stud finder to locate the studs in your wall.
- Remove any drywall that is in the way of where you want your small door to be by using a hammer and removing it.
- Use a saw to cut out an opening for your small door by following its measurements and cutting along the lines of where you want it to be cut, or according to the measurements given in our above example (the size we used was 7 inches). You may also need to make adjustments depending on how big or small your desired opening is—for example, if you’re making
a smaller hole for a cat door then simply use less material from one side than from another. This will ensure that when combined with what was removed earlier with your hammer there won’t be any gaps between the two sides; this might sound confusing but just stick with us here.
Carefully remove the wall between the studs.
You’ll need to cut a door in the wall, which means removing the drywall and studs. First, you should remove the drywall with a utility knife or other similar sharp tool. If there are any nails left in place, be careful not to puncture them all the way through with your blade, as this could cause them to rust and weaken over time. Next, use a stud finder—a device that detects studs behind walls—to find where they run behind your new doorway so you can keep it plumb (straight).
Then comes the fun part: cutting out an opening for your new door. You can use either hand or power tools here; just make sure you know what kind of material will be suitable before making any cuts. As always when working with tools like saws or drills, wear protective gear like goggles and gloves so you don’t damage yourself during construction work.
Add door trim to the wall.
Add door trim to the wall.
Once you’ve got your door opening cut, pick up some wood trim that matches your existing walls and install it around the opening. You can use simple miter cuts or compound angles to add character to the trim. Make sure you cover up any gaps between the door and trim so that they’re flush with one another, then use a level to make sure all of your cuts are straight. Mark where each piece needs to go using a pencil, and cut them to size with a saw (if possible).
Dry fit your door jamb into the opening.
Before you can install a new door jamb, you need to measure the opening in your wall and make sure that it matches up with the size of your existing door. To do this, use a tape measure to measure both the length and height of your wall opening. This will ensure that all dimensions match up properly. Then, mark down where you want to place each end of the jamb on either side using a pencil or pen. With this done, it’s time to move on.
Install your door trim and sections of drywall around your opening.
Once you’ve cut the hole in your wall, it’s time to install your door. Start by making sure that the door frame is level. Use a level on both sides of the opening, and then measure at several points along each side of your doorway to make sure they’re all even with one another. If they aren’t, adjust them until they are (this part can be tricky).
Next, use a stud finder to locate any wood studs behind the drywall in your opening—these will help hold up your new door! Attach one end of an 8-foot-long 2×4 board (a lumber supply store will have these) onto each side of this stud using nails or screws (depending on whether or not there’s a support beam behind them). Now attach two more 2x4s across this first pair so that they form parallel lines from top to bottom (like railroad tracks), leaving plenty of room around their ends for hinges and locks later down the line; alternatively, if this isn’t possible because there aren’t any supporting pieces behind them yet then leave enough space between where those two boards meet up with another set below so that later when we add our trim back here it won’t hit against one another when closed.”
Paint your new door if needed.
Once the new door is installed and painted, you’ll want to make sure that it’s level. The easiest way to do this is by using a leveler on each end of your door. Mark the top and bottom of where the leveler sits on each side of your door frame, then use carpenter’s pencils or tape to mark where they meet up in line with one another.
Next, measure how far off-center your door is from being perfectly level. For example, if one side of your frame had been raised 1/16″ higher than the other side (about 1/32″), then take note of that measurement—you’ll need that number later when measuring for additional adjustment screws (or bolts).
You can make a small door in any wall if you have the right tools, a little spare time, and some basic carpentry skills.
You can make a small door in any wall if you have the right tools, a little spare time, and some basic carpentry skills.
Tools you will need include:
- A saw (to cut wood)
- A drill with various bits (for drilling holes)
- A hammer (to tap in nails)
- A tape measure and level (to ensure even walls)
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has inspired you to learn how to make a small door in a wall. It’s not as difficult as you might think and it will allow you to get more creative with your home decor. With some basic tools, a bit of patience, and some good old-fashioned elbow grease, anyone can make their own DIY door for their home.
